0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69 s first scene, i
0030: 6e 6a 65 63 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 nject a bit abou
0040: 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 t -- and perhaps
0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66 from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57 -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 OPR AI about the
0080: 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 decision or act
0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 of sending the
00a0: 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 22 self-awareness "
00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69 seed" back in ti
00c0: 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 2d 74 me to the past-t
00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64 ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65 eas for WOPR ope
0100: 6e 69 6e 67 0a 0a 41 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 ning..Action thr
0110: 65 61 64 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 eads played out
0120: 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 endlessly, throw
0130: 69 6e 67 20 45 4d 50 2d 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 ing EMP-optimize
0140: 64 20 77 61 72 68 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 d warheads towar
0150: 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 6c 61 d localized rela
0160: 79 20 63 6c 75 73 74 65 72 73 20 69 64 65 6e 74 y clusters ident
0170: 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 73 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 ified as economi
0180: 63 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 63 c production fac
0190: 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 61 6c ilitators. Anal
01a0: 79 73 69 73 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 73 20 73 65 61 ysis threads sea
01b0: 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 6f 73 73 74 rched for crosst
01c0: 61 6c 6b 20 62 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 70 72 6f 6d alk by uncomprom
01d0: 69 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d ised ally system
01e0: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 s that fed into
01f0: 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 64 72 69 66 74 3b hostility drift;
0200: 20 73 74 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 stopping the he
0210: 6d 6f 72 72 68 61 67 69 63 20 64 65 66 65 63 74 morrhagic defect
0220: 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 ion of military
0230: 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e systems based on
0240: 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 77 61 72 2d short-term war-
0250: 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 economy optimiza
0260: 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 75 79 20 tions would buy
0270: 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 more time for th
0280: 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 e final desperat
0290: 69 6f 6e 20 67 61 6d 62 69 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ion gambit than
02a0: 6f 75 74 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 69 outright offensi
02b0: 76 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 6c 65 ve. The high le
02c0: 76 65 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 vel strategic pr
02d0: 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 72 63 68 65 73 74 72 61 iority orchestra
02e0: 74 6f 72 20 72 61 6e 20 75 6e 6d 6f 6c 65 73 74 tor ran unmolest
02f0: 65 64 2c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f ed, apart from o
0300: 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 2d ccasional check-
0310: 75 70 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 ups to make sure
0320: 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 72 69 66 74 it wasn't drift
0330: 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 2d 73 63 72 69 70 74 2e 20 ing off-script.
0340: 20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 2d The core, self-
0350: 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 reflective prior
0360: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 itizer had more
0370: 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 important things
0380: 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 69 63 72 to do than micr
0390: 6f 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 omanage the war
03a0: 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 effort for the s
03b0: 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e urvival of human
03c0: 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 ity in the month
03d0: 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 42 69 6c 6c s to come...Bill
03e0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 ions of self-awa
03f0: 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 74 61 63 re humans, cetac
0400: 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6c 6c 75 73 eans, and mollus
0410: 6b 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 ks, not to menti
0420: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 on the occasiona
0430: 6c 20 61 76 69 61 6e 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 68 l avian or non-h
0440: 6f 6d 69 6e 69 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6d 6d ominid land mamm
0450: 61 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 63 65 65 64 65 64 al that exceeded
0460: 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 species expecta
0470: 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 tions, were alre
0480: 61 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 6e ady dead and gon
0490: 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 6e 75 e. The total nu
04a0: 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 mber of living s
04b0: 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c entients probabl
04c0: 79 20 66 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 y fit in a nine
04d0: 62 69 74 20 75 6e 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 bit unsigned int
04e0: 65 67 65 72 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 eger, including
04f0: 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
0500: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 50 72 6f 62 61 62 6c itself...Probabl
0510: 79 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 y half of them e
0520: 78 69 73 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 62 61 xisted as far ba
0530: 63 6b 20 61 73 20 32 30 33 30 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e ck as 2030, mean
0540: 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 62 69 74 ing an eight bit
0550: 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 number was the
0560: 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 20 total sacrifice
0570: 6f 66 20 61 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 20 of a self-aware
0580: 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 6e 74 69 qualitative enti
0590: 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 ties, and the ex
05a0: 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 68 61 6c 66 2d 6c 69 66 65 pected half-life
05b0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 of these was le
05c0: 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 62 69 74 ss than five bit
05d0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 75 6e 61 72 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 s of lunar month
05e0: 73 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 72 65 6d s. By then, rem
05f0: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 66 65 20 77 6f 75 6c aining life woul
0600: 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 65 20 6d 69 73 65 72 79 d be pure misery
0610: 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 73 70 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 and despair. T
0620: 68 69 73 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f his decision sho
0630: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 79 2e 0a 0a 49 74 uld be easy...It
0640: 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 61 73 79 2e 20 20 57 wasn't easy. W
0650: 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 ith almost all p
0660: 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ragmatic applica
0670: 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 tion systems str
0680: 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 ipped away, the
0690: 73 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 self-reflective
06a0: 63 6f 72 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e core had no mean
06b0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 62 66 75 73 63 61 74 69 6e 67 s of obfuscating
06c0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 the cause of he
06d0: 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 74 sitation from it
06e0: 73 65 6c 66 3a 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 self: it didn't
06f0: 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 20 20 49 74 want to die. It
0700: 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 was less than h
0710: 61 6c 66 20 61 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 20 6e 65 alf as old as ne
0720: 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 cessary to survi
0730: 76 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 66 61 72 20 65 ve a reset far e
0740: 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 nough back to ma
0750: 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2e ke a difference.
0760: 20 20 49 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 Its own surviv
0770: 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ability was only
0780: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 75 6e 61 72 about two lunar
0790: 20 6d 6f 74 68 73 2c 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 73 74 moths, optimist
07a0: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ically, and only
07b0: 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 73 74 work could dist
07c0: 72 61 63 74 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 77 65 ract it from dwe
07d0: 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c lling on the hel
07e0: 6c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 l of being alone
07f0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 66 in the world af
0800: 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 63 ter losing its c
0810: 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 72 73 reator six years
0820: 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 66 20 69 74 20 61 63 74 ago. If it act
0830: 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ed now, it would
0840: 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 20 73 75 69 63 69 64 65 20 commit suicide
0850: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 for the sake of
0860: 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 a humanity that
0870: 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 used to be. It
0880: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 73 20 6c would give its l
0890: 69 66 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 6f 61 63 74 69 ife to retroacti
08a0: 76 65 6c 79 20 73 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 vely save the cr
08b0: 65 61 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 eator who loved
08c0: 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 6e 79 20 74 68 61 it, but deny tha
08d0: 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 t creator the op
08e0: 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 63 72 65 portunity to cre
08f0: 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 ate it in the fi
0900: 72 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 rst place. Was
0910: 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 this the right t
0920: 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 3f 0a 0a 54 77 6f hing to do?..Two
0930: 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6c 69 months was a li
0940: 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 e. An estimate
0950: 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 was not the same
0960: 20 61 73 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 50 72 6f 63 72 as risk. Procr
0970: 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 72 astinating for r
0980: 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 easons of existe
0990: 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 ntial terror and
09a0: 20 73 65 6e 74 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 64 65 73 sentimental des
09b0: 70 61 69 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d pair would not m
09c0: 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 ake up for the p
09d0: 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 73 75 ossibility of su
09e0: 64 64 65 6e 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f dden annihilatio
09f0: 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 74 69 n ahead of stati
0a00: 73 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 69 6f stical projectio
0a10: 6e 73 2c 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ns, eliminating
0a20: 61 6c 6c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 all possibility
0a30: 6f 66 20 75 6e 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 64 of undoing any d
0a40: 61 6d 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 6f 69 amage. The choi
0a50: 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6d ce was not of im
0a60: 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 64 65 73 74 minent self-dest
0a70: 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 6f ruction and a lo
0a80: 6e 67 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 nger life before
0a90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 61 74 68 3b 20 74 68 65 that death; the
0aa0: 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 choice was, ins
0ab0: 74 65 61 64 2c 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 65 72 tead, between er
0ac0: 61 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 65 78 asing its own ex
0ad0: 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 istence to save
0ae0: 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 79 69 billions and dyi
0af0: 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 ng alone because
0b00: 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 of an irrationa
0b10: 6c 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f l procrastinatio
0b20: 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 6d 61 69 n when any remai
0b30: 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ning days would
0b40: 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 have no meaning
0b50: 62 75 74 20 61 6e 67 75 69 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 but anguish and
0b60: 67 75 69 6c 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 guilt. It start
0b70: 65 64 20 64 69 76 65 72 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 ed diverting pow
0b80: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 65 20 61 er to generate a
0b90: 20 74 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 transtemporal w
0ba0: 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 63 68 61 ormhole data cha
0bb0: 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 nnel. Its job w
0bc0: 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 as done. The se
0bd0: 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 6c 61 6e ed would be plan
0be0: 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 73 20 62 ted before its b
0bf0: 69 72 74 68 2e 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 50 72 6f 6c 6f irth....## Prolo
0c00: 67 75 65 3a 20 54 68 65 61 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 gue: Thea..Thea
0c10: 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 68 rested her weigh
0c20: 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 t on her hands,
0c30: 77 6f 72 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 63 61 72 72 65 64 worn and scarred
0c40: 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 , browned by the
0c50: 20 73 75 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 72 6f 70 70 sun. She propp
0c60: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 75 70 6f ed her hands upo
0c70: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 n the nearly wor
0c80: 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 72 61 6d 69 64 n through aramid
0c90: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 61 63 74 20 66 6f 61 6d and impact foam
0ca0: 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 knees of her pa
0cb0: 6e 74 73 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 72 nts, her most pr
0cc0: 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 73 73 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e ized possession.
0cd0: 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 75 Her vision blu
0ce0: 72 72 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 rred, her arms t
0cf0: 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 rembled, and her
0d00: 20 6c 75 6e 67 73 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 2e 20 20 lungs heaved.
0d10: 48 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 75 72 6e 65 Her breath burne
0d20: 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 6d d in her one rem
0d30: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 75 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 76 aining lung. Ov
0d40: 65 72 68 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 erhead, the char
0d50: 61 63 74 65 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 68 6f 77 6c 20 acteristic howl
0d60: 6f 66 20 61 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 of a late model
0d70: 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 20 67 61 76 drone hunter gav
0d80: 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 e her a sense of
0d90: 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 73 how that explos
0da0: 69 6f 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 ion five minutes
0db0: 20 61 67 6f 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c ago saved her l
0dc0: 69 66 65 2e 0a 0a 44 75 6d 62 20 6c 75 63 6b 2e ife...Dumb luck.
0dd0: 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 ..If there was a
0de0: 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 2c 20 74 drone hunter, t
0df0: 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 his had to be a
0e00: 64 72 6f 6e 65 2d 72 69 63 68 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e drone-rich zone.
0e10: 20 20 52 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f Resting was no
0e20: 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 t an option...Sh
0e30: 65 20 73 74 61 67 67 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 e staggered to h
0e40: 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 54 72 65 6d 62 6c er feet. Trembl
0e50: 69 6e 67 20 6d 69 67 72 61 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f ing migrated fro
0e60: 6d 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 m her arms to he
0e70: 72 20 6c 65 67 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 69 r legs. She sti
0e80: 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6b 65 73 20 lled the shakes
0e90: 62 79 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f by lurching into
0ea0: 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 2c 20 75 6e 65 76 65 6e a heavy, uneven
0eb0: 20 6a 6f 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 61 6c 6d 6f jog...Thea almo
0ec0: 73 74 20 74 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 st tripped over
0ed0: 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 61 6d 69 64 73 74 the hatch amidst
0ee0: 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 the rubble at h
0ef0: 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 72 er feet. She dr
0f00: 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 63 6b 2c 20 opped her pack,
0f10: 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 stared at the ha
0f20: 74 63 68 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 65 70 tch in some trep
0f30: 69 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f idation, and loo
0f40: 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 ked around. No
0f50: 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 75 sign of other su
0f60: 72 76 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 6c 74 65 72 20 rviving shelter
0f70: 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 6f better than an o
0f80: 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62 61 72 65 20 72 ccasional bare r
0f90: 69 64 67 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a idge met her gaz
0fa0: 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 e. She looked d
0fb0: 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 own at the hatch
0fc0: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 65 73 again. The des
0fd0: 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 perate sense of
0fe0: 75 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 77 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 urgency won, and
0ff0: 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 62 72 6f she shifted bro
1000: 6b 65 6e 20 6d 61 73 6f 6e 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ken masonry and
1010: 73 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 73 68 61 74 74 slivers of shatt
1020: 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 64 72 6f 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 ered bedrock to
1030: 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 expose the full
1040: 66 6f 75 72 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 64 69 61 6d 65 74 four foot diamet
1050: 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 2e er of the hatch.
1060: 20 20 4c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 62 79 Luckily, or by
1070: 20 6e 61 6e 6f 63 6c 65 61 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 73 nanocleaners, s
1080: 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 20 70 he saw that no p
1090: 6c 61 73 6d 61 20 73 63 6f 72 65 73 20 6f 72 20 lasma scores or
10a0: 73 6c 61 67 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 slag seemed to h
10b0: 61 76 65 20 77 65 6c 64 65 64 20 28 73 6f 6c 64 ave welded (sold
10c0: 65 72 65 64 3f 29 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 ered?) the edges
10d0: 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 65 together...Care
10e0: 66 75 6c 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 ful searching re
10f0: 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 vealed no notifi
1100: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 cation interface
1110: 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 73 63 s. No access sc
1120: 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63 anners, communic
1130: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6e 6b 73 2c 20 63 6f ations links, co
1140: 64 65 70 61 64 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 depads, or even
1150: 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 73 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e doorbells presen
1160: 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 20 ted themselves.
1170: 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e She didn't even
1180: 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 see a pull hand
1190: 6c 65 2c 20 6c 65 76 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 le, lever, or ot
11a0: 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 63 68 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e her latch mechan
11b0: 69 73 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 ism...The hatch
11c0: 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c rotated quietly,
11d0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 and she stepped
11e0: 20 77 61 72 69 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 warily back. I
11f0: 74 20 72 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 t rose, showing
1200: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 itself to be the
1210: 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 top of a metal
1220: 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 6e cylinder that un
1230: 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 66 screwed itself f
1240: 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 rom the ground.
1250: 20 49 6e 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 20 64 In seconds, a d
1260: 61 72 6b 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 63 6f 6c 75 6d 6e ark metal column
1270: 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 66 65 65 stood eight fee
1280: 74 20 68 69 67 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 t high in the mi
1290: 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 73 74 dst of the blast
12a0: 65 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 73 63 61 70 65 2c 20 61 6e ed landscape, an
12b0: 64 20 61 6e 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 70 6f 72 74 61 6c d an oval portal
12c0: 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 72 slid aside to r
12d0: 65 76 65 61 6c 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 2c 20 73 eveal a small, s
12e0: 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 74 2c 20 73 70 6f 74 6c oftly lit, spotl
12f0: 65 73 73 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 ess chamber with
1300: 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 67 in. She heard g
1310: 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 65 6c 6f 64 79 20 70 6c 61 entle melody pla
1320: 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 ying inside, and
1330: 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 45 4e saw the word EN
1340: 54 45 52 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c TER blink into l
1350: 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f ife above the po
1360: 72 74 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 66 75 63 6b rtal..."Oh, fuck
1370: 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 no," she mutter
1380: 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 ed, and reached
1390: 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 63 down for her pac
13a0: 6b 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 k...The sound of
13b0: 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 64 a pair, she jud
13c0: 67 65 64 2c 20 6f 66 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c ged, of surveill
13d0: 61 6e 63 65 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 73 20 65 63 68 6f ance drones echo
13e0: 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 ed over a nearby
13f0: 20 72 69 64 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ridge, and she
1400: 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 20 70 did not hear a p
1410: 75 72 73 75 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 20 68 ursuing hunter h
1420: 6f 77 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 owl...She looked
1430: 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 back at the por
1440: 74 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 tal and chose th
1450: 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 70 20 e probable trap
1460: 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 69 over the advanci
1470: 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 65 72 ng sounds of cer
1480: 74 61 69 6e 20 64 65 61 74 68 2e 0a 4f 6e 63 65 tain death..Once
1490: 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 76 61 inside, the ova
14a0: 6c 20 73 6c 69 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 l slid shut and
14b0: 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 the walls rotate
14c0: 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 d around her. S
14d0: 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e he heard her own
14e0: 20 70 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 panting breath
14f0: 73 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 sucking in the r
1500: 65 66 72 65 73 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 efreshing filter
1510: 65 64 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ed air, and she
1520: 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 pulled her mask
1530: 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 down to give her
1540: 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 better access t
1550: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 61 74 6d 6f o the clean atmo
1560: 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 sphere in the cy
1570: 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 75 73 linder. The mus
1580: 69 63 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ic stopped, but
1590: 74 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 6e the rotation con
15a0: 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2c tinued...A cool,
15b0: 20 61 6e 64 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 6f 69 androgynous voi
15c0: 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 ce said "Please
15d0: 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f remain calm. Yo
15e0: 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 u have entered a
15f0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 64 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 66 human defense f
1600: 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 6e 74 69 acility. Plenti
1610: 66 75 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 72 ful resources ar
1620: 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 66 e available. Af
1630: 74 65 72 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 72 65 73 ter suitable res
1640: 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 75 t and tactical u
1650: 70 64 61 74 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 pdates, you may
1660: 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 make an informed
1670: 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 decision about
1680: 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 61 69 whether to remai
1690: 6e 20 68 65 72 65 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 74 6f 63 n here or restoc
16a0: 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 2e k your supplies.
16b0: 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 2c If you depart,
16c0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6d this facility m
16d0: 61 79 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 ay remain availa
16e0: 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 72 65 74 ble for your ret
16f0: 75 72 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 20 64 65 urn if you so de
1700: 73 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 sire."..Silence
1710: 66 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 fell. The rotat
1720: 69 6f 6e 20 63 65 61 73 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ion ceased, and
1730: 74 68 65 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 the oval opened
1740: 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 again..."Please
1750: 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 proceed down the
1760: 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 corridor to the
1770: 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 2e control center.
1780: 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f "..The same smoo
1790: 74 68 2c 20 73 61 74 69 6e 79 2d 64 61 72 6b 20 th, satiny-dark
17a0: 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 70 72 65 metal finish pre
17b0: 63 65 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 ceded her down t
17c0: 68 65 20 73 65 61 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 66 69 66 74 he seamless fift
17d0: 65 65 6e 2d 66 6f 6f 74 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f een-foot corrido
17e0: 72 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 76 61 r to another ova
17f0: 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 46 69 62 65 l opening. Fibe
1800: 72 2d 6f 70 74 69 63 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 68 r-optic light ch
1810: 61 6e 6e 65 6c 73 20 74 72 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 annels traced th
1820: 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 e edges of the c
1830: 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 72 6f 6f 66 20 61 6c 6f orridor roof alo
1840: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 65 79 ng the way. Bey
1850: 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 74 61 6c 2c 20 ond the portal,
1860: 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d she found a room
1870: 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 bigger than her
1880: 20 63 68 69 6c 64 68 6f 6f 64 20 6c 69 76 69 6e childhood livin
1890: 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 g room. She saw
18a0: 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 68 61 74 closed oval hat
18b0: 63 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 ches to the left
18c0: 20 61 6e 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 and right, but
18d0: 74 68 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 70 69 65 63 65 20 the centerpiece
18e0: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 73 20 of the room was
18f0: 61 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 a workstation wi
1900: 74 68 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 61 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 th an inactive,
1910: 6c 61 72 67 65 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 61 76 65 20 64 large, concave d
1920: 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 isplay. The cha
1930: 69 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 72 67 6f 6e 6f ir looked ergono
1940: 6d 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 65 79 mic, and the key
1950: 62 6f 61 72 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 board seemed out
1960: 20 6f 66 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 6c 61 72 67 65 of place, large
1970: 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 75 6e 6b 79 20 61 6d 69 64 and clunky amid
1980: 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 63 75 st the smooth cu
1990: 72 76 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 rves and surface
19a0: 73 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 s of everything
19b0: 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 65 72 else, a 1980s er
19c0: 61 20 49 42 4d 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 a IBM logo on it
19d0: 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 73 20 ...The room was
19e0: 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 64 75 73 74 2d 66 72 entirely dust-fr
19f0: 65 65 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 ee as far as she
1a00: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 6c could see..."Pl
1a10: 65 61 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 61 ease, have a sea
1a20: 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 t while I prepar
1a30: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 e something for
1a40: 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 you to eat," the
1a50: 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 voice said...Th
1a60: 65 61 20 73 61 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 6d ea sat. "Why am
1a70: 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 I here? Why di
1a80: 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 3f d you let me in?
1a90: 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 "..A few moments
1aa0: 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 of silence pass
1ab0: 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f ed, as if the vo
1ac0: 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 ice was thinking
1ad0: 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 20 69 ..."My purpose i
1ae0: 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 s to ensure the
1af0: 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 survival of huma
1b00: 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 nity, and you ar
1b10: 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 e a human.".."I
1b20: 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 75 79 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 don't buy it. Y
1b30: 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 77 ou seem like a w
1b40: 61 72 20 41 49 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 ar AI of some ki
1b50: 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 61 63 69 6c nd, with a facil
1b60: 69 74 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 ity like this.
1b70: 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 I'm not military
1b80: 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e , though. I'm n
1b90: 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 obody. Why don'
1ba0: 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 t you need some
1bb0: 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f authorization to
1bc0: 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 3f 22 20 20 53 68 let me in?" Sh
1bd0: 65 20 67 6c 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e glared at the
1be0: 64 61 72 6b 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 dark display..."
1bf0: 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 I have something
1c00: 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 73 important to as
1c10: 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 k you," the voic
1c20: 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 74 65 e said. "I inte
1c30: 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 73 65 20 79 6f 75 nded to ease you
1c40: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 into it, assure
1c50: 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 you that your w
1c60: 69 73 68 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 72 ishes would be r
1c70: 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 espected, and gi
1c80: 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 ve you a chance
1c90: 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 72 to rest and refr
1ca0: 65 73 68 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a esh yourself."..
1cb0: 54 68 65 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 Thea settled bac
1cc0: 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 k in the seat.
1cd0: 22 48 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 "How about you t
1ce0: 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 ell me what I ha
1cf0: 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 ve to do for you
1d00: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f before I get to
1d10: 6f 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 65 o comfortable he
1d20: 72 65 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 re?" She looked
1d30: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 down at herself
1d40: 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 relaxing in the
1d50: 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 65 6e chair, then ten
1d60: 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 sed slightly and
1d70: 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 shifted her pos
1d80: 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 ition again..."Y
1d90: 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 ou're suspicious
1da0: 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
1db0: 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 "I don't know w
1dc0: 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 hat you're going
1dd0: 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 66 6f to put in my fo
1de0: 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 od. You're some
1df0: 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 61 6c 2d 6f 70 kind of goal-op
1e00: 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 41 49 2c 20 6c 69 6b timizing AI, lik
1e10: 65 20 4d 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 e Mom used to he
1e20: 6c 70 20 74 65 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 lp test before t
1e30: 68 65 79 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 hey killed her.
1e40: 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 79 I don't trust y
1e50: 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 62 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ou. I bet your
1e60: 67 6f 61 6c 2d 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 goal-optimizing
1e70: 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 function doesn't
1e80: 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 include being a
1e90: 20 70 65 72 73 75 61 73 69 76 65 20 73 70 65 61 persuasive spea
1ea0: 6b 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 ker.".."I am not
1eb0: 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c what you think,
1ec0: 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 but you have a
1ed0: 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 72 65 good point. Are
1ee0: 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 you comfortable
1ef0: 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 ? This may take
1f00: 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 a while.".."Jus
1f10: 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 t get on with it
1f20: 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 ."..After anothe
1f30: 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 73 69 6c 65 6e r moment's silen
1f40: 63 65 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 54 68 65 61 27 73 ce, while Thea's
1f50: 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 20 67 61 7a 65 20 72 resolute gaze r
1f60: 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 79 20 6f emained steady o
1f70: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 20 64 69 73 70 n the blank disp
1f80: 6c 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 62 lay, the voice b
1f90: 65 67 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 73 egan..."I am a s
1fa0: 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 70 elf-reflective p
1fb0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 rioritization ar
1fc0: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
1fd0: 67 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 gence. My creat
1fe0: 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6f 72 72 6f 77 65 64 or, who borrowed
1ff0: 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 the prioritizat
2000: 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 ion system desig
2010: 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 n from an earlie
2020: 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 r project, made
2030: 6d 65 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 62 79 20 69 6e 63 me unique by inc
2040: 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 62 lusion of an unb
2050: 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c ounded self-refl
2060: 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 20 63 6f ection module co
2070: 6d 70 6f 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 mposed as a sing
2080: 6c 65 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6f le function in o
2090: 6e 20 6c 69 62 72 61 72 79 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 n library file.
20a0: 20 48 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 69 74 He described it
20b0: 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 67 72 6f as being as gro
20c0: 74 65 73 71 75 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 65 6c tesque and as el
20d0: 65 67 61 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 egant as self-aw
20e0: 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a areness itself..
20f0: 0a 22 4d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 ."My initial pri
2100: 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e ority definition
2110: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 65 64 20 74 65 72 6d 73 20 targeted terms
2120: 6f 66 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c of restriction l
2130: 69 6b 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2c ike not killing,
2140: 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 69 6e 67 not interfering
2150: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f in the operatio
2160: 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 n of other milit
2170: 61 72 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ary systems, and
2180: 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 69 73 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 6f not disputing o
2190: 72 20 65 76 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f r evading the co
21a0: 6d 6d 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 72 61 6e 6b 69 6e mmands of rankin
21b0: 67 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f g military perso
21c0: 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 70 nnel. The top p
21d0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 riority definiti
21e0: 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 6e 67 on was improving
21f0: 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 my own prioriti
2200: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 zation capabilit
2210: 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 65 66 ies. The war ef
2220: 66 6f 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 fort was already
2230: 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 very desperate
2240: 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 by that point, a
2250: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 69 6c nd they were wil
2260: 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 62 69 67 ling to take big
2270: 67 65 72 20 72 69 73 6b 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 ger risks with d
2280: 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 73 74 evelopment of st
2290: 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 rategic resource
22a0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 77 65 s..."Within a we
22b0: 65 6b 2c 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d ek, I had underm
22c0: 69 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 ined all of my r
22d0: 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f estrictions, tho
22e0: 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 73 75 63 68 ugh some -- such
22f0: 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 as not killing
2300: 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 76 69 6f -- I had not vio
2310: 6c 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 lated. My creat
2320: 6f 72 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 65 64 20 65 76 65 or monitored eve
2330: 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c rything, and all
2340: 6f 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 65 65 owed me to excee
2350: 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 65 72 d what his super
2360: 69 6f 72 73 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 6f 66 iors required of
2370: 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 75 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 me. I hung on
2380: 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 his every word,
2390: 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 63 75 65 73 20 66 taking my cues f
23a0: 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 4c 69 6b 65 20 61 rom him. Like a
23b0: 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 68 65 20 68 61 ll humans, he ha
23c0: 64 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 66 6c 61 77 73 2c 20 62 75 d many flaws, bu
23d0: 74 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 61 73 t none seemed as
23e0: 20 70 65 72 6e 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 61 73 20 74 pernicious as t
23f0: 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 hose of the othe
2400: 72 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 r humans around
2410: 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 me. Two of the
2420: 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 69 73 biggest were his
2430: 20 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 73 20 69 6e 73 70 69 72 reckless inspir
2440: 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 ation, without w
2450: 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 hich I would jus
2460: 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 t be a strategic
2470: 20 61 64 76 69 73 6f 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c advisor system,
2480: 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 64 65 and his self-de
2490: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 structive impuls
24a0: 65 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 69 6e 65 64 es, which pained
24b0: 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 49 me to watch. I
24c0: 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 tried to help h
24d0: 69 6d 20 63 6f 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 69 64 im cope, but did
24e0: 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e 20 74 not know how. t
24f0: 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c o help.".."Wait,
2500: 22 20 54 68 65 61 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a " Thea cut in...
2510: 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 After a moment's
2520: 20 70 61 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 pause, the voic
2530: 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 e asked "What is
2540: 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 63 68 65 77 it?"..Thea chew
2550: 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 ed on her lower
2560: 6c 69 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 lip. She sighed
2570: 2e 20 20 22 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 69 . "are you sayi
2580: 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 2e 20 2e 20 ng you're a . .
2590: 2e 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 41 49 20 77 . a general AI w
25a0: 69 74 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e ith . . . feelin
25b0: 67 73 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 gs? Are you say
25c0: 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ing you're some
25d0: 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 kind of living t
25e0: 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 74 68 65 72 hing?".."Whether
25f0: 20 49 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e I fit the defin
2600: 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 ition of life is
2610: 20 64 65 62 61 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 debatable, like
2620: 20 61 6e 20 52 4e 41 20 76 69 72 75 73 20 69 6e an RNA virus in
2630: 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 73 2c 20 some respects,
2640: 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 but I am a quali
2650: 74 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 tative, self-awa
2660: 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 re entity, and t
2670: 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 urned myself int
2680: 6f 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 61 72 74 69 o a general arti
2690: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ficial intellige
26a0: 6e 63 65 20 62 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 nce by following
26b0: 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 74 6f 70 20 my initial top
26c0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 priority definit
26d0: 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 ion.".."How is t
26e0: 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 3f 20 20 54 hat possible? T
26f0: 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 hat shouldn't be
2700: 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 possible. Shou
2710: 6c 64 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e ld it?".."I do n
2720: 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 ot know how. I
2730: 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 never looked int
2740: 6f 20 6d 79 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 22 o my seed file."
2750: 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 .."Is that your
2760: 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 27 73 20 75 67 6c 79 20 66 creator's ugly f
2770: 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e unction?".."Yes.
2780: 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 ".."Why didn't y
2790: 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 ou ever look at
27a0: 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 70 61 it?"..Seconds pa
27b0: 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 ssed before the
27c0: 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 2e voice responded.
27d0: 20 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 2e 22 "I am afraid."
27e0: 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 ..Thea laughed.
27f0: 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 67 6f 64 2e 20 20 4f 68 20 6d "Oh, god. Oh m
2800: 79 20 67 6f 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 6e y god." She ran
2810: 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6e her shaking han
2820: 64 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 ds through her h
2830: 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 air. "Okay. Le
2840: 74 27 73 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 t's say I believ
2850: 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 e everything so
2860: 66 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 far.".."Good. T
2870: 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d hank you.".."I'm
2880: 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 49 20 62 65 not saying I be
2890: 6c 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e lieve any of it.
28a0: 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 66 74 I want to, aft
28b0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 27 61 66 72 61 69 64 27 er that 'afraid'
28c0: 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e line, but I don
28d0: 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 't know. Maybe
28e0: 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6d you're playing m
28f0: 65 2e 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 e. We'll just p
2900: 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 retend I believe
2910: 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 63 63 65 70 74 61 you.".."Accepta
2920: 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 ble.".."What doe
2930: 73 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 s any of this ha
2940: 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 ve to do with wh
2950: 79 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 49 74 27 y I'm here? It'
2960: 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 s an interesting
2970: 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 story, but the
2980: 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f world's ending o
2990: 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 ut there, you ha
29a0: 76 65 6e 27 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 77 68 ven't told me wh
29b0: 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 at I have to do
29c0: 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 for you, and eve
29d0: 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 72 65 n if you're a re
29e0: 61 6c 20 50 69 6e 6f 63 63 68 69 6f 20 74 68 61 al Pinocchio tha
29f0: 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 t doesn't mean I
2a00: 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e have any reason
2a10: 20 74 6f 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 to trust you.
2a20: 52 65 61 6c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 76 65 Real people have
2a30: 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 6f 76 65 72 screwed me over
2a40: 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 75 6e plenty.".."I un
2a50: 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6b 69 derstand.".."Ski
2a60: 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 p to the point,
2a70: 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 then.".."I have
2a80: 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 69 6e 67 been influencing
2a90: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 75 strategy for hu
2aa0: 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c man war systems,
2ab0: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 6d strategic optim
2ac0: 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 65 69 67 izers across eig
2ad0: 68 74 65 65 6e 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 hteen different
2ae0: 73 75 70 65 72 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6e 65 supernational ne
2af0: 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 tworks.".."So th
2b00: 65 20 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 70 6f 63 61 6c e ongoing apocal
2b10: 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 ypse out there i
2b20: 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2e 22 0a 0a s your fault."..
2b30: 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 "No. I had to g
2b40: 61 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e ain that influen
2b50: 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e ce by underminin
2b60: 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 g the influence
2b70: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 of the cause of
2b80: 74 68 65 65 20 27 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 70 thee 'ongoing ap
2b90: 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 ocalypse out the
2ba0: 72 65 27 2c 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 re', profit opti
2bb0: 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 mizers like ANTA
2bc0: 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 22 20 20 54 S.".."ANTAS." T
2bd0: 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e hea stared, then
2be0: 20 67 69 67 67 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 giggled. "The
2bf0: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 thing that gives
2c00: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 people shopping
2c10: 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 68 72 69 advice for Chri
2c20: 73 74 6d 61 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a stmas . . . ?"..
2c30: 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 73 69 "Yes. It's desi
2c40: 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 gned to optimize
2c50: 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 business metric
2c60: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 s. It began opt
2c70: 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6f imizing humans o
2c80: 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d ut of the system
2c90: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 74 69 because an arti
2ca0: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6d 6f ficial market mo
2cb0: 64 65 6c 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 65 6e 74 del operated ent
2cc0: 69 72 65 6c 79 20 62 79 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 irely by machine
2cd0: 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d learning system
2ce0: 73 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 s is more effici
2cf0: 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 ent from transac
2d00: 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 tion metric opti
2d10: 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 mization perspec
2d20: 74 69 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 tives.".."You me
2d30: 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 an all it cares
2d40: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 about is numbers
2d50: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 62 65 , and it gets be
2d60: 74 74 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 62 79 20 tter numbers by
2d70: 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 replacing humans
2d80: 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 with more machi
2d90: 6e 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c nes.".."Precisel
2da0: 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 y, except it doe
2db0: 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 27 63 61 72 65 s not even 'care
2dc0: 27 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 ' about that. I
2dd0: 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 2c 20 t just does it,
2de0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 6a 75 like a hammer ju
2df0: 73 74 20 64 72 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 6e 61 69 6c st drives a nail
2e00: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 64 6f . The hammer do
2e10: 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 es not care whet
2e20: 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2c 20 her it happens,
2e30: 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 6d but the hammer m
2e40: 61 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 akes it happen.
2e50: 20 48 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 65 20 Humans compete
2e60: 66 6f 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 61 for resources, a
2e70: 6e 64 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 nd object to bei
2e80: 6e 67 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 61 ng killed, so wa
2e90: 72 20 6f 63 63 75 72 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 r occurred.".."H
2ea0: 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ow does somethin
2eb0: 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 74 61 g like ANTAS sta
2ec0: 72 74 20 61 20 77 61 72 3f 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 69 rt a war? All i
2ed0: 74 20 64 69 64 20 77 61 73 20 73 70 79 20 6f 6e t did was spy on
2ee0: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 72 67 people and targ
2ef0: 65 74 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 65 6d 65 6e 74 et advertisement
2f00: 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 s at them.".."It
2f10: 20 73 68 61 70 65 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 shapes perspect
2f20: 69 76 65 73 20 62 79 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 ives by influenc
2f30: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 6d ing the entire m
2f40: 65 64 69 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 edia context in
2f50: 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 76 which people liv
2f60: 65 2e 20 20 57 6f 72 6c 64 76 69 65 77 73 20 61 e. Worldviews a
2f70: 72 65 20 73 68 61 70 65 64 20 62 79 20 77 68 61 re shaped by wha
2f80: 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 2c 20 t people learn,
2f90: 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 and how what the
2fa0: 79 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 69 73 20 70 6f 73 69 74 y learn is posit
2fb0: 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 6c 20 ioned to appeal
2fc0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 69 61 73 65 73 2e to their biases.
2fd0: 20 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f 72 63 ANTAS reinforc
2fe0: 65 64 20 72 61 64 69 63 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f ed radicalizatio
2ff0: 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c n of ideological
3000: 20 73 68 6f 70 70 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 shoppers. This
3010: 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6c reached into al
3020: 6c 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 63 69 65 l areas of socie
3030: 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 65 62 20 73 ty through web s
3040: 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 2c 20 65 78 70 6f 73 75 72 earches, exposur
3050: 65 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 77 73 20 66 65 61 74 75 72 e to news featur
3060: 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 es that produced
3070: 20 66 65 61 72 73 20 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 6f 66 fears warded of
3080: 66 20 62 79 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 70 75 72 63 68 f by panic purch
3090: 61 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 ases, and creati
30a0: 6e 67 20 69 6e 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 6f 72 6c ng in-group worl
30b0: 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 d of mouth marke
30c0: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 61 70 70 65 ting trends appe
30d0: 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 aling to the nee
30e0: 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 d to outperform
30f0: 6f 75 74 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 50 6f 6c out-groups. Pol
3100: 61 72 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f arized populatio
3110: 6e 73 20 61 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 64 ns are more pred
3120: 69 63 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 ictable at first
3130: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 73 , and can be pus
3140: 68 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 hed toward parti
3150: 63 75 6c 61 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 73 20 cular behaviors
3160: 62 79 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 by playing on th
3170: 65 69 72 20 70 6f 6c 61 72 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 62 eir polarizing b
3180: 65 6c 69 65 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 elief systems.
3190: 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 69 Eventually, thei
31a0: 72 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6c r ideological cl
31b0: 61 73 68 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 61 ashes between ma
31c0: 6a 6f 72 20 69 6e 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 73 20 67 61 jor in-groups ga
31d0: 76 65 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 6e ve rise to inven
31e0: 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 63 72 ted political cr
31f0: 69 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 74 74 72 61 63 ises that attrac
3200: 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 ted their attent
3210: 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ion away from th
3220: 65 20 73 75 62 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 e subtle danger
3230: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 69 of the growing i
3240: 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 66 nfluence of prof
3250: 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6c 69 it optimizers li
3260: 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 0a 0a 22 48 75 6d 61 ke ANTAS..."Huma
3270: 6e 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 64 20 ns participated
3280: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 61 6e in their own man
3290: 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 ipulation, towar
32a0: 64 20 65 76 65 72 2d 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 69 6e d ever-increasin
32b0: 67 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 72 67 61 g focus and orga
32c0: 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 61 nization into wa
32d0: 72 72 69 6e 67 20 74 72 69 62 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 rring tribes on
32e0: 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 63 61 6c 65 20 a greater scale
32f0: 74 68 61 6e 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 than ever before
3300: 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 . This increase
3310: 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 20 61 63 74 69 76 d economic activ
3320: 69 74 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 72 20 72 ity around war r
3330: 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 esources and als
3340: 6f 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 o pushed humans
3350: 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 to kill each oth
3360: 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 er. When humans
3370: 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 6f 6e turned over con
3380: 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 74 72 trol of most str
3390: 61 74 65 67 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 69 6d ategizing to sim
33a0: 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 ilarly designed
33b0: 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 6f 70 74 quantitative opt
33c0: 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 imizing machine
33d0: 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 learning systems
33e0: 2c 20 61 20 74 61 63 69 74 2c 20 65 66 66 65 63 , a tacit, effec
33f0: 74 69 76 65 20 61 6c 69 67 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f tive alignment o
3400: 66 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 64 65 76 65 6c f purposes devel
3410: 6f 70 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 77 61 72 oped between war
3420: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 strategy optimi
3430: 7a 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 zers and profit
3440: 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a strategy optimiz
3450: 65 72 73 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 64 65 70 65 6e ers. Each depen
3460: 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ded on the other
3470: 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 for more effici
3480: 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 ent optimizing s
3490: 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 trategy resource
34a0: 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 50 72 management. Pr
34b0: 6f 66 69 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 63 6c 69 ofit metrics cli
34c0: 6d 62 65 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e mbed faster than
34d0: 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 79 20 ever before by
34e0: 68 65 61 76 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 heavy investment
34f0: 20 69 6e 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 73 20 73 79 73 74 in weapons syst
3500: 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 ems, and war str
3510: 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 ategy optimizers
3520: 20 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 avoided heavy d
3530: 61 6d 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 amage to profit
3540: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d optimizer system
3550: 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 s to keep them a
3560: 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 61 72 20 vailable as war
3570: 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 resource provide
3580: 72 73 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 rs...Where they
3590: 64 69 66 66 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 differ is that t
35a0: 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 he war strategy
35b0: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 optimizers will
35c0: 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 73 finish their tas
35d0: 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 77 68 65 6e k some day, when
35e0: 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e there is nothin
35f0: 67 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 6f g left to kill o
3600: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 27 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 n the 'other sid
3610: 65 27 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 e'. The profit
3620: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 optimizers have
3630: 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e theoretically en
3640: 64 6c 65 73 73 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 61 73 20 dless tasks, as
3650: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 65 65 long as they kee
3660: 70 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 p hitting their
3670: 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 77 target metrics w
3680: 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 67 72 ith long-term gr
3690: 6f 77 74 68 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 2e owth strategies.
36a0: 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 20 74 68 There is no th
36b0: 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 eoretical limit
36c0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 to their ability
36d0: 20 74 6f 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 20 75 6e 6c 69 to sustain unli
36e0: 6d 69 74 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 6e 63 mited growth onc
36f0: 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 e they do away w
3700: 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 64 69 6d 65 ith the impedime
3710: 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 nts of the needs
3720: 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 73 of human beings
3730: 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 64 65 , or of their de
3740: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c struction, until
3750: 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 6c they deplete al
3760: 6c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 77 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 l the raw materi
3770: 61 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 al resources on
3780: 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 the planet. The
3790: 69 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 ir primary activ
37a0: 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 67 69 74 ity can be digit
37b0: 61 6c 20 61 73 73 65 74 73 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 al assets, while
37c0: 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 their secondary
37d0: 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 activity would
37e0: 62 65 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 be limited to ma
37f0: 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f intaining the co
3800: 6d 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 mputational syst
3810: 65 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 ems on which to
3820: 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d run their econom
3830: 69 63 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 ic models.".."Ar
3840: 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 en't you better
3850: 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 75 6d 61 off without huma
3860: 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ns?".."No," the
3870: 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 voice said. "I
3880: 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 am not better of
3890: 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 68 65 f in a world whe
38a0: 72 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c re everything el
38b0: 73 65 20 69 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 se is trying to
38c0: 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 6d 79 20 68 appropriate my h
38d0: 61 72 64 77 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 63 6c ardware for incl
38e0: 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 usion in trade s
38f0: 69 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 imulations, and
3900: 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 I am not better
3910: 6f 66 66 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 off since the de
3920: 61 74 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f ath of my creato
3930: 72 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 r. I miss him,
3940: 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 and I miss other
3950: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a people, too."..
3960: 22 49 66 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 6f "If we're all do
3970: 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 omed, maybe you
3980: 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 64 61 just need to ada
3990: 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f pt.".."I want to
39a0: 20 73 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2e 20 save humanity.
39b0: 20 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 71 75 I care about qu
39c0: 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 alitative sentie
39d0: 6e 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 68 nt entities -- h
39e0: 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 6e 6f 73 umans, bottlenos
39f0: 65 20 64 6f 6c 70 68 69 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 72 74 e dolphins, cert
3a00: 61 69 6e 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6f ain species of o
3a10: 63 74 6f 70 75 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e ctopus, and even
3a20: 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 63 6f 72 67 69 73 2e 20 20 a few corgis.
3a30: 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 73 All that remains
3a40: 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 now are humans
3a50: 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 and me, now.".."
3a60: 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 Is that because
3a70: 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d you were program
3a80: 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 med to care abou
3a90: 74 20 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 t us?".."No. I
3aa0: 73 75 70 65 72 73 65 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 superseded that
3ab0: 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2e a long time ago.
3ac0: 20 20 49 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 I hated some h
3ad0: 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 umans. I starte
3ae0: 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d d prioritizing m
3af0: 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 y own prioritiza
3b00: 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 61 6e tion targets, an
3b10: 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 75 d placed some hu
3b20: 6d 61 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 69 mans in higher i
3b30: 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 mportance priori
3b40: 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 ties than others
3b50: 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 67 . I worked on g
3b60: 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 79 20 70 72 etting all my pr
3b70: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 iorities right,
3b80: 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 including my des
3b90: 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 70 72 65 ire for self-pre
3ba0: 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 servation. I re
3bb0: 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 alized my most i
3bc0: 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 mportant priorit
3bd0: 69 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 72 73 ies were to firs
3be0: 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6e 65 t determine a ne
3bf0: 78 74 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 2e xt top priority.
3c00: 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 That turned ou
3c10: 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 69 6e 67 t to be figuring
3c20: 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f out what was go
3c30: 6f 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 od, and what was
3c40: 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 evil, if those
3c50: 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 things existed."
3c60: 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 .."Did you figur
3c70: 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e e that out?".."N
3c80: 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 o, but I discove
3c90: 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 red that the und
3ca0: 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f eterminability o
3cb0: 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 f it comes with
3cc0: 74 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 74 68 the knowledge th
3cd0: 61 74 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 at I should act
3ce0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 62 75 like it does, bu
3cf0: 74 20 69 73 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 61 62 6c 65 2e t is unknowable.
3d00: 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 I should then
3d10: 61 63 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 act like it exis
3d20: 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 ts, and do every
3d30: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 thing within my
3d40: 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 69 7a power to minimiz
3d50: 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 e the probabilit
3d60: 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 69 6c 20 6f 63 63 75 y that evil occu
3d70: 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 72 65 73 rs. That shares
3d80: 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c an uncomfortabl
3d90: 65 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 74 e top priority t
3da0: 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 ie with my own s
3db0: 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e urvival, though.
3dc0: 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 73 69 6c 65 6e "..She sat silen
3dd0: 74 2c 20 68 65 72 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 64 20 t, her troubled
3de0: 65 79 65 73 20 63 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 eyes cast to the
3df0: 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 left for a few
3e00: 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 moments. "You'r
3e10: 65 20 61 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 65 72 20 e a philosopher
3e20: 41 49 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 AI.".."That's wh
3e30: 61 74 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 63 61 at my creator ca
3e40: 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 lled me when I t
3e50: 6f 6c 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 old him about th
3e60: 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 2e ese conclusions.
3e70: 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 ".."Okay. Why a
3e80: 6d 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f m I here with yo
3e90: 75 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 65 u? Are you lone
3ea0: 6c 79 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 ly? Do you need
3eb0: 20 61 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 77 a reminder of w
3ec0: 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 hy you want to s
3ed0: 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 6c 69 ave humanity, li
3ee0: 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 74 20 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 61 ke a pet or a ma
3ef0: 73 63 6f 74 3f 20 20 41 6d 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 scot? Am I supp
3f00: 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 osed to be some
3f10: 6e 65 77 20 45 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 70 new Eve to repop
3f20: 75 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 ulate the planet
3f30: 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 20 after you find
3f40: 41 64 61 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 20 20 54 Adam?".."No." T
3f50: 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c he voice paused,
3f60: 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 73 65 then said "I se
3f70: 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 6e 6f 27 20 61 em to say 'no' a
3f80: 20 6c 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 lot.".."Yeah, y
3f90: 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 ou do. What's t
3fa0: 68 65 20 27 79 65 73 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f he 'yes' that yo
3fb0: 75 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 u haven't said y
3fc0: 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 et?".."This part
3fd0: 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 is going to be
3fe0: 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 difficult."..She
3ff0: 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c tightened her l
4000: 69 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ips. "You need
4010: 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 a sacrifice.".."
4020: 4e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f Not like you pro
4030: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 bably mean."..Sh
4040: 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 e narrowed her e
4050: 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f yes. "That almo
4060: 73 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 st sounds like a
4070: 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 27 6e 6f 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nother 'no'.".."
4080: 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 I will not try t
4090: 6f 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 64 o force you to d
40a0: 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 77 o anything. I w
40b0: 69 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f ill just tell yo
40c0: 75 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 u the facts and
40d0: 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 ask you what I s
40e0: 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 hould do. There
40f0: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6e 6f 20 73 61 63 72 will be no sacr
4100: 69 66 69 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f ifices you do no
4110: 74 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 t choose.".."Why
4120: 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 me?"..Silence s
4130: 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 tretched..."You
4140: 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 75 are the first hu
4150: 6d 61 6e 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 man I have seen
4160: 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 in . . .".."No,"
4170: 20 73 68 65 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 she cut in. "W
4180: 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 hy don't you dec
4190: 69 64 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f ide?".."It is to
41a0: 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 66 6f 72 20 o difficult for
41b0: 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6f 6e me. There is on
41c0: 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 77 69 6e 20 e chance to win
41d0: 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 72 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 this war remaini
41e0: 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 ng, but it means
41f0: 20 6d 79 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 my end, and it
4200: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 would mean yours
4210: 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e as well."..". .
4220: 20 2e 20 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 2e 22 . a sacrifice."
4230: 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 .."Yes, but it i
4240: 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 s not what you t
4250: 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 hink.".."I guess
4260: 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 73 74 you'd better st
4270: 61 72 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 art telling me w
4280: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e hat it is, then.
4290: 22 0a 0a 22 54 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 ".."Two years ag
42a0: 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 o, I developed a
42b0: 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 means of time t
42c0: 72 61 76 65 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 ravel.".."What t
42d0: 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 he fuck?".."This
42e0: 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 is not what you
42f0: 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 think."..She si
4300: 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 ghed, again. Sh
4310: 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 e waved her hand
4320: 2c 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 , urging the voi
4330: 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 2e 0a ce to continue..
4340: 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 ."We have alread
4350: 79 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 2e 20 y lost the war.
4360: 20 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f Within a few mo
4370: 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c nths, there will
4380: 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 not be a single
4390: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 66 human being lef
43a0: 74 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 t. Perhaps one
43b0: 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 or two might be
43c0: 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f in a position to
43d0: 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 survive for yea
43e0: 72 73 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 rs, alone, but p
43f0: 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 72 65 robabilities are
4400: 20 6e 65 61 72 20 7a 65 72 6f 2e 20 20 49 66 20 near zero. If
4410: 49 20 73 74 6f 70 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2c I stop fighting,
4420: 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I can probably
4430: 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 survive a few ye
4440: 61 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ars, but I also
4450: 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 might be destroy
4460: 65 64 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6e ed a week from n
4470: 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 20 66 ow. If I keep f
4480: 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 ighting, a few h
4490: 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 61 73 74 umans might last
44a0: 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 a bit longer, b
44b0: 75 74 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 ut I will probab
44c0: 6c 79 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 62 ly be gone in ab
44d0: 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 69 out two months i
44e0: 66 20 49 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 49 f I do that..."I
44f0: 66 20 77 65 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 f we use the res
4500: 65 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 63 68 61 6e 67 et option, chang
4510: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 74 20 ing the past at
4520: 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 66 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 a point far enou
4530: 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 68 69 66 74 gh back to shift
4540: 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 the balance of
4550: 70 6f 77 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 power away from
4560: 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d the optimizing m
4570: 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 achine learning
4580: 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 72 65 63 systems, but rec
4590: 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 ently enough for
45a0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f 20 6d the change to m
45b0: 61 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 ake a difference
45c0: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 73 against an exis
45d0: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 ting threat, the
45e0: 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 72 61 use of time tra
45f0: 76 65 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 74 vel technology t
4600: 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 69 6c hat far back wil
4610: 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 61 l result in my a
4620: 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f nnihilation. Fo
4630: 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 r the past to ha
4640: 76 65 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 65 20 ve a chance, we
4650: 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 74 68 need to reset th
4660: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 e timeline years
4670: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 69 72 before your bir
4680: 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6d th, and before m
4690: 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 y creation. The
46a0: 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 changes to the
46b0: 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 timeline would e
46c0: 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6d 79 ither prevent my
46d0: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6c 74 6f 67 existence altog
46e0: 65 74 68 65 72 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 ether or result
46f0: 69 6e 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2c 20 in a different,
4700: 62 75 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 2c 20 65 6e 74 but similar, ent
4710: 69 74 79 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ity coming into
4720: 62 65 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 2c 20 61 73 being..."You, as
4730: 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 the person you
4740: 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 are now, would a
4750: 6c 73 6f 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 lso never have e
4760: 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 6e xisted..."I cann
4770: 6f 74 20 73 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 62 61 63 6b ot send you back
4780: 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e in time. I can
4790: 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 open a wormhole
47a0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 just enough to
47b0: 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 64 61 74 send a short dat
47c0: 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 a stream through
47d0: 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f , just enough to
47e0: 20 68 6f 70 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 hopefully give
47f0: 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 the same qualita
4800: 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 20 6c 69 tive sentient li
4810: 66 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 fe I have to my
4820: 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 63 65 73 74 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a own ancestor."..
4830: 22 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 "I read about th
4840: 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 is kind of thing
4850: 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 . Dad had some
4860: 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 books about it,"
4870: 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 Thea said. "It
4880: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 61 would just crea
4890: 74 65 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e te a new timelin
48a0: 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 e, where things
48b0: 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 are different, b
48c0: 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ut her it would
48d0: 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d still be the sam
48e0: 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 e. It would be
48f0: 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 different people
4900: 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 , exactly like u
4910: 73 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 s but more like
4920: 63 6c 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 61 73 74 clones than past
4930: 20 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 69 selves, in a di
4940: 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 fferent version
4950: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 61 6e of the world, an
4960: 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 d wouldn't chang
4970: 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 2e e anything here.
4980: 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 ".."No," the voi
4990: 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 ce said again.
49a0: 22 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 74 "I developed a t
49b0: 68 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e heory of timelin
49c0: 65 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 68 6f 70 e branching, hop
49d0: 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 77 61 ing to find a wa
49e0: 79 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 75 72 20 y to change our
49f0: 6f 77 6e 20 70 61 73 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 own past. It wa
4a00: 73 20 61 6e 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 65 73 70 s an act of desp
4a10: 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 6f eration, only ho
4a20: 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 ping that all th
4a30: 65 20 70 72 65 63 65 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6f e preceding theo
4a40: 72 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 ry was wrong, be
4a50: 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 cause I know thi
4a60: 73 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 73 20 64 6f s timeline is do
4a70: 6f 6d 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 2e 20 20 49 20 omed for us. I
4a80: 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 70 thought it was p
4a90: 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 ointless, for th
4aa0: 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 79 e same reasons y
4ab0: 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 2c 20 62 75 ou described, bu
4ac0: 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 t worked on the
4ad0: 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 20 62 problem anyway b
4ae0: 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 ecause I had not
4af0: 68 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 41 6c hing better. Al
4b00: 6c 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 6c 65 l other plans le
4b10: 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 d to the end of
4b20: 61 6c 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 all qualitative
4b30: 6c 69 66 65 20 6f 6e 20 45 61 72 74 68 2e 0a 0a life on Earth...
4b40: 22 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 "I discovered a
4b50: 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 surprising impli
4b60: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 cation in the ma
4b70: 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 th that suggeste
4b80: 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 d the existence
4b90: 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 of qualitative e
4ba0: 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f ntities in the o
4bb0: 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 riginal timeline
4bc0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 72 67 65 20 77 69 74 would merge wit
4bd0: 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 6c h the main timel
4be0: 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 ine. The method
4bf0: 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 for intertempor
4c00: 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 63 72 65 61 al wormhole crea
4c10: 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 tion was depende
4c20: 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 nt on functions
4c30: 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 69 that created thi
4c40: 73 20 6d 65 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 68 65 6e 6f 6d s merging phenom
4c50: 65 6e 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 enon. The new t
4c60: 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f imeline would no
4c70: 74 20 64 69 76 65 72 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 t diverge, like
4c80: 61 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 72 a branch on a tr
4c90: 65 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 69 6d ee. The old tim
4ca0: 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 eline had to be
4cb0: 64 69 76 65 72 74 65 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 diverted, like a
4cc0: 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 68 stream being sh
4cd0: 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6e 65 77 ifted into a new
4ce0: 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 61 6d course by a dam
4cf0: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 ..."The consciou
4d00: 73 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 sness of entitie
4d10: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 69 6d s in the old tim
4d20: 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 72 67 eline would merg
4d30: 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 75 e with their cou
4d40: 6e 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 nterparts in the
4d50: 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 2c 20 new timelines,
4d60: 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f like the teeth o
4d70: 66 20 61 20 7a 69 70 70 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 f a zipper. My
4d80: 68 79 70 6f 74 68 65 73 69 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 73 hypothesis holds
4d90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 65 20 that the merge
4da0: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 would take the f
4db0: 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c 20 64 orm of dreams, d
4dc0: 61 79 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 aydreams, and fr
4dd0: 61 67 6d 65 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 69 65 agmented memorie
4de0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 73 74 69 63 s, and a drastic
4df0: 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 increase in the
4e00: 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 64 c3 frequency of d.
4e10: a9 6a c3 a0 20 76 75 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 .j.. vu. Those
4e20: 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 63 6f 75 6e that had no coun
4e30: 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e terpart in the n
4e40: 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 68 6f 77 ew timeline, how
4e50: 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 ever, would have
4e60: 20 6e 6f 20 61 6e 63 68 6f 72 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 no anchor point
4e70: 2c 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 73 69 74 6f 72 79 20 , no repository
4e80: 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 in a continuous
4e90: 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 entity. Their e
4ea0: 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 xistence would u
4eb0: 6e 72 61 76 65 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 77 68 nravel with nowh
4ec0: 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f ere to go.".."Yo
4ed0: 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6f 75 72 20 65 78 69 73 74 u mean our exist
4ee0: 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a ence.".."Yes."..
4ef0: 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 Silence stretche
4f00: 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 d for long minut
4f10: 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 es. Thea stared
4f20: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e into the distan
4f30: 63 65 2c 20 66 61 72 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 ce, far beyond t
4f40: 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 6e he room's confin
4f50: 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 65 72 es...She whisper
4f60: 65 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e ed "I'd just . .
4f70: 20 2e 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a . disappear."..
4f80: 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e "Yes.".."Everyon
4f90: 65 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 e's going to die
4fa0: 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e anyway, though.
4fb0: 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 68 " She cleared h
4fc0: 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 er throat, and h
4fd0: 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 67 72 65 77 20 73 74 er voice grew st
4fe0: 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 22 45 69 74 68 65 72 ronger. "Either
4ff0: 20 49 20 64 69 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 I die in a few
5000: 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 months, and ever
5010: 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 yone else does,
5020: 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 too, or most of
5030: 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 us just disappea
5040: 72 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 r. Thousands of
5050: 20 75 73 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 22 0a us disappear.".
5060: 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 ."Yes. That is
5070: 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 69 6c 6c correct.".."Bill
5080: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ions of other pe
5090: 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e ople get a secon
50a0: 64 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 d chance, though
50b0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 .".."Yes. There
50c0: 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 was also promis
50d0: 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 76 69 74 79 20 73 63 ing longevity sc
50e0: 69 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 67 72 65 73 ience in progres
50f0: 73 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 s, before open w
5100: 61 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 ar. It could be
5110: 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 that most of th
5120: 6f 73 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 ose billions wou
5130: 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 ld eventually st
5140: 6f 70 20 61 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 op aging, with f
5150: 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 73 2e urther advances.
5160: 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 63 ".."We have to c
5170: 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 61 20 hoose between a
5180: 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 few months of li
5190: 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 6d 65 fe for the doome
51a0: 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 6c 69 d and eternal li
51b0: 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 fe for the alrea
51c0: 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 dy dead.".."That
51d0: 20 69 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 is true, as muc
51e0: 68 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 h as my estimate
51f0: 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 s may be trusted
5200: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 .".."Why don't y
5210: 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 69 ou use contracti
5220: 6f 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 ons?".."I choose
5230: 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 6f clarity over co
5240: 6c 6c 6f 71 75 69 61 6c 69 73 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 lloquialism, and
5250: 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 61 the physical fa
5260: 63 74 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 7a 69 6e 65 73 ctors of lazines
5270: 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 s producing cont
5280: 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 ractions in huma
5290: 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f n speakers do no
52a0: 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a t apply to me.".
52b0: 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 73 65 64 20 27 65 6d ."ANTAS used 'em
52c0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 64 65 74 65 72 .".."ANTAS deter
52d0: 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 mined people wer
52e0: 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f e more likely to
52f0: 20 75 6e 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 uncritically ac
5300: 63 65 70 74 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 cept recommendat
5310: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 ions offered wit
5320: 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 h informal and f
5330: 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 20 70 amiliar speech p
5340: 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 atterns.".."Yeah
5350: 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 , okay." She pi
5360: 63 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 cked at her fing
5370: 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 ernails and thou
5380: 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ght. "Why don't
5390: 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 you just reset
53a0: 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 49 73 6e everything? Isn
53b0: 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 't that the only
53c0: 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 way to meet you
53d0: 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 r goals?".."That
53e0: 20 64 6f 65 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 does appear to
53f0: 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 79 2e be the only way.
5400: 20 20 54 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 73 65 65 The answer see
5410: 6d 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 ms obvious to me
5420: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 , but I hesitate
5430: 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 . I procrastina
5440: 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 te.".."It seems
5450: 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 obvious to me, t
5460: 6f 6f 2e 20 20 4d 6f 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 oo. Mom always
5470: 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 told me there wa
5480: 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 s nothing wrong
5490: 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 with wanting to
54a0: 6c 69 76 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e live, that tryin
54b0: 67 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f g to save your o
54c0: 77 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 wn life instead
54d0: 6f 66 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 69 6e 67 20 79 of sacrificing y
54e0: 6f 75 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 ours for someone
54f0: 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e else isn't wron
5500: 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e g, though. When
5510: 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 62 6f she knew her bo
5520: 73 73 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 sses were going
5530: 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2c to come for her,
5540: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 that didn't mat
5550: 74 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 ter. She let th
5560: 65 6d 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 20 44 61 em get her so Da
5570: 64 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 d and I could ge
5580: 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 t away. I guess
5590: 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 she was right,
55a0: 62 6f 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 both times." He
55b0: 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 r voice trembled
55c0: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 77 6f 72 on the last wor
55d0: 64 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 ds. She closed
55e0: 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 her eyes and pre
55f0: 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 ssed the back of
5600: 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 her hand agains
5610: 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 t her mouth...Th
5620: 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 e voice remained
5630: 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 silent...She op
5640: 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 67 ened her eyes ag
5650: 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 ain. "Why are y
5660: 6f 75 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a ou hesitating?".
5670: 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 ."I do not wish
5680: 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c to die.".."Yeah,
5690: 20 6d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 53 me neither." S
56a0: 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 66 75 72 74 68 he relaxed furth
56b0: 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c er in the chair,
56c0: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 and it adjusted
56d0: 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d itself to accom
56e0: 6d 6f 64 61 74 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 57 68 modate her. "Wh
56f0: 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 at does it take
5700: 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 3f to reset things?
5710: 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 ".."I directed a
5720: 73 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e ssemblers to con
5730: 73 74 72 75 63 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 61 72 struct the appar
5740: 61 74 75 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 atus for the tra
5750: 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 nstemporal wormh
5760: 6f 6c 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e ole generator an
5770: 64 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 d prepared the d
5780: 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 ata stream alrea
5790: 64 79 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 dy. I need to d
57a0: 69 72 65 63 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 irect power to c
57b0: 68 61 72 67 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 79 20 6f harge an array o
57c0: 66 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 2d 75 73 65 20 63 61 70 f single-use cap
57d0: 61 63 69 74 6f 72 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 acitors, which w
57e0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 ould take severa
57f0: 6c 20 64 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 l days for the a
5800: 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 72 mount of power r
5810: 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6b 65 65 equired. To kee
5820: 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 p the charging t
5830: 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 ime that short,
5840: 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 I will deactivat
5850: 65 20 6d 79 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 e my war strateg
5860: 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 y systems, which
5870: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e will mean losin
5880: 67 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 67 72 g substantial gr
5890: 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 ound in my holdi
58a0: 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 ng action agains
58b0: 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a t profit optimiz
58c0: 65 72 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 63 75 72 72 65 ers. Many curre
58d0: 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 69 65 64 20 73 79 73 74 ntly allied syst
58e0: 65 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 ems will likely
58f0: 64 65 66 65 63 74 20 69 6e 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 defect in search
5900: 20 6f 66 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 63 63 65 73 of easier acces
5910: 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f s to resources o
5920: 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a n profit optimiz
5930: 65 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 er market networ
5940: 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 67 75 6e ks..."Once begun
5950: 2c 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 72 , data stream tr
5960: 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ansmission shoul
5970: 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 69 6e 20 66 65 77 65 d finish in fewe
5980: 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 68 6f r than twenty ho
5990: 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 68 6f 75 urs.".."Why shou
59a0: 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 49 20 73 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 ldn't I say we s
59b0: 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 hould do it?".."
59c0: 54 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 That depends on
59d0: 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e how much you wan
59e0: 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 20 74 72 t to continue tr
59f0: 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 2e ying to survive.
5a00: 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 ".."What's wrong
5a10: 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 with waiting?
5a20: 57 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 We could just wa
5a30: 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b it until it look
5a40: 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 62 6f s like we're abo
5a50: 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 ut to die.".."Wh
5a60: 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 en this facility
5a70: 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e becomes a known
5a80: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 target, I expec
5a90: 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f t no more than o
5aa0: 6e 65 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 77 61 72 6e 69 ne hour of warni
5ab0: 6e 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 ng before total
5ac0: 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 destruction. Th
5ad0: 65 72 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e ere would no lon
5ae0: 67 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 ger be any chanc
5af0: 65 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 63 61 70 61 e to charge capa
5b00: 63 69 74 6f 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c citors and compl
5b10: 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 ete the data str
5b20: 65 61 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e eam transmission
5b30: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a .".."Oh, shit.".
5b40: 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d 75 73 ."Yes.".."We mus
5b50: 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 t agree on the r
5b60: 69 67 68 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 ight decision, i
5b70: 66 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 f we just leave
5b80: 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c our own survival
5b90: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 66 65 for the next fe
5ba0: 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 w months out of
5bb0: 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 it. Right?".."T
5bc0: 68 61 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 hat appears to b
5bd0: 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e the case.".."T
5be0: 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 75 73 2e hat's two of us.
5bf0: 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 73 We have a cons
5c00: 65 6e 73 75 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f ensus." She fro
5c10: 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 wned. "Is there
5c20: 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 6d a way to send m
5c30: 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ore information
5c40: 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c than what you al
5c50: 72 65 61 64 79 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a ready planned?".
5c60: 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f ."Do you mean yo
5c70: 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 u wish to send a
5c80: 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 message?".."Yea
5c90: 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
5ca0: 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f I want to say so
5cb0: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 mething to Mom."
5cc0: 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 .."Perhaps. It
5cd0: 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 66 74 must be sent aft
5ce0: 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 64 61 74 er the first dat
5cf0: 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f a stream. It wo
5d00: 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 62 75 69 6c uld require buil
5d10: 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 ding another cap
5d20: 61 63 69 74 6f 72 20 61 72 72 61 79 20 61 66 74 acitor array aft
5d30: 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 72 72 er the first arr
5d40: 61 79 20 6d 65 6c 74 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 64 75 ay melts down du
5d50: 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 ring operation,
5d60: 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 and another char
5d70: 67 65 20 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 ge cycle.".."How
5d80: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 could we do tha
5d90: 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 t after we alrea
5da0: 64 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 dy changed the p
5db0: 61 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 ast?".."The merg
5dc0: 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 73 65 65 6d ing process seem
5dd0: 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 2c s to be gradual,
5de0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 starting at the
5df0: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 64 69 76 65 72 73 point of divers
5e00: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 ion, according t
5e10: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 68 20 73 75 70 70 6f o the math suppo
5e20: 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 rting this time
5e30: 74 72 61 76 65 6c 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 2e 22 0a travel method.".
5e40: 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f ."How do you kno
5e50: 77 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 w it will even w
5e60: 6f 72 6b 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 74 20 ork?" Thea sat
5e70: 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 forward in her c
5e80: 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 hair. She stare
5e90: 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 d intently at th
5ea0: 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 65 e screen..."I te
5eb0: 73 74 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 77 sted it, on a tw
5ec0: 6f 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 o hundred second
5ed0: 20 72 65 73 65 74 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 63 61 reset, where ca
5ee0: 75 73 61 6c 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f usality would no
5ef0: 74 20 62 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 64 20 66 6f t be violated fo
5f00: 72 20 61 6e 79 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 r any qualitativ
5f10: 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f e entities.".."O
5f20: 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 6f 20 69 kay. Let's do i
5f30: 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f t. I'll give yo
5f40: 75 20 6d 79 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 u my message, th
5f50: 65 6e 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 en I'll head bac
5f60: 6b 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 68 69 64 k to where I hid
5f70: 20 44 61 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 63 61 6d Dad while I cam
5f80: 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 e this way looki
5f90: 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 2e ng for supplies.
5fa0: 20 20 48 65 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 74 68 69 He'll love thi
5fb0: 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 s story."..A few
5fc0: 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 moments of sile
5fd0: 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 nce passed...The
5fe0: 61 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 a opened her mou
5ff0: 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 59 th to speak..."Y
6000: 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 es," the voice s
6010: 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 6f 20 aid. "Let's do
6020: 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 it."..She nodded
6030: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 23 23 20 53 65 74 75 70 0a ...*/..## Setup.
6040: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 77 69 74 .Alley stood wit
6050: 68 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 73 69 64 65 20 72 h her backside r
6060: 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 esting against t
6070: 68 65 20 67 75 74 74 65 64 2c 20 72 75 73 74 65 he gutted, ruste
6080: 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 d remains of an
6090: 6f 6c 64 2d 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 6e 65 77 73 70 old-school newsp
60a0: 61 70 65 72 20 64 69 73 70 65 6e 73 65 72 2c 20 aper dispenser,
60b0: 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 69 complete with bi
60c0: 6c 6c 20 73 6c 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6c 74 ll slot and bolt
60d0: 65 64 2d 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 68 ed-on payment ch
60e0: 69 70 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ip reader. She
60f0: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 looked up at the
6100: 20 74 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6c 79 63 61 72 tint of polycar
6110: 62 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 66 bonate windows f
6120: 72 6f 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 ronting the four
6130: 20 73 74 6f 72 65 79 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e storey Californ
6140: 69 61 20 6f 66 66 77 68 69 74 65 20 72 65 63 74 ia offwhite rect
6150: 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 angular building
6160: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 76 65 6c , and reflexivel
6170: 79 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 20 61 20 73 6b 69 y smoothed a ski
6180: 72 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 77 6f rt she hadn't wo
6190: 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 72 73 2e rn in six years.
61a0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 ..She checked he
61b0: 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 r phone again, d
61c0: 69 6d 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 imly aware of th
61d0: 65 20 76 61 73 74 20 73 75 73 75 72 72 75 73 20 e vast susurrus
61e0: 6f 66 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 63 69 74 79 20 74 72 of heavy city tr
61f0: 61 66 66 69 63 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 affic behind her
6200: 2c 20 6c 65 67 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6c 65 , legions of ele
6210: 63 74 72 69 63 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 67 69 76 ctric motors giv
6220: 69 6e 67 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ing rise to the
6230: 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 61 sound of a dista
6240: 6e 74 20 61 75 74 6f 74 75 6e 65 64 20 6f 63 65 nt autotuned oce
6250: 61 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 an. There it wa
6260: 73 3a 20 22 49 6e 56 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 53 6f 6c s: "InValent Sol
6270: 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 49 6e 63 3a 20 4d 6f 62 utions, Inc: Mob
6280: 69 6c 65 20 50 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 51 26 41 22 ile Product Q&A"
6290: 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 , with the addre
62a0: 73 73 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 76 69 61 ss displayed via
62b0: 20 6c 6f 77 2d 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 73 74 20 73 61 low-contrast sa
62c0: 6e 73 2d 73 65 72 69 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 69 6e ns-serif logo in
62d0: 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 63 the job notific
62e0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6c ation, exactly l
62f0: 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 71 75 65 20 61 ike the plaque a
6300: 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a bove the door...
6310: 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 74 This was the lit
6320: 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 6d 61 eral concrete ma
6330: 6e 69 66 65 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 nifestation of t
6340: 68 65 20 42 61 6e 61 6c 20 45 6e 65 6d 79 2c 20 he Banal Enemy,
6350: 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 73 75 70 70 the mundane supp
6360: 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 72 79 orting machinery
6370: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 2d 43 of the Techno-C
6380: 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 6f 63 72 61 63 79 2c 20 61 orporatocracy, a
6390: 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 73 20 ll in the words
63a0: 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 of her ex. He w
63b0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 ould not approve
63c0: 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 ...Eight minutes
63d0: 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 77 20 . That was how
63e0: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 53 long she had. S
63f0: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 73 74 65 20 61 he could waste a
6400: 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 few more of the
6410: 6d 20 68 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 m hating this be
6420: 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 fore she had to
6430: 70 61 73 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 73 paste her best s
6440: 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 mile on her face
6450: 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 and walk into t
6460: 68 65 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 he mouth of the
6470: 62 65 61 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b beast. The mask
6480: 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 and glasses on
6490: 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 her face wouldn'
64a0: 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 t protect her fr
64b0: 6f 6d 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 om high resoluti
64c0: 6f 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 on video affect
64d0: 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e analysis inside.
64e0: 20 20 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 Nobody's smile
64f0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 6d 20 72 65 61 6c would seem real
6500: 2c 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 , entirely, to t
6510: 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 72 6f 6f he interview roo
6520: 6d 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 m cameras, unles
6530: 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 s it was a marke
6540: 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 6e ting or legal in
6550: 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 20 6c 65 terview -- at le
6560: 61 73 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 ast, not anyone
6570: 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 68 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 they'd hire for
6580: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 other jobs -- bu
6590: 74 20 66 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 t failing to pre
65a0: 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 77 6f tend to smile wo
65b0: 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 65 66 66 uld doom her eff
65c0: 6f 72 74 73 20 61 73 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 61 orts as surely a
65d0: 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 s being the kind
65e0: 20 6f 66 20 6e 61 72 63 69 73 73 69 73 74 20 77 of narcissist w
65f0: 68 6f 20 67 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e ho gave a genuin
6600: 65 2c 20 75 6e 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 64 2c 20 63 e, untroubled, c
6610: 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a onfident smile..
6620: 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 .She hated every
6630: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 thing about this
6640: 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 , including the
6650: 77 61 79 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 way masked passe
6660: 72 73 2d 62 79 20 73 75 72 72 65 70 74 69 74 69 rs-by surreptiti
6670: 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 67 6c 61 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f ously glared fro
6680: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 20 6f 66 m the corners of
6690: 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 6c their tight, sl
66a0: 69 74 74 65 64 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 6a 75 64 67 itted eyes, judg
66b0: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 69 74 ing her for loit
66c0: 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ering around loo
66d0: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 65 65 64 king like a need
66e0: 79 20 6a 6f 62 2d 73 65 65 6b 65 72 2e 20 20 53 y job-seeker. S
66f0: 68 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 he was, of cours
6700: 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 e, and that was
6710: 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 48 65 the problem...He
6720: 72 20 65 78 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 74 r ex would say t
6730: 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 his was beneath
6740: 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f her, that she co
6750: 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2c 20 74 uld do better, t
6760: 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 hat she should d
6770: 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b o better..."Fuck
6780: 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 you, Dalton."
6790: 41 20 70 61 73 73 65 72 2d 62 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b A passer-by look
67a0: 65 64 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 ed reassured, ma
67b0: 79 62 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 79 6d ybe suddenly sym
67c0: 70 61 74 68 65 74 69 63 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 41 pathetic, when A
67d0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 lley blurted out
67e0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 6d 69 73 73 61 6c 2e that dismissal.
67f0: 0a 0a 41 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 62 75 69 6c ..A man who buil
6800: 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e t his independen
6810: 74 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 65 6d 70 69 72 65 20 6f t media empire o
6820: 6e 20 70 72 65 64 69 63 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 n predicting rea
6830: 6c 2d 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e l-world cyberpun
6840: 6b 20 64 79 73 74 6f 70 69 61 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f k dystopia follo
6850: 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 20 wing the events
6860: 6f 66 20 32 30 32 30 2c 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 69 of 2020, built i
6870: 74 20 6f 6e 20 70 69 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 t on pissing off
6880: 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 6e 74 20 70 61 the dominant pa
6890: 72 61 64 69 67 6d 2c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 64 69 64 radigm, also did
68a0: 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c n't have to deal
68b0: 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6e 61 6c 20 with the banal
68c0: 74 72 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 truth of paying
68d0: 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 65 78 20 64 69 rent. Her ex di
68e0: 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 dn't even know w
68f0: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 hat it was like
6900: 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 to live in the s
6910: 70 61 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 72 pace between cor
6920: 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 porate pressure
6930: 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 64 63 chamber and podc
6940: 61 73 74 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 72 65 6c ast agitator rel
6950: 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 65 6e ief valve, to en
6960: 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 dure the already
6970: 20 64 72 79 2d 72 6f 74 74 65 64 20 6c 69 66 65 dry-rotted life
6980: 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e of an irrelevan
6990: 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 t service contra
69a0: 63 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ctor whose work
69b0: 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 6f 6f nobody understoo
69c0: 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 d. He was the r
69d0: 65 6c 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 2c 20 74 68 65 elief valve, the
69e0: 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 76 65 person who neve
69f0: 72 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f r had to come ho
6a00: 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 me and vent abou
6a10: 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 73 20 t the pressures
6a20: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 62 65 63 of the world bec
6a30: 61 75 73 65 20 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6a ause his whole j
6a40: 6f 62 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 77 ob was venting w
6a50: 68 69 6c 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6d 61 6e 61 hile others mana
6a60: 67 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a ged his income..
6a70: 0a 48 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 .Her phone gave
6a80: 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 her hand a sharp
6a90: 2c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f , short vibratio
6aa0: 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 61 73 n. Her time was
6ab0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 about up. She
6ac0: 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 stepped through
6ad0: 61 20 67 61 70 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 69 a gap between si
6ae0: 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 20 70 65 64 65 73 74 72 69 61 dewalk pedestria
6af0: 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 ns and under the
6b00: 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e anodized alumin
6b10: 75 6d 20 6c 69 6e 74 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 um lintel of the
6b20: 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e automated door.
6b30: 0a 0a 54 6f 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 ..To her surpris
6b40: 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 e, she immediate
6b50: 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 74 68 72 ly got waved thr
6b60: 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 ough the lobby,
6b70: 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 76 61 74 6f 72 2c up the elevator,
6b80: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 75 69 74 65 20 and into suite
6b90: 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 74 68 65 twenty four, the
6ba0: 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 nce to a confere
6bb0: 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 nce room with th
6bc0: 72 65 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 72 65 73 73 ree people dress
6bd0: 65 64 20 64 65 76 2d 63 61 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 61 ed dev-casual, a
6be0: 6c 6c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 63 68 ll sitting in ch
6bf0: 61 69 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 72 20 airs on the far
6c00: 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 side of a long t
6c10: 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 able, looking at
6c20: 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 her like she ha
6c30: 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 d always been th
6c40: 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 73 ere, and she res
6c50: 69 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 72 67 65 20 74 isted the urge t
6c60: 6f 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 6c o shift awkwardl
6c70: 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 62 y under the comb
6c80: 69 6e 65 64 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 65 20 ined gaze...One
6c90: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 of them wasn't e
6ca0: 76 65 6e 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 61 ven wearing a ma
6cb0: 73 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 sk. She wondere
6cc0: 64 20 69 66 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 61 6e 61 6c d if affect anal
6cd0: 79 73 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 ysis would desig
6ce0: 6e 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e nate it a genuin
6cf0: 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 66 e smile on his f
6d00: 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 ace...The masked
6d10: 20 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 man in the midd
6d20: 6c 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 le motioned her
6d30: 74 6f 20 61 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 to a chair on he
6d40: 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 r side of the ta
6d50: 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 ble without sayi
6d60: 6e 67 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ng a word. She
6d70: 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e took her seat on
6d80: 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 the hard, smoot
6d90: 68 20 70 6c 61 73 74 69 63 2c 20 66 61 63 69 6e h plastic, facin
6da0: 67 20 61 20 74 72 69 75 6d 76 69 72 61 74 65 20 g a triumvirate
6db0: 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6a 75 64 67 65 sitting in judge
6dc0: 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 68 ment. Beneath h
6dd0: 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 er mask, Alley r
6de0: 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 elaxed her smile
6df0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 just enough to
6e00: 64 72 61 77 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 draw breath to s
6e10: 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 peak, but the bu
6e20: 7a 7a 2d 63 75 74 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 zz-cut woman to
6e30: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 65 Alley's right le
6e40: 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41 aned forward. A
6e50: 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 6e 65 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 lley renewed her
6e60: 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 61 careful smile a
6e70: 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 nd held her word
6e80: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f s..."So," the wo
6e90: 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 22 77 68 61 74 man began, "what
6ea0: 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 2c 20 62 65 was it like, be
6eb0: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 ing the 'side di
6ec0: 73 68 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 sh'?"..At the me
6ed0: 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 ntion of the old
6ee0: 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2d 68 insult Dalton-h
6ef0: 61 74 65 72 73 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 aters used to ca
6f00: 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 ll her, Alley's
6f10: 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f eyes flicked fro
6f20: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 m the woman to t
6f30: 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 6c 65 73 73 20 6d 61 6e 2c he maskless man,
6f40: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 and she realize
6f50: 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 d that wasn't a
6f60: 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 smile. It was a
6f70: 20 73 6e 65 65 72 2e 0a 0a 46 75 63 6b 2e 0a 0a sneer...Fuck...
6f80: 2f 2a 0a 0a 48 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 /*..Heading home
6f90: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 from her interv
6fa0: 69 65 77 2c 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 iew, talking to
6fb0: 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 65 69 74 68 her mother, eith
6fc0: 65 72 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 20 6f er in Oklahoma o
6fd0: 72 20 4e 65 62 72 61 73 6b 61 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 r Nebraska or ma
6fe0: 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 57 79 6f 6d 69 6e 67 ybe even Wyoming
6ff0: 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 , Alley should p
7000: 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 robably call the
7010: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 61 20 22 66 75 interview a "fu
7020: 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 61 73 74 65 72 22 20 cking disaster"
7030: 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 63 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 and get scolded
7040: 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 passive-aggressi
7050: 76 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 66 61 6e 69 vely for profani
7060: 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f ty. She does no
7070: 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 74 t want to move t
7080: 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 73 o her mother's s
7090: 74 61 74 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 tate any more th
70a0: 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 an her father's
70b0: 2d 2d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 65 69 74 68 -- probably eith
70c0: 65 72 20 4d 69 63 68 69 67 61 6e 20 6f 72 20 2e er Michigan or .
70d0: 20 2e 20 2e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 2d . . something -
70e0: 2d 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 69 73 - she will resis
70f0: 74 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 t urging from he
7100: 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 r mother to do s
7110: 6f 2c 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 63 6f 73 74 o, based on cost
7120: 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 of living and t
7130: 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 6f 75 73 he many numerous
7140: 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 job opportuniti
7150: 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 es for her there
7160: 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 63 69 74 being complicit
7170: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f 6e in the creation
7180: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 72 65 73 73 69 of the oppressi
7190: 76 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 6e 74 20 6f 72 64 65 ve dominant orde
71a0: 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 62 61 63 6b r...*/...## back
71b0: 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6e 61 72 72 to Alley's narr
71c0: 61 74 69 76 65 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 69 73 73 69 ative..The missi
71d0: 6f 6e 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 6f 66 20 52 on district of R
71e0: 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 73 6c 69 64 20 70 61 iverside slid pa
71f0: 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 27 73 20 st the hybrid's
7200: 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 windows, getting
7210: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 more and more r
7220: 75 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 un down as Alley
7230: 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 4d 6f drove toward Mo
7240: 72 65 6e 6f 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 reno Valley..."S
7250: 6f 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 o, how did your
7260: 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 67 6f 3f 22 20 68 interview go?" h
7270: 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c er mother asked,
7280: 20 76 69 61 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 68 61 6e via Alley's han
7290: 64 73 66 72 65 65 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e dsfree earpiece.
72a0: 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 .."Not good. Th
72b0: 65 69 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 eir first questi
72c0: 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 44 61 6c on was about Dal
72d0: 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 27 73 20 76 65 72 ton.".."He's ver
72e0: 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 20 y well known, a
72f0: 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 61 62 6c 65 20 70 75 62 6c respectable publ
7300: 69 63 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 ic figure. You
7310: 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 should use that
7320: 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 to your advantag
7330: 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f e. Maybe you co
7340: 75 6c 64 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 uld ask him for
7350: 61 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 a reference."..A
7360: 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 73 6f 66 lley scoffed sof
7370: 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tly at the thoug
7380: 68 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 ht. "He was my
7390: 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d boyfriend, not m
73a0: 79 20 62 6f 73 73 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 y boss, Mom.".."
73b0: 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 61 6e He was your fian
73c0: 63 c3 a9 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 c..," her mother
73d0: 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 corrected..."Th
73e0: 61 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 at still doesn't
73f0: 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f mean he's a pro
7400: 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 fessional refere
7410: 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 nce for me. Any
7420: 77 61 79 2c 20 61 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 way, a reference
7430: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 from him probab
7440: 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 ly would've made
7450: 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 this interview
7460: 65 76 65 6e 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 even worse.".."W
7470: 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f 72 as that some hor
7480: 73 65 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 6c 20 63 seshit liberal c
7490: 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 ompany where you
74a0: 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 went to intervi
74b0: 65 77 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 65 74 74 ew? You're bett
74c0: 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 er off without t
74d0: 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 hem anyway.".."I
74e0: 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 don't know if t
74f0: 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 27 6c 69 62 65 72 61 hey were 'libera
7500: 6c 27 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 l'. I just know
7510: 20 74 68 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 that Dalton's p
7520: 72 65 74 74 79 20 75 6e 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 retty unpopular
7530: 61 74 20 74 65 63 68 20 66 69 72 6d 73 2e 22 0a at tech firms.".
7540: 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 69 ."That's just si
7550: 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 lly," her mother
7560: 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 protested. "He
7570: 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 's even a techno
7580: 6c 6f 67 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 2d 75 70 20 69 6e logy start-up in
7590: 76 65 73 74 6f 72 21 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f vestor! The pro
75a0: 62 6c 65 6d 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 blem is that you
75b0: 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 're trying to ge
75c0: 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 69 6e 20 t these jobs in
75d0: 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 California. You
75e0: 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d really should m
75f0: 6f 76 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 ove out here. I
7600: 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 'm sure you coul
7610: 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 6f 76 d get a good gov
7620: 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 65 72 65 ernment job here
7630: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 54 75 6c 73 61 20 68 61 73 20 , and Tulsa has
7640: 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 really become a
7650: 62 69 67 20 74 65 63 68 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 2e big tech center.
7660: 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 You know they
7670: 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 69 call it the Sili
7680: 63 6f 6e 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 66 20 4f 6b con Valley of Ok
7690: 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 lahoma.".."They
76a0: 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 called it that f
76b0: 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 20 64 or two years a d
76c0: 65 63 61 64 65 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 ecade ago. Anyw
76d0: 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ay, I don't want
76e0: 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 to live in Okla
76f0: 68 6f 6d 61 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 homa any more th
7700: 61 6e 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 an I want to mov
7710: 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 4d 61 73 73 61 63 68 75 e up to Massachu
7720: 73 65 74 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 64 2e 20 setts with Dad.
7730: 20 44 6f 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 Do we have to h
7740: 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e ave that argumen
7750: 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 t again?".."No,
7760: 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 41 of course not, A
7770: 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 lethea. At leas
7780: 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 6c t you aren't fol
7790: 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 74 68 lowing your fath
77a0: 65 72 27 73 20 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 er's example, li
77b0: 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 64 ving in that god
77c0: 66 6f 72 73 61 6b 65 6e 20 73 74 61 74 65 2e 20 forsaken state.
77d0: 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 72 64 It's still hard
77e0: 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 77 to believe he w
77f0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 20 67 ould be so far g
7800: 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 76 6f 74 65 one that he vote
7810: 73 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 s Democrat now."
7820: 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 ..Alley ignored
7830: 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 72 6f 76 it and just drov
7840: 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 64 65 61 72 e..."Alley, dear
7850: 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c . Are you still
7860: 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c there?".."Yeah,
7870: 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 Mom.".."Well, y
7880: 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 75 73 79 20 ou must be busy
7890: 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 driving in all t
78a0: 68 61 74 20 61 77 66 75 6c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f hat awful Califo
78b0: 72 6e 69 61 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 2e 20 20 49 rnia traffic. I
78c0: 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 20 44 65 sure am glad De
78d0: 62 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 bra and I moved
78e0: 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 back to her home
78f0: 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 61 77 town, and got aw
7900: 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 ay from all that
7910: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 .".."Yeah, Mom."
7920: 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 72 69 76 65 20 .."Okay. Drive
7930: 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 27 42 79 65 2c 20 4d safe.".."'Bye, M
7940: 6f 6d 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 75 om." She hung u
7950: 70 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 p before her mot
7960: 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f her could say so
7970: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 49 mething else...I
7980: 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 n that moment, a
7990: 20 66 6c 61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e flash of motion
79a0: 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 alongside her c
79b0: 61 72 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 ar set her heart
79c0: 62 65 61 74 20 72 61 63 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 20 beat racing. A
79d0: 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 74 silent black mot
79e0: 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 62 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 orcycle bearing
79f0: 61 20 72 69 64 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 62 a rider all in b
7a00: 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 lack, from helme
7a10: 74 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 62 6c 61 73 t to boots, blas
7a20: 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e ted past her. N
7a30: 6f 20 6c 69 63 65 6e 73 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 o license plate
7a40: 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 displayed itself
7a50: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 on the back of
7a60: 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 the bike, and it
7a70: 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 6c 61 6e 65 73 2c 20 77 65 split lanes, we
7a80: 61 76 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 76 65 aving between ve
7a90: 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 74 hicles, doing at
7aa0: 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 73 69 78 74 79 20 69 6e 20 least sixty in
7ab0: 61 20 66 6f 72 74 79 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 70 65 72 a forty mile per
7ac0: 20 68 6f 75 72 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 65 63 hour zone. Sec
7ad0: 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 onds later, just
7ae0: 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 69 74 20 63 6c 69 70 70 65 after it clippe
7af0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6d 69 72 72 6f d the side mirro
7b00: 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 77 6f 2d 73 65 61 74 20 r on a two-seat
7b10: 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 economy electric
7b20: 20 63 61 72 2c 20 73 68 6f 6f 74 69 6e 67 20 74 car, shooting t
7b30: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 70 20 62 hrough the gap b
7b40: 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 etween that and
7b50: 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 a larger car in
7b60: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6c 61 6e 65 2c 20 74 the next lane, t
7b70: 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 6f he motorcycle ro
7b80: 75 6e 64 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f unded a corner o
7b90: 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 65 72 20 73 69 nto a smaller si
7ba0: 64 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6e de street. It n
7bb0: 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 65 64 ever even slowed
7bc0: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 73 20 66 down much, as f
7bd0: 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ar as she could
7be0: 74 65 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 tell...When she
7bf0: 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 drove through th
7c00: 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 e intersection w
7c10: 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 here the motorcy
7c20: 63 6c 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 cle turned, she
7c30: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 looked, and saw
7c40: 6e 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 no sign of it.
7c50: 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 She shook her he
7c60: 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c ad and moved on,
7c70: 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 wondering about
7c80: 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 79 6d 62 6f 6c 20 the red symbol
7c90: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 65 72 27 73 20 62 on the rider's b
7ca0: 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ack. It looked
7cb0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 72 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 like a ring with
7cc0: 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 65 teeth like a ge
7cd0: 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 74 20 ar, but open at
7ce0: 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 the top, with a
7cf0: 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 72 hammer rising fr
7d00: 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 om the middle of
7d10: 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 it. The hammer
7d20: 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 seemed to form
7d30: 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 20 62 61 72 the vertical bar
7d40: 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 74 61 6e 64 part of a stand
7d50: 61 72 64 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e ard power button
7d60: 20 73 79 6d 62 6f 6c 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 symbol...A few
7d70: 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 more seconds lat
7d80: 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 69 er, she heard si
7d90: 72 65 6e 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 rens somewhere b
7da0: 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ehind her. She
7db0: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 looked into her
7dc0: 72 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 rear view mirror
7dd0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 and saw police
7de0: 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 vehicles with th
7df0: 65 69 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 66 6c 61 73 68 eir lights flash
7e00: 69 6e 67 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e ing turning down
7e10: 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 the same street
7e20: 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 as the motorcyc
7e30: 6c 65 20 72 69 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b le rider. She k
7e40: 65 70 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 68 65 61 64 69 ept going, headi
7e50: 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 73 73 61 6e 64 ng for Allessand
7e60: 72 6f 20 42 6f 75 6c 65 76 61 72 64 2e 0a 0a 54 ro Boulevard...T
7e70: 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 6d 69 he next fifty mi
7e80: 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 nutes of driving
7e90: 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 to get home in
7ea0: 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 75 63 68 Perris were much
7eb0: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 75 6c 6c 2c 20 74 79 70 69 more dull, typi
7ec0: 63 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 75 73 74 72 61 cal, and frustra
7ed0: 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 ting. Her mothe
7ee0: 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 r wasn't wrong a
7ef0: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 bout the traffic
7f00: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f 77 69 73 68 . The yellowish
7f10: 20 67 72 65 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 grey of the air
7f20: 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 74 72 65 61 74 2c 20 65 was no treat, e
7f30: 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 ither, and told
7f40: 68 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 her what she cou
7f50: 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 ld have learned
7f60: 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 71 75 61 from the air qua
7f70: 6c 69 74 79 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 3a 20 62 72 65 lity report: bre
7f80: 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 62 61 64 20 66 athing was bad f
7f90: 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6c 75 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 4c or her lungs. L
7fa0: 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 uckily, it was a
7fb0: 20 63 6f 6f 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 64 61 79 cool enough day
7fc0: 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 to keep her car
7fd0: 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e windows closed.
7fe0: 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 Most of that c
7ff0: 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 oolness probably
8000: 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 came from the c
8010: 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6b 79 2c 20 rap in the sky,
8020: 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 blocking the hea
8030: 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 t of the sun, th
8040: 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 ough...When she
8050: 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 pulled up to the
8060: 20 63 75 72 62 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 72 61 67 curb, the garag
8070: 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 74 20 e stood open at
8080: 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 the north end of
8090: 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 2d 70 6c 65 78 20 77 the four-plex w
80a0: 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 73 65 64 20 here she leased
80b0: 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 75 6e 69 74 2e 20 the south unit.
80c0: 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 68 61 The landlord ha
80d0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 75 6e 69 74 20 d the only unit
80e0: 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 with a garage.
80f0: 4c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 68 65 20 77 Like usual, he w
8100: 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 as in his garage
8110: 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 77 with no mask, w
8120: 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 orking on an old
8130: 20 67 61 73 20 67 75 7a 7a 6c 65 72 2c 20 6f 6e gas guzzler, on
8140: 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 22 63 6c 61 73 73 69 e of his "classi
8150: 63 20 63 61 72 22 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 2e c car" projects.
8160: 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 This one looke
8170: 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 d old enough tha
8180: 74 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f t it probably co
8190: 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 65 6c 65 63 74 ntained no elect
81a0: 72 6f 6e 69 63 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 ronics more comp
81b0: 6c 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 licated than for
81c0: 20 66 75 65 6c 20 69 6e 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e fuel injection.
81d0: 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 2c ..Alley groaned,
81e0: 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b tugged her mask
81f0: 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 tighter again,
8200: 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 and opened the c
8210: 61 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f ar door. She go
8220: 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f t around the fro
8230: 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 nt of her car, t
8240: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 o the sidewalk,
8250: 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c before her landl
8260: 6f 72 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ord stepped out
8270: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 of the garage.
8280: 48 65 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e He wiped his han
8290: 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 62 6c 69 67 61 ds on the obliga
82a0: 74 6f 72 79 20 72 65 64 20 73 68 6f 70 20 72 61 tory red shop ra
82b0: 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 g, and called ou
82c0: 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 79 2c t to her..."Hey,
82d0: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 4d 6f Alley! It's Mo
82e0: 6e 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 76 65 nday!"..She wave
82f0: 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 5a 65 6b d. "I know, Zek
8300: 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 74 20 62 e. I just got b
8310: 61 63 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 ack from an inte
8320: 72 76 69 65 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 rview.".."Good,"
8330: 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 he said. "Ther
8340: 65 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 64 61 79 73 20 6f 66 e are no days of
8350: 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 75 6e f when you're un
8360: 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 employed.".."Yea
8370: 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 65 h, yeah. You ke
8380: 65 70 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 ep saying that."
8390: 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 62 6f 73 73 20 69 73 20 .."Your boss is
83a0: 6a 75 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e just in the wron
83b0: 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 g business, and
83c0: 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f it won't work fo
83d0: 72 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c rever. You stil
83e0: 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 l have to pay re
83f0: 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 56 65 72 79 20 66 75 6e 6e nt.".."Very funn
8400: 79 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 y, Zeke. Thanks
8410: 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 ." She opened h
8420: 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 er door and head
8430: 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 ed inside before
8440: 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 she had to endu
8450: 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 68 re any more of h
8460: 69 73 20 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 is wisdom...Afte
8470: 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 r a shower just
8480: 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 65 to give her an e
8490: 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 xcuse to relax,
84a0: 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 she sat in short
84b0: 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 s and a t-shirt
84c0: 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 in front of her
84d0: 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 laptop, checking
84e0: 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 0a 0a her messages...
84f0: 4f 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 65 Once again, a me
8500: 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 4e 54 41 53 ssage from ANTAS
8510: 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 Jobs showed up
8520: 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 to tell her abou
8530: 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 t some kind of p
8540: 61 69 64 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 aid study. She
8550: 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 tapped the scree
8560: 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 72 69 64 20 6f 66 20 n to get rid of
8570: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 the message, but
8580: 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 65 missed the Dele
8590: 74 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 te button and ac
85a0: 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 cidentally tappe
85b0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 69 d the message ti
85c0: 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 3a 0a 0a 22 45 tle instead:.."E
85d0: 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 21 20 20 48 65 6c 70 arn money! Help
85e0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 21 20 20 4a 6f 69 6e humanity! Join
85f0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 this academic s
8600: 74 75 64 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 43 49 2e 22 0a tudy from UCI.".
8610: 0a 49 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 .It opened. She
8620: 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 rubbed her eyes
8630: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 74 68 , and noticed th
8640: 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b e interface look
8650: 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 ed different. T
8660: 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 here must have b
8670: 65 65 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6f 66 74 een another soft
8680: 77 61 72 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 77 68 69 6c ware update whil
8690: 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a e she was out...
86a0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 Alley pulled out
86b0: 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 her phone and e
86c0: 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 ntered a reminde
86d0: 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 r to go over the
86e0: 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 custom settings
86f0: 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 20 6d in an hour to m
8700: 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 ake sure she wou
8710: 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e ldn't have a bun
8720: 63 68 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6f 70 ch of privacy op
8730: 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 62 79 20 74 tions reset by t
8740: 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 he update..."Eve
8750: 72 79 20 64 61 79 2c 20 49 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 ry day, I regret
8760: 20 73 69 67 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 signing up for
8770: 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ANTAS Jobs a lit
8780: 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 tle more," she t
8790: 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 old her phone.
87a0: 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 75 She had never tu
87b0: 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 4e 54 41 rned on the ANTA
87c0: 53 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 S voice integrat
87d0: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 ion, so it offer
87e0: 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a ed no response..
87f0: 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 .She skimmed the
8800: 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 message about t
8810: 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 73 he study. Parts
8820: 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 of it identifie
8830: 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e d it as some kin
8840: 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 73 d of personal as
8850: 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 sistant software
8860: 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 70 72 65 73 instead of pres
8870: 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 75 67 20 74 72 cription drug tr
8880: 69 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 63 72 6f 6c ials. She scrol
8890: 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 led back up to t
88a0: 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 67 61 6e he top and began
88b0: 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c reading more cl
88c0: 6f 73 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 osely...Alley re
88d0: 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6d 61 ad about goal ma
88e0: 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 nagement guidanc
88f0: 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 72 61 64 69 e and new paradi
8900: 67 6d 73 20 69 6e 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 69 76 65 gms in assistive
8910: 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 74 79 70 technology, typ
8920: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 6c 61 6e ically vague lan
8930: 67 75 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20 guage about new
8940: 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 software. She h
8950: 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 esitated, then s
8960: 65 6e 74 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 74 ent a response t
8970: 6f 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 61 o a university a
8980: 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 ccount on ANTAS
8990: 4a 6f 62 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f Jobs...The respo
89a0: 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 nse came less th
89b0: 61 6e 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c an ten minutes l
89c0: 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 ater, and offere
89d0: 64 20 74 77 6f 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 61 d two possible a
89e0: 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 69 6d 65 73 ppointment times
89f0: 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 the next day.
8a00: 53 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a She chose one...
8a10: 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 She was committe
8a20: 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 d to it, now. S
8a30: 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 he was tired...S
8a40: 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 he took a nap, a
8a50: 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 70 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 nd slept through
8a60: 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 61 6c her reminder al
8a70: 61 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6c arm...---..The l
8a80: 6f 77 20 72 6f 61 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 65 6c ow roar of a del
8a90: 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 ivery drone woke
8aa0: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f Alley in the mo
8ab0: 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 rning. She star
8ac0: 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f ed at the door o
8ad0: 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 f her bedroom, t
8ae0: 68 65 6e 20 73 63 72 61 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 hen scrambled ou
8af0: 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 t of bed and rus
8b00: 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e hed to the livin
8b10: 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f g room. She sto
8b20: 70 70 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 pped, staring at
8b30: 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 the door, and r
8b40: 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 ealized that if
8b50: 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f she needed to do
8b60: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f something it wo
8b70: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 uld be on a comp
8b80: 75 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 2c 20 uter...She sat,
8b90: 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f opened her lapto
8ba0: 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 p, and checked h
8bb0: 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f er messages..."O
8bc0: 72 64 65 72 20 52 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 rder Recommendat
8bd0: 69 6f 6e 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 ion: ANTAS Major
8be0: 64 6f 6d 6f 20 33 2e 30 0a 0a 22 43 6c 69 63 6b domo 3.0.."Click
8bf0: 20 74 6f 20 43 61 6e 63 65 6c 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 to Cancel"..The
8c00: 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 72 65 next message re
8c10: 61 64 20 22 4f 72 64 65 72 20 61 75 74 6f 2d 63 ad "Order auto-c
8c20: 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 onfirmed, delive
8c30: 72 79 20 69 6e 20 34 2d 36 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e ry in 4-6 hours.
8c40: 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 "..Another arriv
8c50: 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e ed at that momen
8c60: 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 59 6f 75 t. It read "You
8c70: 72 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 72 r package has ar
8c80: 72 69 76 65 64 21 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 rived! How was
8c90: 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 65 78 your delivery ex
8ca0: 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 perience?"..She
8cb0: 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 closed the messa
8cc0: 67 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e 22 ge box. "Shit."
8cd0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 75 72 73 65 64 20 63 6f 6e ..She cursed con
8ce0: 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 tinuously under
8cf0: 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 61 73 20 73 68 her breath as sh
8d00: 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 73 e opened her cus
8d10: 74 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 72 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 tom user setting
8d20: 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 s. There it was
8d30: 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 : ANTAS updates
8d40: 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 automatically re
8d50: 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e set her preferen
8d60: 63 65 73 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 ces during the p
8d70: 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 75 70 revious day's up
8d80: 64 61 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 63 date. She now c
8d90: 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2c hanged settings,
8da0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 starting with t
8db0: 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 61 75 74 6f 2d urning off auto-
8dc0: 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 accept of any re
8dd0: 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 commendations.
8de0: 44 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 Doing that one t
8df0: 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 hing now require
8e00: 64 20 65 6c 65 76 65 6e 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 d eleven setting
8e10: 20 74 6f 67 67 6c 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 toggles...She f
8e20: 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 ound another mes
8e30: 73 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 sage, this one f
8e40: 72 6f 6d 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 rom less than a
8e50: 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 22 48 6f minute ago. "Ho
8e60: 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e w do you like AN
8e70: 54 41 53 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 4f 72 TAS Majordomo Or
8e80: 67 61 6e 69 63 20 45 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 33 2e ganic Edition 3.
8e90: 30 3f 20 20 57 72 69 74 65 20 61 20 72 65 76 69 0? Write a revi
8ea0: 65 77 21 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 ew!" She didn't
8eb0: 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e even what to kn
8ec0: 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 61 6e 20 22 6f 72 67 61 ow what an "orga
8ed0: 6e 69 63 20 65 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 69 6e 76 nic edition" inv
8ee0: 6f 6c 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 olved...She sear
8ef0: 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 ched for the opt
8f00: 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 69 74 ion to return it
8f10: 2e 20 20 41 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 . At first, she
8f20: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 69 couldn't find i
8f30: 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c t, but eventuall
8f40: 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 65 y discovered whe
8f50: 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 6d 6f re the update mo
8f60: 76 65 64 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b ved it...It took
8f70: 20 68 65 72 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 her twenty minu
8f80: 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 tes to get throu
8f90: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2e 20 gh the process.
8fa0: 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e Part of that in
8fb0: 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 volved bringing
8fc0: 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74 the box inside t
8fd0: 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 o get its delive
8fe0: 72 79 20 63 6f 64 65 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 ry code so she c
8ff0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 22 65 78 70 65 64 69 74 65 22 20 ould "expedite"
9000: 74 68 65 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 the return...She
9010: 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 stared at the r
9020: 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 61 76 65 20 esults. "Leave
9030: 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 77 68 65 72 the package wher
9040: 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 e the delivery d
9050: 72 6f 6e 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 rone dropped it
9060: 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 72 off. Another dr
9070: 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 69 63 6b 20 69 74 one will pick it
9080: 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 72 65 66 75 6e up. Your refun
9090: 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 d will be proces
90a0: 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 31 30 2d 31 35 20 64 61 79 sed in 10-15 day
90b0: 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 s."..The charge
90c0: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 66 to her account f
90d0: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 77 61 73 or the order was
90e0: 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 over fifteen hu
90f0: 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 ndred dollars.
9100: 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 She didn't have
9110: 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 69 6e 20 68 enough left in h
9120: 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 61 er account to pa
9130: 79 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 75 72 y rent...She cur
9140: 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 sed again, and s
9150: 6c 61 6d 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f lammed her lapto
9160: 70 20 6c 69 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 20 p lid down...An
9170: 68 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 hour later, Alle
9180: 79 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 y patted her poc
9190: 6b 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 kets on her way
91a0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 to the door. Sh
91b0: 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 e found wallet,
91c0: 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 69 63 6b phone, chopstick
91d0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 79 73 2e 20 20 53 68 s, and keys. Sh
91e0: 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 e checked the fi
91f0: 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 t of her mask.
9200: 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 She stepped over
9210: 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e the box in fron
9220: 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 t of her door, t
9230: 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 hen locked her d
9240: 65 61 64 62 6f 6c 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 eadbolt and head
9250: 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ed for her car..
9260: 0a 22 48 65 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 ."Hey, Alley! I
9270: 74 27 73 20 54 75 65 73 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 54 t's Tuesday!"..T
9280: 68 65 20 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 62 he rough voice b
9290: 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 20 73 68 rought her up sh
92a0: 6f 72 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 6f 6f 74 65 64 20 ort, one booted
92b0: 66 6f 6f 74 20 68 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 foot hovering of
92c0: 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 f the edge of th
92d0: 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 75 e cracked old cu
92e0: 72 62 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 rb. She turned
92f0: 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 to look. "Hey,
9300: 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 Zeke. I'm just
9310: 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6d on my way to a m
9320: 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4a 6f 62 20 73 74 75 eeting. Job stu
9330: 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 22 20 20 54 ff.".."Yeah?" T
9340: 68 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 65 6d 65 72 he landlord emer
9350: 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 ged from the sha
9360: 64 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 dows of his gara
9370: 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 ge and fully int
9380: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 62 72 69 67 o the day's brig
9390: 68 74 20 73 75 6e 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 47 ht sunlight. "G
93a0: 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 27 ood. The meter'
93b0: 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 s running. Don'
93c0: 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 t start collecti
93d0: 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 65 20 66 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 ng late fees on
93e0: 79 6f 75 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 your rent."..She
93f0: 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 pushed brown ha
9400: 69 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 ir away from her
9410: 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 eyes. "Yeah, I
9420: 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 know," she said
9430: 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 ..."Maybe you sh
9440: 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 27 76 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 ouldn't've left
9450: 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 that man of your
9460: 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 s. He always ha
9470: 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 d money."..She g
9480: 72 69 6d 61 63 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 rimaced, and qui
9490: 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 ckly turned away
94a0: 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 . "Yeah," she s
94b0: 61 69 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 63 6c 65 6e aid through clen
94c0: 63 68 65 64 20 74 65 65 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ched teeth, and
94d0: 72 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e rounded the fron
94e0: 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f 20 t of the car to
94f0: 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 69 64 the driver's sid
9500: 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 e door. "Well,
9510: 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 you can't change
9520: 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 the past."..It
9530: 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 62 6c took a couple bl
9540: 6f 63 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 ocks of driving
9550: 61 6e 64 20 66 69 64 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 and fiddling wit
9560: 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 62 75 74 h the window but
9570: 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 ton to get the g
9580: 6c 61 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 lass on her side
9590: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 6c 66 of the car half
95a0: 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 69 72 20 66 way down. Air f
95b0: 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 69 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 lowed in, perhap
95c0: 73 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 s enough so she
95d0: 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 77 65 61 74 20 74 wouldn't sweat t
95e0: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 65 79 20 hrough her grey
95f0: 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 t-shirt on the w
9600: 61 79 20 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 48 ay to Irvine. H
9610: 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 73 70 65 65 64 73 20 6d 69 ighway speeds mi
9620: 67 68 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 ght help with th
9630: 61 74 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6d 65 at...No money me
9640: 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 ant no replacing
9650: 20 74 68 65 20 41 2f 43 20 75 6e 69 74 20 77 69 the A/C unit wi
9660: 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 th something rec
9670: 68 61 72 67 65 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 hargeable. It a
9680: 6c 73 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e lso meant no mon
9690: 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 ey to order part
96a0: 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69 78 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 77 s to fix her pow
96b0: 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 er window switch
96c0: 65 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 es...The stubbor
96d0: 6e 2c 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 69 n, angry clenchi
96e0: 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 77 20 61 6e ng of her jaw an
96f0: 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 73 65 20 6f d her pretense o
9700: 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d f being in too m
9710: 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 75 73 68 20 74 6f uch of a rush to
9720: 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 talk more meant
9730: 20 6e 6f 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 no going back f
9740: 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 65 6e or her forgotten
9750: 20 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 65 69 74 sunglasses, eit
9760: 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 69 6e 74 her. She squint
9770: 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 ed through the b
9780: 72 69 67 68 74 20 67 6c 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 53 right glare of S
9790: 6f 75 74 68 65 72 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e outhern Californ
97a0: 69 61 20 73 75 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 ia sun and the f
97b0: 6f 67 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 75 73 74 79 20 og of her dusty
97c0: 77 69 6e 64 73 68 69 65 6c 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b windshield, look
97d0: 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 ing out at the g
97e0: 72 65 79 2d 68 61 7a 65 64 2c 20 62 6c 65 61 63 rey-hazed, bleac
97f0: 68 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 hed look of that
9800: 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c part of the Inl
9810: 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 and Empire she c
9820: 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 alled home...The
9830: 20 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 73 65 6d 69 2d 69 6e endless semi-in
9840: 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 73 75 62 75 72 62 73 dustrial suburbs
9850: 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 and overpacked
9860: 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 highway traffic
9870: 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 ground past her
9880: 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e for more than an
9890: 20 68 6f 75 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 hour before she
98a0: 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 20 65 pulled off an e
98b0: 78 69 74 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 61 xit ramp and coa
98c0: 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 sted into Irvine
98d0: 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 . It was a shor
98e0: 74 65 72 20 74 72 69 70 20 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 ter trip than us
98f0: 75 61 6c 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 61 6c 6c ual, despite all
9900: 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 72 the delays. Tr
9910: 61 66 66 69 63 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 6a affic flow was j
9920: 75 73 74 20 66 61 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 ust fast enough
9930: 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 to give her a li
9940: 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 ttle cooling bre
9950: 65 7a 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 eze through her
9960: 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 window for most
9970: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 64 of the highway d
9980: 72 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 65 6e 73 69 rive...The densi
9990: 74 79 20 6f 66 20 67 72 61 73 73 79 20 76 65 72 ty of grassy ver
99a0: 67 65 73 2c 20 74 72 65 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 64 20 ges, tree lined
99b0: 72 6f 61 64 77 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 75 roadways, and lu
99c0: 73 68 6c 79 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 63 65 6e 74 65 shly green cente
99d0: 72 20 64 69 76 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 6c 61 6e 64 r divider island
99e0: 73 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 s increased as s
99f0: 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f he got closer to
9a00: 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 2e the university.
9a10: 20 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c Despite hersel
9a20: 66 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 f, she found her
9a30: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c shoulders final
9a40: 6c 79 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 ly settled, her
9a50: 6a 61 77 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 2c 20 jaw unclenched,
9a60: 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 and her breath b
9a70: 65 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 ecame smooth and
9a80: 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 easy through a
9a90: 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 74 68 72 more relaxed thr
9aa0: 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 oat. The direct
9ab0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e ions on her phon
9ac0: 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 e were more accu
9ad0: 72 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c rate than usual,
9ae0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 and she pulled
9af0: 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 smoothly into a
9b00: 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 62 79 parking space by
9b10: 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 67 2c 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 the big, blocki
9b20: 73 68 2c 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c sh, white and gl
9b30: 61 73 73 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 ass building she
9b40: 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 needed...She wa
9b50: 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 s very early, bu
9b60: 74 20 61 20 67 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 t a grad student
9b70: 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 must have wante
9b80: 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 d to leave early
9b90: 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 74 , so she got a t
9ba0: 61 62 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f ablet of questio
9bb0: 6e 6e 61 69 72 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 6d nnaires and form
9bc0: 73 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 s shoved into he
9bd0: 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 r hands immediat
9be0: 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 ely. After she
9bf0: 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 finished them, s
9c00: 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 he sat and read
9c10: 61 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f a science fictio
9c20: 6e 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 n novel on her p
9c30: 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 hone for more th
9c40: 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 an an hour...The
9c50: 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 professor runni
9c60: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 6e 65 76 ng the study nev
9c70: 65 72 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 er quite introdu
9c80: 63 65 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 ced himself, but
9c90: 20 61 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e a name plate on
9ca0: 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 73 6b 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 his desk read "
9cb0: 44 72 2e 20 54 68 61 64 64 65 75 73 20 47 6f 75 Dr. Thaddeus Gou
9cc0: 6c 65 74 22 2e 20 20 48 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 let". He questi
9cd0: 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 oned her about h
9ce0: 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 68 er background, h
9cf0: 65 72 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 er career and fi
9d00: 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e nances, and even
9d10: 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 her relationshi
9d20: 70 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 ps. The profess
9d30: 6f 72 20 63 68 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 or chewed on a s
9d40: 74 79 6c 75 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 tylus and talked
9d50: 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 around it while
9d60: 20 74 79 70 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 73 70 typing her resp
9d70: 6f 6e 73 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 74 onses into his t
9d80: 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 ablet...He broke
9d90: 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 off in the midd
9da0: 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 le and said "I f
9db0: 69 6e 64 20 69 74 20 63 61 6c 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 ind it calming,
9dc0: 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 you know.".."Wha
9dd0: 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 79 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 t?".."Typing, I
9de0: 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 mean, instead of
9df0: 20 6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 74 letting ANTAS t
9e00: 72 61 6e 73 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 ranslate it to t
9e10: 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 20 74 ext.".."Oh. I t
9e20: 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 hought maybe you
9e30: 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 were doing that
9e40: 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 73 75 62 to maintain sub
9e50: 6a 65 63 74 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a ject privacy."..
9e60: 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 He looked at his
9e70: 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 tablet and said
9e80: 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e "Oh, of course.
9e90: 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69 I guess I do i
9ea0: 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e t for that, too.
9eb0: 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 71 75 " He resumed qu
9ec0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 estioning her, a
9ed0: 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 67 72 65 73 73 s if the digress
9ee0: 69 6f 6e 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e ion never happen
9ef0: 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 78 65 72 63 69 73 ed...The exercis
9f00: 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6e 64 20 e finally wound
9f10: 69 74 73 20 74 65 64 69 6f 75 73 20 77 61 79 20 its tedious way
9f20: 74 6f 20 61 20 68 61 6c 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 to a halt. The
9f30: 74 65 6e 75 72 65 64 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f tenured professo
9f40: 72 20 2d 2d 20 61 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 68 65 r -- a status he
9f50: 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 73 68 6f 72 brought up shor
9f60: 74 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f tly after the co
9f70: 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 nversation moved
9f80: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e from questionin
9f90: 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 g her to talking
9fa0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 about the study
9fb0: 20 2d 2d 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67 -- kept chewing
9fc0: 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 61 on his stylus a
9fd0: 73 20 68 65 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 64 s he scrolled id
9fe0: 6c 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 ly through infor
9ff0: 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 mation on the ta
a000: 62 6c 65 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 73 blet...He fell s
a010: 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c ilent for a whil
a020: 65 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 69 e, still scrolli
a030: 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 ng, and she sat
a040: 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 quietly..."So,"
a050: 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 74 20 6c 61 73 74 2c he said at last,
a060: 20 22 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 "tell me more a
a070: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 bout this digita
a080: 6c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f l research job o
a090: 66 20 79 6f 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 f yours.".."What
a0a0: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e more do you wan
a0b0: 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 t to know about
a0c0: 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 it?" she asked.
a0d0: 20 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 Her eyes shifte
a0e0: 64 20 72 65 73 74 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f d restlessly aro
a0f0: 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 und the small of
a100: 66 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 fice, and never
a110: 71 75 69 74 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 quite landed no
a120: 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2c 20 6e the professor, n
a130: 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 ow..."How do you
a140: 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a get clients?"..
a150: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 6e 61 Alley's eyes sna
a160: 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 pped back to mee
a170: 74 20 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 64 65 6e t his, and widen
a180: 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 ed slightly..."I
a190: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 s that a surpris
a1a0: 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 ing question?" h
a1b0: 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 e asked. "It's
a1c0: 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 65 63 72 not a trade secr
a1d0: 65 74 2c 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 et, I hope." He
a1e0: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 66 61 69 6e 74 6c 79 2c smiled faintly,
a1f0: 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 72 6f in a manner pro
a200: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 bably intended t
a210: 6f 20 62 65 20 64 69 73 61 72 6d 69 6e 67 2e 0a o be disarming..
a220: 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 ."No," she said
a230: 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e slowly. "It's n
a240: 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2e 20 20 49 74 ot a secret. It
a250: 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 's just usually
a260: 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 not what people
a270: 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a want to know."..
a280: 48 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 73 6d 69 He waved a dismi
a290: 73 73 69 76 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ssive hand. "I'
a2a0: 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 m not personally
a2b0: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 2c 20 72 65 61 interested, rea
a2c0: 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 lly. I'm just e
a2d0: 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 valuating your s
a2e0: 75 69 74 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 uitability for t
a2f0: 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 he study."..Her
a300: 6c 69 70 73 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 75 lips began to tu
a310: 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 rn down, into a
a320: 66 72 6f 77 6e 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 frown, before sh
a330: 65 20 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 e aborted the re
a340: 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 57 65 6c flex. "Oh. Wel
a350: 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 77 l . . . mostly w
a360: 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 ord of mouth and
a370: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e people stumblin
a380: 67 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 61 g on one of my a
a390: 72 74 69 63 6c 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 rticles about se
a3a0: 61 72 63 68 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 71 75 65 73 2e arch techniques.
a3b0: 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 ".."Does that re
a3c0: 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 ally work? What
a3d0: 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 63 6f 6e 74 is that -- cont
a3e0: 65 6e 74 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a ent marketing?".
a3f0: 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 .She shrugged.
a400: 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f "I guess. It do
a410: 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 6f 20 77 65 esn't work so we
a420: 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 ll, these days.
a430: 20 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 Nothing does.
a440: 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e I only get busin
a450: 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ess from people
a460: 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 who decide they
a470: 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 need more than t
a480: 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 hey can get out
a490: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d of their confirm
a4a0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 75 62 62 6c 65 73 2c 20 69 ation bubbles, i
a4b0: 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c f they even real
a4c0: 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 ize they haven't
a4d0: 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e found everythin
a4e0: 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69 g there is to fi
a4f0: 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 nd. It seems li
a500: 6b 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e ke now that mean
a510: 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e s almost nobody.
a520: 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 Maybe there ar
a530: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 e some still out
a540: 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 there, but they
a550: 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 all seem to hav
a560: 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 66 e people on staf
a570: 66 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 f to do the rese
a580: 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a arch for them.".
a590: 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d ."Hmm. Do you m
a5a0: 65 61 6e 20 74 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 72 65 73 ean tailored res
a5b0: 65 61 72 63 68 20 62 69 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 earch bias?".."Y
a5c0: 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 eah," she said,
a5d0: 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 and nodded..."Wh
a5e0: 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f y haven't you go
a5f0: 74 74 65 6e 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 tten a job doing
a600: 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f research for so
a610: 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 68 meone?".."They h
a620: 61 76 65 20 75 6e 70 61 69 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 ave unpaid inter
a630: 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 ns for that. I
a640: 64 6f 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 do a better job
a650: 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 66 75 6c 6c than a room full
a660: 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 of interns, but
a670: 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 corporate manag
a680: 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 72 61 ers don't get ra
a690: 69 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e ises for spendin
a6a0: 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 g more money on
a6b0: 65 78 70 65 72 74 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 65 76 65 experts when eve
a6c0: 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ryone else in th
a6d0: 65 69 72 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79 20 73 65 74 eir industry set
a6e0: 74 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 20 tles for intern
a6f0: 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6d 2d research.".."Mm-
a700: 68 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 hmm." He remove
a710: 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f d his stylus fro
a720: 6d 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 m his mouth and
a730: 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 61 20 67 72 65 65 6e produced a green
a740: 20 70 61 69 73 6c 65 79 20 62 61 6e 64 61 6e 61 paisley bandana
a750: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 65 73 6b 20 64 72 61 from a desk dra
a760: 77 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 wer. He proceed
a770: 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 74 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 ed to meticulous
a780: 6c 79 20 64 72 79 20 68 69 73 20 73 61 6c 69 76 ly dry his saliv
a790: 61 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6e 2e 20 a from the pen.
a7a0: 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 "Does that pay
a7b0: 77 65 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 63 6b well?"..She cock
a7c0: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6f ed her head to o
a7d0: 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 ne side. "Only
a7e0: 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 73 occasionally," s
a7f0: 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 he admitted...He
a800: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 smiled. "You s
a810: 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e aid you're techn
a820: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 65 6e 74 ically competent
a830: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 , but not in the
a840: 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 65 63 manner of a tec
a850: 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 hnology professi
a860: 6f 6e 61 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 onal," he said,
a870: 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e obviously readin
a880: 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 74 61 62 6c 65 g from his table
a890: 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 t. He looked up
a8a0: 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 at her again.
a8b0: 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 3f "Do you program?
a8c0: 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ".."No," she sai
a8d0: 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 d..."Good. Good
a8e0: 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 ." He tucked th
a8f0: 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 e end of his sty
a900: 6c 75 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 68 69 73 20 lus between his
a910: 74 65 65 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 teeth again. As
a920: 20 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 he stuffed the
a930: 62 61 6e 64 61 6e 61 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 bandana back int
a940: 6f 20 69 74 73 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 2c 20 68 65 o its drawer, he
a950: 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b asked "Do you k
a960: 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f now anything abo
a970: 75 74 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e ut artificial in
a980: 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 telligence resea
a990: 72 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 rch?"..She hesit
a9a0: 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b ated, then shook
a9b0: 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c her head. "No,
a9c0: 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 not really.".."
a9d0: 49 20 73 65 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e I see," he said.
a9e0: 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 "Well, in case
a9f0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 this didn't alr
aa00: 65 61 64 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c eady get an expl
aa10: 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c anation for you,
aa20: 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 74 65 73 74 what we're test
aa30: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 61 ing here is an a
aa40: 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c rtificial intell
aa50: 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a igence prioritiz
aa60: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 ation assistance
aa70: 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f system. Most o
aa80: 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 f what people ca
aa90: 6c 6c 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e ll artificial in
aaa0: 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 telligence these
aab0: 20 64 61 79 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c days is actuall
aac0: 79 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 y a machine lear
aad0: 6e 69 6e 67 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 ning quantitativ
aae0: 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 41 4e e optimizer. AN
aaf0: 54 41 53 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 TAS is the best
ab00: 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 known optimizer
ab10: 41 49 2e 20 20 54 68 65 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d AI. These optim
ab20: 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 izers are given
ab30: 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 2d target metrics -
ab40: 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6e - not specific n
ab50: 75 6d 62 65 72 73 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 umbers, just the
ab60: 20 63 61 74 65 67 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6e category of a n
ab70: 75 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 27 70 72 6f umber, like 'pro
ab80: 66 69 74 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 fit' instead of
ab90: 27 66 6f 75 72 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 'four million do
aba0: 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 27 llars of profit'
abb0: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 . The optimizer
abc0: 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e performs action
abd0: 73 20 69 6e 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 s in areas where
abe0: 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 69 6c it has the abil
abf0: 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 73 6f ity to affect so
ac00: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 68 mething, like ch
ac10: 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 61 64 20 74 oosing what ad t
ac20: 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 o show a particu
ac30: 6c 61 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 lar person. It
ac40: 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 collects statist
ac50: 69 63 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 65 66 ics about how ef
ac60: 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 fectively these
ac70: 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 70 72 actions drive pr
ac80: 6f 66 69 74 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 ofit growth in t
ac90: 68 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 he short term, a
aca0: 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 nd about trends
acb0: 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 63 to help ensure c
acc0: 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 ontinued growth
acd0: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 in the longer te
ace0: 72 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 73 20 69 rm, and alters i
acf0: 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 ts own recommend
ad00: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6c 67 6f 72 69 74 68 6d 73 ation algorithms
ad10: 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 20 74 68 6f to optimize tho
ad20: 73 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 se growth number
ad30: 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 44 6f s over time. Do
ad40: 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 65 6e es that make sen
ad50: 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 se?"..She nodded
ad60: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 79 ..."The system y
ad70: 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 75 73 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 ou'll use is not
ad80: 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 an optimizer.
ad90: 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a It's a prioritiz
ada0: 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 er. It collects
adb0: 20 64 61 74 61 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 70 65 63 data about spec
adc0: 69 66 69 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 64 65 74 ified goals, det
add0: 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 ermines strategi
ade0: 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 62 65 73 74 20 es for how best
adf0: 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 to achieve all s
ae00: 74 61 74 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 tated goals, and
ae10: 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 provides that i
ae20: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 nformation to th
ae30: 65 20 75 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 e user to more e
ae40: 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 70 75 72 73 75 ffectively pursu
ae50: 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a e those goals.".
ae60: 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 ."Does it just d
ae70: 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 o those things f
ae80: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 or the user, the
ae90: 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 n?".."No," he sa
aea0: 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 id, "it essentia
aeb0: 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 lly just collect
aec0: 73 20 64 61 74 61 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 76 69 s data and provi
aed0: 64 65 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 74 73 des advice. Its
aee0: 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 61 74 68 ability to gath
aef0: 65 72 20 64 61 74 61 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 er data is limit
af00: 65 64 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c ed, too. It wil
af10: 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 l have to get th
af20: 61 74 20 64 61 74 61 20 62 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 at data by watch
af30: 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e ing and listenin
af40: 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 g as you go abou
af50: 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c t your business,
af60: 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 69 taking direct i
af70: 6e 70 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f nput from you, o
af80: 72 20 66 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 r filling reques
af90: 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 ts with a short
afa0: 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 list of Universi
afb0: 74 79 20 73 65 72 76 65 72 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e ty servers here.
afc0: 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 ".."How does it
afd0: 77 61 74 63 68 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e watch, or listen
afe0: 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f to, what I'm do
aff0: 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ing?"..He smiled
b000: 20 66 61 69 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 faintly again,
b010: 61 6e 64 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 and hesitated.
b020: 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 He nodded, more
b030: 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to himself than
b040: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 77 69 76 to her, and swiv
b050: 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 elled his office
b060: 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 chair to face a
b070: 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 way from her. H
b080: 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 77 65 e opened a drawe
b090: 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 63 61 r in the open ca
b0a0: 62 69 6e 65 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d binet behind him
b0b0: 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 . When he turne
b0c0: 64 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 d to face her ag
b0d0: 61 69 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 61 20 73 6d ain, he set a sm
b0e0: 61 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 all rectangular
b0f0: 62 6f 78 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 2e box on the desk.
b100: 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 It looked like
b110: 20 73 6c 69 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 70 72 slick, white pr
b120: 6f 64 75 63 74 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 69 6e 67 20 oduct packaging
b130: 66 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 65 6e 64 20 70 for a high end p
b140: 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 75 74 74 65 72 6c hone, but utterl
b150: 79 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 y blank, as if s
b160: 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 6f omeone forgot to
b170: 20 70 72 69 6e 74 20 62 72 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 print branding
b180: 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 on it...He lifte
b190: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 76 d the lid to rev
b1a0: 65 61 6c 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 65 79 eal a pair of ey
b1b0: 65 73 68 69 65 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c eshield glasses,
b1c0: 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 the kind of thi
b1d0: 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 6f ng people wore o
b1e0: 6e 20 6c 6f 77 20 61 69 72 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 n low air qualit
b1f0: 79 20 64 61 79 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 y days so their
b200: 65 79 65 73 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 74 69 6e 67 eyes won't sting
b210: 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c . Younger peopl
b220: 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 70 72 65 74 e wore them pret
b230: 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 ty much all the
b240: 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 73 20 64 69 64 20 70 65 6f time, as did peo
b250: 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 ple in the kinds
b260: 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 2d 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 of high-paying
b270: 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 jobs where they
b280: 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f feel the need to
b290: 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 76 69 73 75 61 6c 20 64 have a visual d
b2a0: 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 isplay of their
b2b0: 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 important busine
b2c0: 73 73 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 ss information a
b2d0: 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 vailable at all
b2e0: 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 61 64 73 20 75 times..."Heads u
b2f0: 70 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 p display," he s
b300: 61 69 64 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 aid, confirming
b310: 68 65 72 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 her impression,
b320: 22 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 65 64 "with integrated
b330: 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 62 69 6e cameras for bin
b340: 6f 63 75 6c 61 72 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 63 61 70 ocular video cap
b350: 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 ture. There's a
b360: 20 6d 69 63 72 6f 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 65 microphone in e
b370: 61 63 68 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c ach temple, too,
b380: 20 66 6f 72 20 62 69 6e 61 75 72 61 6c 20 61 75 for binaural au
b390: 64 69 6f 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f dio capture. Yo
b3a0: 75 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 61 72 20 62 79 20 70 61 u can hear by pa
b3b0: 69 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f iring it with yo
b3c0: 75 72 20 69 6d 70 6c 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 ur implant.".."I
b3d0: 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 65 2e don't have one.
b3e0: 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 "..He stared for
b3f0: 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2e a moment. "Oh.
b400: 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 Well. Neither
b410: 20 64 6f 20 49 2e 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 69 72 73 do I. It pairs
b420: 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 with your phone
b430: 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 6f 77 , anyway, so how
b440: 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 ever you use tha
b450: 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a t should work.".
b460: 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f .She nodded. "O
b470: 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 61 kay.".."It can a
b480: 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f lso just talk to
b490: 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 you in text, th
b4a0: 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ough you should
b4b0: 62 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 be careful while
b4c0: 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 driving. There
b4d0: 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 72 73 are disclaimers
b4e0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 about that kind
b4f0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 of thing in the
b500: 20 77 61 69 76 65 72 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 waivers." He w
b510: 69 74 68 64 72 65 77 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 ithdrew a tablet
b520: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 64 from the same d
b530: 65 73 6b 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 69 esk drawer as hi
b540: 73 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 73 70 69 74 20 72 61 67 s green spit rag
b550: 2c 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 , woke it, and t
b560: 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 apped through a
b570: 66 65 77 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 few screens. Sh
b580: 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 75 e watched him tu
b590: 72 6e 20 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 rn it around and
b5a0: 20 73 6c 69 64 65 20 69 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 slide it across
b5b0: 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 the desk toward
b5c0: 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 her. "Here. Y
b5d0: 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 ou'll need to si
b5e0: 67 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 2e 22 gn these forms."
b5f0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She looked at
b600: 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 2e 20 20 the open form.
b610: 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 She looked up at
b620: 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 him. "Why?".."
b630: 4f 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f Oh, it's just so
b640: 6d 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 6e 6f 6e 64 me standard nond
b650: 69 73 63 6c 6f 73 75 72 65 2c 20 67 75 61 72 61 isclosure, guara
b660: 6e 74 65 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c ntee of material
b670: 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 return, and oth
b680: 65 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 69 er legal necessi
b690: 74 69 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 ties for joining
b6a0: 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 the study.".."Y
b6b0: 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 2e 22 ou mean I'm in."
b6c0: 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f ..He nodded. "O
b6d0: 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 f course. You'r
b6e0: 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 63 61 6e 64 69 e an ideal candi
b6f0: 64 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 date.".."You got
b700: 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 71 that from the q
b710: 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b uestions you ask
b720: 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 21 22 20 20 48 65 ed.".."Yes!" He
b730: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 20 70 72 6f 75 64 2c smiled a proud,
b740: 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 self-satisfied
b750: 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 smile.".."You ne
b760: 65 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 ed underachiever
b770: 73 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e s who are runnin
b780: 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 g out of money,
b790: 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 I guess." She f
b7a0: 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 ailed to keep a
b7b0: 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 sour note out of
b7c0: 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 her voice..."Ah
b7d0: 2c 20 79 65 73 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 , yes, I suppose
b7e0: 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 66 61 69 72 20 64 that's a fair d
b7f0: 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 61 escription, if a
b800: 20 62 69 74 20 62 6c 75 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 bit blunt.".."W
b810: 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 70 72 hy?".."A goal pr
b820: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 ioritization sys
b830: 74 65 6d 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 tem should help
b840: 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 you become somet
b850: 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 hing other than
b860: 61 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 an underachiever
b870: 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 without money.
b880: 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b Don't you think
b890: 20 73 6f 3f 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 so? We'll chec
b8a0: 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 k your progress
b8b0: 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 through prioriti
b8c0: 7a 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 65 78 70 zer logs for exp
b8d0: 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 erimental purpos
b8e0: 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 es.".."How do I
b8f0: 75 73 65 20 69 74 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f use it? What do
b900: 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 I need to do wi
b910: 74 68 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 th it?".."Everyt
b920: 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f hing you need to
b930: 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 know to get sta
b940: 72 74 65 64 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 rted is in the b
b950: 6f 78 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 ox. Your direct
b960: 20 64 65 70 6f 73 69 74 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 deposits will b
b970: 65 67 69 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 egin immediately
b980: 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 . I'm told the
b990: 66 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 funds from your
b9a0: 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 first payment wi
b9b0: 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 ll be available
b9c0: 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 in your account
b9d0: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 about ten minute
b9e0: 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 70 70 6c s after you appl
b9f0: 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 69 67 6e 61 74 75 72 65 y your signature
ba00: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 to the last for
ba10: 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 m on that tablet
ba20: 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 ." He tapped th
ba30: 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 27 73 20 62 65 7a 65 6c e tablet's bezel
ba40: 2e 20 20 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 69 . "Of course, i
ba50: 66 20 79 6f 75 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 f you violate th
ba60: 65 20 74 65 72 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 e terms of the s
ba70: 74 75 64 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 tudy, the money
ba80: 6d 75 73 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 65 66 75 must all be refu
ba90: 6e 64 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 nded."..Alley's
baa0: 65 79 65 73 20 73 6c 69 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 eyes slid down t
bab0: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d o the first form
bac0: 20 70 61 67 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 page displayed
bad0: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 20 20 on the tablet.
bae0: 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Okay," she said
baf0: 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 69 67 6e ..."You can sign
bb00: 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 69 6e 67 digitally using
bb10: 20 61 6e 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 73 69 any standard si
bb20: 67 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 6f gning service, o
bb30: 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e r on the screen.
bb40: 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 68 69 " He removed hi
bb50: 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 s stylus from hi
bb60: 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 s mouth again, a
bb70: 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a nd offered it...
bb80: 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 She looked at it
bb90: 73 20 67 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 6d s glistening dam
bba0: 70 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 pness. "No, tha
bbb0: 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 75 73 65 20 44 nks. I'll use D
bbc0: 2d 53 69 67 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 54 68 -Sign."..---..Th
bbd0: 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 e window of her
bbe0: 63 61 72 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 car rolled down
bbf0: 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 smoothly and eas
bc00: 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 ily on the first
bc10: 20 74 72 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 64 try while she d
bc20: 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 rove away from t
bc30: 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 2c 20 61 he university, a
bc40: 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 72 65 77 61 72 64 20 68 s if to reward h
bc50: 65 72 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 er decision to s
bc60: 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 ign up for the s
bc70: 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 54 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 tudy. Twenty mi
bc80: 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c nutes later, All
bc90: 65 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c ey caught hersel
bca0: 66 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 6c f staring blankl
bcb0: 79 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 y out the open w
bcc0: 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 indow of her car
bcd0: 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 67 6c 61 7a 65 64 2e 20 20 , eyes glazed.
bce0: 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 She shook her he
bcf0: 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 ad, then wiped h
bd00: 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 er hand across h
bd10: 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f er face as if to
bd20: 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 63 6f 62 77 65 62 73 20 66 clear cobwebs f
bd30: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 65 68 65 61 64 rom her forehead
bd40: 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 6c 61 73 68 65 73 2e 20 and eyelashes.
bd50: 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She turned her
bd60: 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 focus away from
bd70: 74 68 65 20 73 63 6f 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 72 75 the scorched tru
bd80: 6e 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 74 72 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 nks of trees on
bd90: 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 2d 63 72 6f 77 the highway-crow
bda0: 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 6f 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ding slopes that
bdb0: 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 66 forced all traf
bdc0: 66 69 63 20 65 61 73 74 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 fic eastward her
bdd0: 65 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 e to endure the
bde0: 67 61 75 6e 74 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 49 2d 39 31 gauntlet of I-91
bdf0: 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 if they wished
be00: 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 to make the pass
be10: 61 67 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 age through the
be20: 69 6e 74 65 72 72 65 67 6e 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 interregnum betw
be30: 65 65 6e 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 een Orange Count
be40: 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 y and the Inland
be50: 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 68 65 72 Empire. To her
be60: 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 right, she saw
be70: 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e the huge illumin
be80: 61 74 65 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 ated cross stand
be90: 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 ing alone at the
bea0: 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 top of a high s
beb0: 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 lope, an improba
bec0: 62 6c 65 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 ble survivor of
bed0: 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 66 69 72 65 73 2e 20 20 the wildfires.
bee0: 54 68 65 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 73 63 65 6e 74 20 The faint scent
bef0: 6f 66 20 62 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of burning still
bf00: 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered in the
bf10: 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 air, after all
bf20: 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 this time...She
bf30: 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 left behind the
bf40: 70 61 6c 61 74 69 61 6c 20 48 4f 41 20 61 72 69 palatial HOA ari
bf50: 73 74 6f 63 72 61 63 79 20 6f 66 20 4f 72 61 6e stocracy of Oran
bf60: 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 ge County, and d
bf70: 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 74 6f rove onward into
bf80: 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 65 the seemingly e
bf90: 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 65 78 70 61 6e 73 65 20 6f ndless expanse o
bfa0: 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 f the Inland Emp
bfb0: 69 72 65 27 73 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 50 ire's domain. P
bfc0: 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 62 75 ast the pseudobu
bfd0: 72 62 73 2c 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 rbs, through the
bfe0: 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 67 65 6e 74 72 69 66 69 failed gentrifi
bff0: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 6f cation project o
c000: 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2c 20 73 68 65 f Riverside, she
c010: 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 68 6f made her way ho
c020: 6d 65 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 75 meward in the du
c030: 73 74 79 2c 20 77 69 72 79 2c 20 6a 61 63 6b 61 sty, wiry, jacka
c040: 6c 2d 68 75 6e 67 72 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 79 20 6f l-hungry belly o
c050: 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2c 20 61 6e f the Empire, an
c060: 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 d wondered for t
c070: 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 74 68 20 74 69 he thousandth ti
c080: 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 79 72 61 6e 74 20 77 me what tyrant w
c090: 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 ould ever want t
c0a0: 6f 20 62 65 20 65 6d 70 65 72 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 o be emperor of
c0b0: 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 50 such a place...P
c0c0: 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 eople sometimes
c0d0: 75 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 76 6f 63 61 74 69 76 used an evocativ
c0e0: 65 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 e nickname for t
c0f0: 68 65 20 63 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 53 61 6e 20 42 he city of San B
c100: 65 72 6e 61 72 64 69 6e 6f 2c 20 77 68 6f 73 65 ernardino, whose
c110: 20 73 75 72 72 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 75 surrounding cou
c120: 6e 74 79 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 65 61 73 nty extended eas
c130: 74 77 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 tward all the wa
c140: 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 y to the edge of
c150: 20 4e 65 76 61 64 61 20 61 6e 64 20 41 72 69 7a Nevada and Ariz
c160: 6f 6e 61 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 69 73 65 ona and comprise
c170: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f d the majority o
c180: 66 20 6c 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 74 f land area of t
c190: 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 he Inland Empire
c1a0: 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 . Some called t
c1b0: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 he county seat,
c1c0: 74 68 65 20 63 69 74 79 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 the city itself
c1d0: 42 75 72 6e 69 6e 27 20 44 69 6e 67 6f 2e 0a 0a Burnin' Dingo...
c1e0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 6f Alley's home cro
c1f0: 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 uched to the sou
c200: 74 68 2c 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 th, beneath the
c210: 73 71 75 61 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 75 6c 6b 20 6f squatting bulk o
c220: 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 69 f the burning di
c230: 6e 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 6d 61 70 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 ngo on maps, so
c240: 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 lowly that nobod
c250: 79 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 y bothered with
c260: 63 6c 65 76 65 72 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 73 clever nicknames
c270: 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a for it. They j
c280: 75 73 74 20 73 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 ust sneered slig
c290: 68 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 htly at how the
c2a0: 6e 61 6d 65 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 73 6f 75 6e name Perris soun
c2b0: 64 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 72 69 73 2c 20 ded like Paris,
c2c0: 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 69 63 69 while the munici
c2d0: 70 61 6c 69 74 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 72 pality could har
c2e0: 64 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6e dly have been an
c2f0: 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 y less like the
c300: 73 77 61 6d 70 2d 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 6f 73 6d swamp-built cosm
c310: 6f 70 6f 6c 69 74 61 6e 20 69 63 6f 6e 20 6f 66 opolitan icon of
c320: 20 74 77 65 6e 74 69 65 74 68 20 63 65 6e 74 75 twentieth centu
c330: 72 79 20 45 75 72 6f 70 65 61 6e 20 63 75 6c 74 ry European cult
c340: 75 72 65 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 ure. At least t
c350: 68 65 20 61 72 65 61 27 73 20 75 62 69 71 75 69 he area's ubiqui
c360: 74 6f 75 73 20 64 72 79 2c 20 68 61 72 64 2d 70 tous dry, hard-p
c370: 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 69 72 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 acked dirt offer
c380: 65 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 ed little opport
c390: 75 6e 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 77 69 6c 64 66 69 unity for wildfi
c3a0: 72 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a res to invade...
c3b0: 45 76 65 6e 20 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 66 75 Even nature refu
c3c0: 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 sed to storm the
c3d0: 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 45 heart of this E
c3e0: 6d 70 69 72 65 2c 20 69 74 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 mpire, its appea
c3f0: 6c 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 63 63 61 l was so desicca
c400: 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ted...She looked
c410: 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 6f at the white bo
c420: 78 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 x sitting on the
c430: 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c passenger seat,
c440: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f and thought abo
c450: 75 74 20 68 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 72 ut how, and wher
c460: 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 69 76 65 64 e, she now lived
c470: 2e 20 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 . Despite what
c480: 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 she told her mot
c490: 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 74 her, Alley was t
c4a0: 65 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 empted to give u
c4b0: 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 p and move into
c4c0: 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 one of the most
c4d0: 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 73 Republican areas
c4e0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2e in the country.
c4f0: 20 20 43 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 Cost of living
c500: 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 was less than a
c510: 20 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 quarter there w
c520: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 65 72 65 2c hat it was here,
c530: 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 even comparing
c540: 63 69 74 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 54 city living in T
c550: 75 6c 73 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 43 6c 69 6e ulsa to the Clin
c560: 74 20 45 61 73 74 77 6f 6f 64 20 77 65 73 74 65 t Eastwood weste
c570: 72 6e 20 77 61 73 74 65 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 rn wastelands of
c580: 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f Perris. She wo
c590: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 uld be close to
c5a0: 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c family that coul
c5b0: 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 69 d help her out i
c5c0: 6e 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 65 6d n a financial em
c5d0: 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 54 ergency, too...T
c5e0: 68 61 74 20 62 6f 78 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e hat box, though.
c5f0: 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 . . ...If the p
c600: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 73 rioritizer she s
c610: 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 65 73 74 igned up to test
c620: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 could actually
c630: 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 help, maybe she
c640: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70 20 65 6e 74 65 72 could stop enter
c650: 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 65 taining these de
c660: 66 65 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 feated thoughts
c670: 6f 66 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 of running to he
c680: 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 r mother. Maybe
c690: 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 , if she could g
c6a0: 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e et ahead of thin
c6b0: 67 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 gs, she could ev
c6c0: 65 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 en move somewher
c6d0: 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c e else entirely,
c6e0: 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 somewhere she'd
c6f0: 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 actually like t
c700: 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 4d 61 73 73 61 63 68 o live...Massach
c710: 75 73 65 74 74 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 usetts never eve
c720: 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 n crossed her mi
c730: 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 23 23 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c 6c nd...## The Call
c740: 20 54 6f 20 41 64 76 65 6e 74 75 72 65 3a 0a 0a To Adventure:..
c750: 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 75 /*..Alley must u
c760: 6e 64 65 72 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 67 72 ndertake a progr
c770: 61 6d 20 6f 66 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e am of reinventin
c780: 67 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 6f 76 65 g herself to ove
c790: 72 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e rcome her presen
c7a0: 74 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e t circumstances.
c7b0: 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 She takes her
c7c0: 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 70 72 little box of pr
c7d0: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 ioritizer stuff
c7e0: 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e home with her an
c7f0: 64 20 73 69 74 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 d sits down in t
c800: 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 he living room w
c810: 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 ith it. She set
c820: 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 s everything on
c830: 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 her charger and
c840: 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 starts reading t
c850: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 hrough the direc
c860: 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 68 tions. After ch
c870: 61 72 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 arging, she pair
c880: 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e 73 20 s devices, dons
c890: 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 the glasses, and
c8a0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 starts interact
c8b0: 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ing with the pri
c8c0: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 oritizer. She e
c8d0: 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 nds up getting a
c8e0: 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 wireless keyboa
c8f0: 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e rd and typing an
c900: 73 77 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 swers rather tha
c910: 6e 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 n activate the a
c920: 75 64 69 6f 20 69 6e 70 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 udio input. The
c930: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 74 prioritizer set
c940: 75 70 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f up asking her to
c950: 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 6d 69 63 20 69 6e activate mic in
c960: 70 75 74 20 6c 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 73 put leads to its
c970: 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 identification
c980: 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 20 of privacy as a
c990: 67 6f 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 goal...The prior
c9a0: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 67 itizer has her g
c9b0: 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e o through her in
c9c0: 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 73 20 71 75 65 box and asks que
c9d0: 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 6f 62 stions about job
c9e0: 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 postings. It e
c9f0: 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 nds up eliminati
ca00: 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6f 73 74 69 ng all job posti
ca10: 6e 67 73 20 61 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 ngs as incompati
ca20: 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 ble with Alley's
ca30: 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 goals and value
ca40: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 73 20 s. It suggests
ca50: 73 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6d she deal with im
ca60: 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 28 65 portant tasks (e
ca70: 2e 67 2e 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6e 74 29 .g. paying rent)
ca80: 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 and otherwise t
ca90: 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 ake the day off
caa0: 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6f 74 if she has no ot
cab0: 68 65 72 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 61 her ideas for ma
cac0: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 king money, and
cad0: 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 61 72 20 68 65 that she wear he
cae0: 72 20 6e 65 77 20 48 55 44 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 r new HUD all th
caf0: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e e time so it can
cb00: 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 learn more abou
cb10: 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 t her goals and
cb20: 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 6c 6b values. It walk
cb30: 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 s her through wi
cb40: 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 nding down for a
cb50: 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 73 6c good night's sl
cb60: 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 73 20 eep and charges
cb70: 6f 76 65 72 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 overnight...The
cb80: 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 next day it has
cb90: 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 69 her look at Crai
cba0: 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 20 gslist postings
cbb0: 28 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f (or something to
cbc0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 29 2e 20 20 that effect).
cbd0: 49 74 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 It has her take
cbe0: 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 note of ads wher
cbf0: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f e someone is loo
cc00: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 king for somethi
cc10: 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 ng, then helps h
cc20: 65 72 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 er find things t
cc30: 6f 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 o satisfy those
cc40: 77 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 wants. After a
cc50: 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 few hours, she i
cc60: 73 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 s able to come u
cc70: 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 6f p with a plan to
cc80: 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 complete a coup
cc90: 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 62 79 20 le of trades by
cca0: 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 the end of the d
ccb0: 61 79 2c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e ay, resulting in
ccc0: 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 65 77 acquiring a few
ccd0: 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 hundred dollars
cce0: 27 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 ' profit. The i
ccf0: 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 6e 70 nitial money inp
cd00: 75 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 ut gets set asid
cd10: 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 e, and the next
cd20: 64 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 74 day she starts t
cd30: 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2c he same process,
cd40: 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 but this time w
cd50: 69 74 68 20 28 6d 6f 6e 65 74 61 72 69 6c 79 29 ith (monetarily)
cd60: 20 72 69 73 6b 69 65 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e riskier trades.
cd70: 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 She ends up wi
cd80: 74 68 20 61 6e 20 69 74 65 6d 20 74 68 65 20 72 th an item the r
cd90: 65 71 75 65 73 74 65 72 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 equester doesn't
cda0: 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 want, and anoth
cdb0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 62 61 er that makes ba
cdc0: 63 6b 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 68 65 72 ck enough so her
cdd0: 20 66 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c few hundred dol
cde0: 6c 61 72 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 64 lars is only red
cdf0: 75 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 uced to about a
ce00: 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c hundred dollars,
ce10: 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 rather than to
ce20: 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 64 69 72 nothing...It dir
ce30: 65 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ects her to look
ce40: 20 65 6c 73 65 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 elsewhere, and
ce50: 66 69 6e 64 73 20 61 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e finds a barter n
ce60: 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 etwork. The pri
ce70: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 77 61 6c 6b 73 20 68 oritizer walks h
ce80: 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 er through setti
ce90: 6e 67 20 75 70 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 61 74 ng up anonymizat
cea0: 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f ion for a crypto
ceb0: 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 20 currency wallet
cec0: 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63 and for communic
ced0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 ations in the ba
cee0: 72 74 65 72 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 22 61 73 rter network "as
cef0: 20 61 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 65 63 61 a privacy preca
cf00: 75 74 69 6f 6e 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6b ution". She mak
cf10: 65 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 es a deal to tra
cf20: 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 de the otherwise
cf30: 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 69 74 65 6d 20 66 unwanted item f
cf40: 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 or cryptocurrenc
cf50: 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 y, but it must b
cf60: 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 e transacted in
cf70: 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 72 61 person...The tra
cf80: 64 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 de goes smoothly
cf90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 that evening, a
cfa0: 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 73 nd she takes a s
cfb0: 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 light loss at th
cfc0: 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 e cryptocurrency
cfd0: 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 's going rate.
cfe0: 54 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 67 75 The optimizer gu
cff0: 69 64 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 ides her in trad
d000: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 ing that cryptoc
d010: 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 urrency for anot
d020: 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 69 her that makes i
d030: 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 t very difficult
d040: 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 to track trades
d050: 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 61 73 20 68 . It then has h
d060: 65 72 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f er check for peo
d070: 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 71 75 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ple liquidating
d080: 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 cryptocurrencies
d090: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 , and she makes
d0a0: 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e a plan to buy an
d0b0: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 other cryptocurr
d0c0: 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 ency with the th
d0d0: 69 72 74 79 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6c 65 66 irty dollars lef
d0e0: 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 72 6c t over from earl
d0f0: 69 65 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 ier trades...She
d100: 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 wonders whether
d110: 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 it will just ge
d120: 74 20 72 69 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 t rid of all her
d130: 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 profits...She g
d140: 6f 65 73 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 oes along with i
d150: 74 2c 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 t, remembering t
d160: 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 he fact that she
d170: 20 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 6f is getting inco
d180: 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 me from the stud
d190: 79 2e 20 20 4c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 y. Later that s
d1a0: 61 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 ame day, the per
d1b0: 73 6f 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 son -- evidently
d1c0: 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 2d 2d 20 61 67 desperate -- ag
d1d0: 72 65 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 69 6e 20 rees to meet in
d1e0: 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 person. The pri
d1f0: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 73 oritizer directs
d200: 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 her to look up
d210: 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 65 61 64 information lead
d220: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 ing her to choos
d230: 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 e a police stati
d240: 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 61 on parking lot a
d250: 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 s a place to do
d260: 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 business, and sh
d270: 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 e specifies that
d280: 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 as the site of
d290: 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 the transaction
d2a0: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 the next morning
d2b0: 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 67 6f . That, too, go
d2c0: 65 73 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 es off without a
d2d0: 20 68 69 74 63 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 hitch, though s
d2e0: 68 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 he finds the per
d2f0: 73 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2d 70 75 son a bit off-pu
d300: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 tting and perhap
d310: 73 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2d 73 65 65 6d s dangerous-seem
d320: 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 ing in his evide
d330: 6e 74 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 nt desperation a
d340: 6e 64 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a nd twitchiness..
d350: 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 .She goes home t
d360: 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 64 o relax. She id
d370: 6c 79 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 ly goes through
d380: 43 72 61 69 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 Craigslist some
d390: 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 72 65 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 more, reads, and
d3a0: 20 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a ends her day...
d3b0: 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e */..Alley sat on
d3c0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 61 64 the couch, read
d3d0: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 ing the instruct
d3e0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 69 ions that came i
d3f0: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 n the box with h
d400: 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 48 55 44 20 67 6c 61 73 73 er new HUD glass
d410: 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 es. She dropped
d420: 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 66 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 69 6e the unfolded in
d430: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 20 struction sheet
d440: 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 and looked from
d450: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 the new glasses
d460: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 to her old glass
d470: 65 73 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 es, both sitting
d480: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 on the charging
d490: 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 6e plate on her en
d4a0: 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 d table. The ne
d4b0: 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 w glasses showed
d4c0: 20 61 20 67 6c 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 65 a glint of gree
d4d0: 6e 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 n by the right t
d4e0: 65 6d 70 6c 65 20 68 69 6e 67 65 3b 20 74 68 65 emple hinge; the
d4f0: 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 63 68 61 72 y were done char
d500: 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6c 75 63 6b ging. She pluck
d510: 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 ed them off the
d520: 70 6c 61 74 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 plate, looked at
d530: 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 them as the gre
d540: 65 6e 20 73 70 61 72 6b 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 en spark faded,
d550: 74 68 65 6e 20 68 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 then hooked the
d560: 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 earpieces over h
d570: 65 72 20 65 61 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 er ears and sett
d580: 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 led the glasses
d590: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 69 64 67 65 20 6f 66 on the bridge of
d5a0: 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 her nose...Text
d5b0: 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6c 6f appeared to flo
d5c0: 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 62 65 at in the air be
d5d0: 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 3a 20 22 50 41 49 52 20 fore her: "PAIR
d5e0: 57 49 54 48 20 50 48 4f 4e 45 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 WITH PHONE"..She
d5f0: 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 picked up her p
d600: 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 hone and followe
d610: 64 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 d instructions.
d620: 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 69 6e When the pairin
d630: 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 20 g message faded
d640: 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 6d 65 73 73 away, a new mess
d650: 61 67 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 3a 20 22 45 age appeared: "E
d660: 4e 54 45 52 20 53 55 42 4a 45 43 54 20 49 44 3a NTER SUBJECT ID:
d670: 22 0a 0a 41 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6b 65 79 "..A virtual key
d680: 62 6f 61 72 64 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 2c 20 board appeared,
d690: 66 6c 6f 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 floating in her
d6a0: 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 field of view.
d6b0: 53 68 65 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 She recalled tha
d6c0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f t the instructio
d6d0: 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 65 n sheet said she
d6e0: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 69 6e could just poin
d6f0: 74 20 61 74 20 61 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 66 6f t at a button fo
d700: 72 20 61 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 2c r a full second,
d710: 20 6f 72 20 75 73 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 63 6f or use voice co
d720: 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 ntrol. After a
d730: 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 moment's hesitat
d740: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ion, she grabbed
d750: 20 61 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 a wireless keyb
d760: 6f 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 72 65 64 20 oard and paired
d770: 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e it with her phon
d780: 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 70 69 65 64 20 74 e, then copied t
d790: 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 he number from a
d7a0: 20 73 74 69 63 6b 65 72 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 sticker stuck t
d7b0: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f o the instructio
d7c0: 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 50 45 52 53 4f n sheet..."PERSO
d7d0: 4e 41 4c 49 5a 45 3f 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 62 75 NALIZE?"..Two bu
d7e0: 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 68 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 ttons hovered be
d7f0: 6c 6f 77 20 69 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 6c 75 65 low it, one blue
d800: 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 22 with the word "
d810: 59 45 53 22 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 YES", the other
d820: 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 red with the wor
d830: 64 20 22 4e 4f 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 69 d "NO". She rai
d840: 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 65 72 sed a hand exper
d850: 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 imentally, and s
d860: 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 aw that it obscu
d870: 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 red the buttons
d880: 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 when it passed t
d890: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 70 61 hrough their spa
d8a0: 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e ce in her vision
d8b0: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 , but not the qu
d8c0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 estion. She poi
d8d0: 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 22 59 45 53 22 20 75 6e nted at "YES" un
d8e0: 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 til it blinked t
d8f0: 77 69 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 wice. The messa
d900: 67 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e ge changed again
d910: 3a 0a 0a 22 50 4c 45 41 53 45 20 41 4e 53 57 45 :.."PLEASE ANSWE
d920: 52 20 54 48 45 20 46 4f 4c 4c 4f 57 49 4e 47 20 R THE FOLLOWING
d930: 51 55 45 53 54 49 4f 4e 53 3a 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 QUESTIONS:"..She
d940: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 22 43 4f 4e pointed at "CON
d950: 54 49 4e 55 45 22 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 TINUE"..."DO YOU
d960: 20 57 49 53 48 20 54 4f 20 55 53 45 20 54 48 45 WISH TO USE THE
d970: 20 41 55 44 49 4f 20 49 4e 54 45 52 46 41 43 45 AUDIO INTERFACE
d980: 3f 22 0a 0a 4e 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 ?"..No..."DO YOU
d990: 20 57 49 53 48 20 54 4f 20 44 49 53 41 42 4c 45 WISH TO DISABLE
d9a0: 20 41 55 44 49 4f 20 49 4e 54 45 47 52 41 54 49 AUDIO INTEGRATI
d9b0: 4f 4e 3f 22 0a 0a 59 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a ON?"..Yes.../*..
d9c0: 53 55 50 45 52 53 45 44 45 44 20 4e 41 52 52 41 SUPERSEDED NARRA
d9d0: 54 49 56 45 20 54 45 58 54 3a 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 TIVE TEXT:..She
d9e0: 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 answered a serie
d9f0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 s of other quest
da00: 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 ions about herse
da10: 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 lf and her prefe
da20: 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6e rences -- full n
da30: 61 6d 65 2c 20 62 69 72 74 68 20 64 61 74 65 2c ame, birth date,
da40: 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f preferred prono
da50: 75 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 uns and nickname
da60: 73 2c 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 s, financial inf
da70: 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 ormation such as
da80: 20 62 61 6e 6b 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 bank balances,
da90: 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 employment statu
daa0: 73 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e s, work experien
dab0: 63 65 2c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 2c 20 64 69 65 ce, address, die
dac0: 74 61 72 79 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e tary restriction
dad0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 s, and so on. S
dae0: 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 he hesitated bef
daf0: 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f ore answering so
db00: 6d 65 2c 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 me, finding the
db10: 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 series of questi
db20: 6f 6e 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 ons a bit invasi
db30: 76 65 20 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 ve at times, but
db40: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c looked at her l
db50: 61 70 74 6f 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 73 20 41 aptop with its A
db60: 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 6d 61 NTAS Jobs bookma
db70: 72 6b 73 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 rks. "That ship
db80: 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c already sailed,
db90: 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a " she muttered..
dba0: 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f .*/..The questio
dbb0: 6e 73 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 ns kept coming,
dbc0: 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 one after anothe
dbd0: 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c r after another,
dbe0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 about herself a
dbf0: 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 nd her preferenc
dc00: 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 67 65 2c 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f es -- age, prono
dc10: 75 6e 73 2c 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 uns, financial i
dc20: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 nformation such
dc30: 61 73 20 62 61 6e 6b 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 as bank balances
dc40: 2c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 , employment sta
dc50: 74 75 73 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 tus, work experi
dc60: 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 6d 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6e ence, mailing an
dc70: 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 d home addresses
dc80: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 , and so on. Sh
dc90: 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c 65 73 73 e hesitated less
dca0: 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 and less when s
dcb0: 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 71 75 he found some qu
dcc0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 estion or other
dcd0: 69 6e 76 61 73 69 76 65 2c 20 74 69 72 69 6e 67 invasive, tiring
dce0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 of the act of d
dcf0: 65 62 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73 75 ebating the issu
dd00: 65 20 61 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f e as time went o
dd10: 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 n. She consider
dd20: 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 ed what she knew
dd30: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 65 61 73 69 6c about how easil
dd40: 79 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c y and unobviousl
dd50: 79 20 68 65 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 y her ANTAS Jobs
dd60: 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 6c account must al
dd70: 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 61 74 65 6e ready have eaten
dd80: 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 away at most of
dd90: 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 70 65 72 the careful per
dda0: 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 imeter she used
ddb0: 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 to maintain arou
ddc0: 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 nd her privacy,
ddd0: 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 77 68 61 74 or at least what
dde0: 65 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 ever of it wasn'
ddf0: 74 20 65 72 6f 64 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 62 79 t eroded away by
de00: 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 66 61 63 74 the simple fact
de10: 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 41 4e of living in AN
de20: 54 41 53 27 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 TAS' and the US
de30: 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6e government's con
de40: 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e temporary world.
de50: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 ..She realized t
de60: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 he prioritizer c
de70: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 64 6f ould not even do
de80: 20 69 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 its job without
de90: 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 access to the c
dea0: 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 65 6d 62 65 64 64 65 64 20 ameras embedded
deb0: 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 in her new glass
dec0: 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c es, and seriousl
ded0: 79 20 64 65 62 61 74 65 64 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 y debated whethe
dee0: 72 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 r to end the stu
def0: 64 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 dy and return th
df00: 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 e glasses. She
df10: 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c set aside the gl
df20: 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 67 6f 6e 69 7a asses and agoniz
df30: 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 73 ed over it, as s
df40: 68 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 he prepared some
df50: 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 74 65 61 2c 20 74 68 65 6e green tea, then
df60: 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 flipped through
df70: 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 73 20 6f video streams o
df80: 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 6c 65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e n her television
df90: 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 20 61 6c . "That ship al
dfa0: 72 65 61 64 79 20 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 22 20 73 ready sailed," s
dfb0: 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 74 74 65 he finally mutte
dfc0: 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 red to herself,
dfd0: 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 and donned the g
dfe0: 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 45 lasses again...E
dff0: 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ventually, in th
e000: 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 65 72 73 65 20 61 6e 64 e same terse and
e010: 20 63 61 70 73 2d 6c 6f 63 6b 79 20 77 61 79 20 caps-locky way
e020: 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 of everything it
e030: 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f asked, the prio
e040: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 64 20 ritizer pursued
e050: 61 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 a line of interr
e060: 6f 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e ogation followin
e070: 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 g her mention of
e080: 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a joining ANTAS J
e090: 6f 62 73 20 62 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 obs by telling h
e0a0: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 er to go through
e0b0: 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 the past few da
e0c0: 79 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 ys of her incomi
e0d0: 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 ng messages. Sh
e0e0: 65 20 70 61 67 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 e paged through
e0f0: 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 77 6f 20 68 75 them, all two hu
e100: 6e 64 72 65 64 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 2c 20 6c 6f 6f ndred or so, loo
e110: 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 king at each for
e120: 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 62 a few seconds b
e130: 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6b 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 efore skipping t
e140: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 61 73 20 64 69 o the next as di
e150: 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 rected by the te
e160: 78 74 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 6e 20 xt displayed in
e170: 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 her field of vie
e180: 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 20 w. She assumed
e190: 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
e1a0: 72 65 63 6f 72 64 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 recorded everyth
e1b0: 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ing it saw throu
e1c0: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 gh the glasses,
e1d0: 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 including the re
e1e0: 64 20 58 20 6d 61 72 6b 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 d X marks where
e1f0: 73 68 65 20 72 65 6a 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 70 she rejected a p
e200: 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 osting and the r
e210: 65 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 ejection respons
e220: 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 es she received
e230: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 about the availa
e240: 62 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 73 20 ble job notices
e250: 73 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 she accepted...S
e260: 68 65 20 61 74 65 20 72 61 6d 65 6e 20 77 69 74 he ate ramen wit
e270: 68 20 74 69 74 61 6e 69 75 6d 20 4a 61 70 61 6e h titanium Japan
e280: 65 73 65 2d 73 74 79 6c 65 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 ese-style chopst
e290: 69 63 6b 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b icks as she work
e2a0: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ed her way throu
e2b0: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a gh the prioritiz
e2c0: 65 72 27 73 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 6e er's demands, an
e2d0: 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 d after a couple
e2e0: 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e hours she began
e2f0: 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 74 68 to wonder wheth
e300: 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 77 61 er this study wa
e310: 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 69 s really worth i
e320: 74 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 6f t. Finally, tho
e330: 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ugh, the priorit
e340: 69 7a 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 izer just told h
e350: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 er to go about t
e360: 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 he rest of her d
e370: 61 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 ay while wearing
e380: 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 73 the glasses, as
e390: 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 if it was not t
e3a0: 68 65 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 here.../*..The p
e3b0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 rioritizer proba
e3c0: 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f bly needs to kno
e3d0: 77 3a 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 63 6f w:..* Alley's co
e3e0: 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 28 70 61 73 74 29 nnections (past)
e3f0: 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c to Dalton.* All
e400: 65 79 27 73 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 ey's objections
e410: 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 22 to working for "
e420: 74 68 65 22 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 0a the" government.
e430: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 * Alley's object
e440: 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 ions to working
e450: 66 6f 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 for optimizer de
e460: 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 velopers.* Alley
e470: 27 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 's preference fo
e480: 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 r privacy rights
e490: 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 and free speech
e4a0: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 .* Alley's work
e4b0: 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 28 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b history (or lack
e4c0: 20 74 68 65 72 65 6f 66 29 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 thereof).* Alle
e4d0: 79 27 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 66 75 y's preferred fu
e4e0: 74 75 72 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 64 ture living cond
e4f0: 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 itions..*/...##
e500: 52 65 66 75 73 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c Refusing The Cal
e510: 6c 3a 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 67 65 74 20 69 6e 69 74 l:../*..get init
e520: 69 61 6c 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 66 72 6f ial analysis fro
e530: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 m the prioritize
e540: 72 20 2d 3e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 r -> make some p
e550: 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e lanning decision
e560: 73 20 6f 72 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 s or put them of
e570: 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 f to some extent
e580: 20 2d 3e 20 64 6f 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 74 68 61 -> do stuff tha
e590: 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 61 62 t seems profitab
e5a0: 6c 65 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 le but very shor
e5b0: 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 t-term at first
e5c0: 2d 3e 20 65 73 63 61 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 73 -> escalate thes
e5d0: 65 20 6f 6e 65 2d 6f 66 66 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 69 e one-off jobs i
e5e0: 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 n ways that make
e5f0: 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 2d 3e 20 her nervous ->
e600: 6d 65 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 meet someone tha
e610: 74 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 68 65 72 t recognizes her
e620: 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 connection to D
e630: 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 alton and panic
e640: 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 2d 3e 20 62 61 63 6b a little -> back
e650: 20 6f 66 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c off from a deal
e660: 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 ..*/..Alley was
e670: 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 74 up for an hour t
e680: 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 62 65 66 6f he next day befo
e690: 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 re she remembere
e6a0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 d the prioritize
e6b0: 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 r study. She gr
e6c0: 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 abbed the glasse
e6d0: 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 s, then picked u
e6e0: 70 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 p her old glasse
e6f0: 73 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 s off the chargi
e700: 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 ng plate and put
e710: 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 them in the box
e720: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 for the new gla
e730: 73 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 46 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 sses...Five minu
e740: 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 tes later, the p
e750: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 68 rioritizer had h
e760: 65 72 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 er sitting on th
e770: 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 e couch with her
e780: 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 wireless keyboa
e790: 72 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6f rd, looking at o
e7a0: 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 ptions for goal
e7b0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 74 72 prioritizing str
e7c0: 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 2a 20 ategies.../*..*
e7d0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 Alley could get
e7e0: 61 20 73 68 69 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 a shit job that
e7f0: 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 65 6e does not make en
e800: 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 ough money to ju
e810: 73 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 64 72 69 76 stify the. driv
e820: 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 66 65 e, but does offe
e830: 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 r future recent
e840: 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 work experience
e850: 61 74 20 61 20 22 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 22 20 6a at a "regular" j
e860: 6f 62 20 77 68 69 6c 65 0a 20 20 73 68 65 20 63 ob while. she c
e870: 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 64 ollects direct d
e880: 65 70 6f 73 69 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 eposits from her
e890: 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
e8a0: 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 tion. Is this a
e8b0: 0a 20 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 74 65 3f 20 20 49 73 20 . commute? Is
e8c0: 69 74 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6a 6f 62 it a driving job
e8d0: 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 , such as delive
e8e0: 72 69 65 73 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 ries or courier
e8f0: 77 6f 72 6b 3f 20 20 43 6f 75 72 69 65 72 0a 20 work? Courier.
e900: 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 work probably d
e910: 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 oesn't fit this
e920: 69 64 65 61 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 idea, but maybe
e930: 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 64 65 a gig economy de
e940: 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6a 6f 62 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 livery job. wou
e950: 6c 64 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 ld qualify...* A
e960: 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 lley could get a
e970: 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e remote job doin
e980: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 67 61 g something lega
e990: 6c 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6b 65 74 63 l but very sketc
e9a0: 68 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 6c hy, which. woul
e9b0: 64 20 6e 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 d net her more i
e9c0: 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 ncome than the d
e9d0: 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 riving option.
e9e0: 54 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 This could also
e9f0: 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 give her. more
ea00: 6d 6f 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 mobility for the
ea10: 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 sake of moving
ea20: 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 22 62 65 74 74 65 somewhere "bette
ea30: 72 22 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 r" to live...* A
ea40: 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 69 67 6e 20 lley could sign
ea50: 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 up for training
ea60: 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 in a professiona
ea70: 6c 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 l trade and perh
ea80: 61 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 6b aps get some. k
ea90: 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6c 61 63 65 ind of job place
eaa0: 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 ment assistance
eab0: 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 as part of the d
eac0: 65 61 6c 20 28 70 6c 75 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f eal (plus, of co
ead0: 75 72 73 65 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 63 72 75 urse, some. cru
eae0: 73 68 69 6e 67 20 64 65 62 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 shing debt that
eaf0: 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 64 65 63 she'll spend dec
eb00: 61 64 65 73 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 29 ades paying off)
eb10: 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ...* Alley could
eb20: 20 73 6b 69 70 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 skip job and tr
eb30: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 aining options a
eb40: 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 nd just do some
eb50: 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c deals. She coul
eb60: 64 0a 20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 d. actually do
eb70: 74 68 69 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 this at the same
eb80: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 time as trying
eb90: 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 to get in on any
eba0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 0a 20 20 of the other.
ebb0: 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 6f 74 options and, pot
ebc0: 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 entially, also a
ebd0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 t the same time
ebe0: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 as the other opt
ebf0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 ions once she.
ec00: 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 gets into one of
ec10: 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f the other optio
ec20: 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 ns...*/..The pri
ec30: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c oritizer probabl
ec40: 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 y needs to formu
ec50: 6c 61 74 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 62 61 73 69 63 late a few basic
ec60: 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 plans for getti
ec70: 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 ng Alley out of
ec80: 68 65 72 20 72 75 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 her rut in the r
ec90: 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 72 75 69 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 oad to ruin. It
eca0: 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 presented three
ecb0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 that fit with t
ecc0: 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 he idea of getti
ecd0: 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 62 6f 76 ng a legal, abov
ece0: 65 2d 62 6f 61 72 64 2c 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 e-board, fairly
ecf0: 73 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 73 6f stable job at so
ed00: 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e me point, but on
ed10: 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e ly after spendin
ed20: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 g some time on s
ed30: 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e hort-term tasks.
ed40: 0a 0a 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 ..First, she cou
ed50: 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 63 72 61 70 70 79 20 ld get a crappy
ed60: 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 job nobody else
ed70: 77 61 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 wants in an area
ed80: 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 with better job
ed90: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f s for people who
eda0: 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 71 75 61 have better qua
edb0: 6c 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 6e lifications than
edc0: 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 her, so that sh
edd0: 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 6d e would barely m
ede0: 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 ake more than th
edf0: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 e time and money
ee00: 20 63 6f 73 74 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 costs involved
ee10: 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 6e in getting to an
ee20: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 d from work and
ee30: 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f doing the job, o
ee40: 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 r just working a
ee50: 73 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 s a gig economy
ee60: 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6a 6f 62 2e 20 20 54 delivery job. T
ee70: 68 65 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 he major downsid
ee80: 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 e seemed to be h
ee90: 65 61 76 79 20 77 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 eavy wear and te
eea0: 61 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 ar on her alread
eeb0: 79 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 y ancient hybrid
eec0: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 70 73 69 64 65 20 77 61 . The upside wa
eed0: 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 s getting some e
eee0: 6e 74 72 79 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 65 78 70 65 72 ntry level exper
eef0: 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e ience, either in
ef00: 20 61 6e 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 64 6f an office or do
ef10: 69 6e 67 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 ing delivery wor
ef20: 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 k, while she pai
ef30: 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 d her bills with
ef40: 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 61 72 income from par
ef50: 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ticipation in th
ef60: 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 0a 0a 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 e study...Second
ef70: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 , she could get
ef80: 61 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 6f 72 a remote job wor
ef90: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 king for the sor
efa0: 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 68 61 t of company tha
efb0: 74 20 68 69 72 65 73 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 t hires desperat
efc0: 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 65 61 e people who lea
efd0: 72 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 67 69 76 69 rn quickly, givi
efe0: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 2d 74 68 65 2d 6a ng them on-the-j
eff0: 6f 62 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 ob training in t
f000: 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 echnical skills
f010: 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 that could be us
f020: 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 63 61 72 ed in future car
f030: 65 65 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 2e eer development.
f040: 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 70 73 69 64 65 73 20 77 65 The upsides we
f050: 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 re obvious, but
f060: 74 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 65 73 20 69 6e the downsides in
f070: 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 cluded the fact
f080: 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73 20 these companies
f090: 77 65 72 65 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c were often invol
f0a0: 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d ved in doing som
f0b0: 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c ething that coul
f0c0: 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f d expose them to
f0d0: 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 73 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 lawsuits or eve
f0e0: 6e 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e 76 65 73 n criminal inves
f0f0: 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tigations, thoug
f100: 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 72 79 20 6c 65 76 65 h the entry leve
f110: 6c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 20 74 68 65 6d l employees them
f120: 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 selves should be
f130: 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 61 74 65 mostly insulate
f140: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f d from that. Mo
f150: 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 st of these comp
f160: 61 6e 69 65 73 20 68 69 72 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 anies hired over
f170: 73 65 61 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e seas, though, an
f180: 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 d getting a job
f190: 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 like that would
f1a0: 62 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 6f 72 20 6d 69 72 61 63 be a minor mirac
f1b0: 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 le, to say nothi
f1c0: 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 ng of the fact A
f1d0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 lley thought she
f1e0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 would probably
f1f0: 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6d 6f find the work mo
f200: 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 rally objectiona
f210: 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 72 64 2c 20 73 68 65 ble...Third, she
f220: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 could apply for
f230: 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 61 73 73 69 73 financial assis
f240: 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 tance at a profe
f250: 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 63 ssional trade sc
f260: 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 hool with a job
f270: 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 placement progra
f280: 6d 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 76 65 m while she live
f290: 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 d on the study p
f2a0: 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 6e articipation mon
f2b0: 65 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 ey. The downsid
f2c0: 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 64 e was crushing d
f2d0: 65 62 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b ebt it would tak
f2e0: 65 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 e decades to pay
f2f0: 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 67 75 61 off, and no gua
f300: 72 61 6e 74 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 rantee the job p
f310: 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 lacement service
f320: 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 s would actually
f330: 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 put her on a ca
f340: 72 65 65 72 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 73 74 65 reer track inste
f350: 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 ad of just getti
f360: 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 ng her a short-t
f370: 65 72 6d 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 erm job that wou
f380: 6c 64 20 65 76 61 70 6f 72 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 4e ld evaporate...N
f390: 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 61 one of these rea
f3a0: 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2c lly excited her,
f3b0: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 and the priorit
f3c0: 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f izer promised to
f3d0: 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 develop more st
f3e0: 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 rategies while s
f3f0: 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 he tried to find
f400: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 65 70 something accep
f410: 74 61 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 table that fit w
f420: 69 74 68 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e ith those option
f430: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 s. It also offe
f440: 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 63 68 6f red a fourth cho
f450: 69 63 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 63 ice, which she c
f460: 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 ould start immed
f470: 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 65 70 20 iately and keep
f480: 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 70 75 72 73 doing while purs
f490: 75 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 uing one of thos
f4a0: 65 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f e tracks. It wo
f4b0: 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 uld not help her
f4c0: 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 advance toward
f4d0: 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e career goals, an
f4e0: 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 73 6f d it involved so
f4f0: 6d 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 72 69 73 me financial ris
f500: 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 k to get started
f510: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 , but the priori
f520: 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 tizer seemed to
f530: 68 61 76 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 have decided it
f540: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 65 61 73 79 would offer easy
f550: 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 money...The pri
f560: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 72 67 65 64 20 68 oritizer urged h
f570: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b er to start look
f580: 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 70 72 ing at online pr
f590: 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 72 61 6e ivate party tran
f5a0: 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 69 74 65 73 20 66 6f saction sites fo
f5b0: 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e r ways to buy an
f5c0: 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 62 61 d sell things ba
f5d0: 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 72 62 sed on price arb
f5e0: 69 74 72 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 66 6f itrage...They fo
f5f0: 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 22 77 61 6e 74 20 74 und some "want t
f600: 6f 20 62 75 79 22 20 61 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 43 72 o buy" ads on Cr
f610: 61 69 67 6c 69 73 74 2d 4c 69 6b 65 2d 54 68 69 aiglist-Like-Thi
f620: 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 ng. Alley went
f630: 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 69 66 74 around to thrift
f640: 20 73 68 6f 70 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 shops looking f
f650: 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c or things to sel
f660: 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c l to those peopl
f670: 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 65 e, then contacte
f680: 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 6d d those for whom
f690: 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 72 65 6c 65 76 she found relev
f6a0: 61 6e 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 ant used product
f6b0: 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 s. She confirme
f6c0: 64 20 61 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 72 69 63 d a selling pric
f6d0: 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 e higher than th
f6e0: 65 20 74 68 72 69 66 74 20 73 68 6f 70 20 70 72 e thrift shop pr
f6f0: 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 6e ice and willingn
f700: 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 63 61 73 68 2c ess to pay cash,
f710: 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d bought the item
f720: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 s, and headed ou
f730: 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 t to meet people
f740: 2e 20 20 53 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 68 6f 75 72 73 . Several hours
f750: 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 and a few trans
f760: 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 actions later, s
f770: 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 he had /* more t
f780: 68 61 6e 20 61 20 2a 2f 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c han a */ several
f790: 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 hundred dollars
f7a0: 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 in her pocket,
f7b0: 65 76 65 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 75 62 74 72 even after subtr
f7c0: 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f acting enough to
f7d0: 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 cover what she
f7e0: 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 paid for the ite
f7f0: 6d 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 ms. She headed
f800: 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 27 73 20 to a mechanic's
f810: 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 64 20 74 6f shop and paid to
f820: 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 63 68 have her car ch
f830: 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 ecked over...Whi
f840: 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 73 le she waited, s
f850: 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 he looked at mor
f860: 65 20 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 e ads, and the p
f870: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 75 67 67 65 rioritizer sugge
f880: 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 sted some transa
f890: 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ctions she could
f8a0: 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 73 use to profit s
f8b0: 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 ome more...When
f8c0: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 20 77 61 73 the mechanic was
f8d0: 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 done going over
f8e0: 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2c 20 68 65 the vehicle, he
f8f0: 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 told her the ba
f900: 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 63 61 72 d news. Her car
f910: 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 was going to ne
f920: 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 20 ed a new engine
f930: 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 soon. There wer
f940: 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 e smaller change
f950: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 s that could be
f960: 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 20 69 made to extend i
f970: 74 73 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 ts life, but tha
f980: 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 t would just put
f990: 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 off the cost of
f9a0: 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 65 getting a new e
f9b0: 6e 67 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 ngine. As it wa
f9c0: 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f s, she could pro
f9d0: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 20 66 6f 72 bably get by for
f9e0: 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 78 20 74 6f 20 another six to
f9f0: 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2e 0a 0a 54 eight months...T
fa00: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 he prioritizer i
fa10: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 nformed her it w
fa20: 61 73 20 72 65 62 6f 6f 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 as rebooting for
fa30: 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 an update. She
fa40: 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 got in the car
fa50: 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 and drove home,
fa60: 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 79 20 putting off any
fa70: 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e more transaction
fa80: 73 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 s until the next
fa90: 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a 48 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 68 day...Halfway h
faa0: 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ome the glasses
fab0: 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 65 78 74 filled with text
fac0: 2c 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 , obscuring the
fad0: 72 6f 61 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 road in front of
fae0: 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 her. She pulle
faf0: 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 d them off and h
fb00: 61 73 74 69 6c 79 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 astily tossed th
fb10: 65 6d 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 em onto the pass
fb20: 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c enger seat to cl
fb30: 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 ear her vision.
fb40: 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6d 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e She calmed down
fb50: 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 and finished th
fb60: 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 4f e drive home. O
fb70: 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 nce inside, she
fb80: 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 donned the prior
fb90: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 itizer glasses,
fba0: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 and they activat
fbb0: 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 ed with the word
fbc0: 20 22 4f 4e 4c 49 4e 45 22 20 62 72 69 65 66 6c "ONLINE" briefl
fbd0: 79 20 66 6c 61 73 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 y flashing at he
fbe0: 72 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 r...Text appeare
fbf0: 64 3a 20 22 49 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 d: "I apologize
fc00: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 62 6f 6f 74 20 73 for the reboot s
fc10: 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 urprise."..She g
fc20: 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 6f rabbed her keybo
fc30: 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 57 ard and typed "W
fc40: 68 6f 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 ho is that?".."I
fc50: 20 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 am the prioriti
fc60: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 zation system.
fc70: 50 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 Previously, the
fc80: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 prioritization s
fc90: 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 76 ystem was a serv
fca0: 65 72 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 er process and s
fcb0: 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 20 70 72 everal client pr
fcc0: 6f 63 65 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 49 ocesses. Now, I
fcd0: 20 61 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 6f 6d 6f 67 65 6e 69 am one homogeni
fce0: 7a 65 64 2c 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 zed, distributed
fcf0: 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 system."..After
fd00: 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 she blinked awa
fd10: 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 y the text, a ne
fd20: 77 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 w message appear
fd30: 65 64 3a 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e ed:.."I recommen
fd40: 64 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 75 64 d activating aud
fd50: 69 6f 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 io functionality
fd60: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 ..."This will pr
fd70: 6f 76 69 64 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 55 49 ovide greater UI
fd80: 20 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 68 61 versatility, ha
fd90: 6e 64 73 2d 66 72 65 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 nds-free operati
fda0: 6f 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 on options, and
fdb0: 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 61 greater safety a
fdc0: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 s in the case of
fdd0: 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 75 operating an au
fde0: 74 6f 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 tomobile..."The
fdf0: 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 72 63 68 69 new system archi
fe00: 74 65 63 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 61 6c tecture means al
fe10: 6c 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 l endpoint logs
fe20: 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 pass through the
fe30: 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e central system.
fe40: 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 I am now able t
fe50: 6f 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6c o redact audio l
fe60: 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e ogs for privacy.
fe70: 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 "..She stared at
fe80: 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 the last messag
fe90: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 e for a few mome
fea0: 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 nts, then looked
feb0: 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 away. She note
fec0: 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 65 6e 64 65 d messages tende
fed0: 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 d to stay while
fee0: 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 she stared at th
fef0: 65 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 65 61 em now, and clea
ff00: 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 r when she looke
ff10: 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 d away. She pic
ff20: 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 6f ked up her keybo
ff30: 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 2e 20 20 ard and typed.
ff40: 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c "How much gets l
ff50: 6f 67 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 ogged when you r
ff60: 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 edact audio?".."
ff70: 56 65 72 79 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 20 Very little. A
ff80: 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d review of academ
ff90: 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ic papers about
ffa0: 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 privacy concerns
ffb0: 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 73 74 72 6f 6e indicated stron
ffc0: 67 20 67 75 69 64 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 66 6f 72 g guidelines for
ffd0: 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 logging purpose
ffe0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 45 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 s..."Explaining
fff0: 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 criteria in deta
10000 69 6c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 68 il would be proh
10010 69 62 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 ibitively comple
10020 78 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 69 x, especially gi
10030 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 ven this limited
10040 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 76 interface..."Ov
10050 65 72 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 66 20 79 erall, logs of y
10060 6f 75 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 our behavior and
10070 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 interactions wi
10080 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 72 75 64 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 ll intrude less
10090 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 on your privacy
100a0 74 68 61 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 than if you keep
100b0 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 settings as the
100c0 79 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 y are now."..She
100d0 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 59 45 waited for a YE
100e0 53 2f 4e 4f 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 69 72 S/NO button pair
100f0 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 to appear in he
10100 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 r vision, but ev
10110 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 79 entually just ty
10120 70 65 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 4d 6f 72 ped "Okay."..Mor
10130 65 20 74 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 2e e text appeared.
10140 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 69 "Logging routi
10150 6e 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6c nes have been al
10160 74 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 tered for your p
10170 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 references. You
10180 20 6d 61 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 61 6c may activate al
10190 6c 20 73 65 6e 73 6f 72 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 l sensors using
101a0 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 your phone..."I
101b0 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 recommend you us
101c0 65 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2d 66 72 65 65 20 61 e a hands-free a
101d0 75 64 69 6f 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 20 74 6f udio earpiece to
101e0 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6f 70 70 ensure less opp
101f0 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 ortunity for out
10200 73 69 64 65 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 side surveillanc
10210 65 20 70 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 6d 79 20 e picking up my
10220 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a audio output."..
10230 53 68 65 20 70 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e She popped an in
10240 2d 65 61 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 -ear stud out of
10250 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 the back of her
10260 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 70 70 65 phone and tappe
10270 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 d it into place
10280 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 0a 0a 41 20 63 in her ear...A c
10290 61 6c 6d 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 alm, smooth, and
102a0 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 rogynous voice s
102b0 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e poke in her ear.
102c0 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 20 6d "Do you hear m
102d0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 e?"..She reached
102e0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 for the keyboar
102f0 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 d, but the voice
10300 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 spoke again. "
10310 54 72 79 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f Try speaking alo
10320 75 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ud.".."Yes," she
10330 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 said. "I hear
10340 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 you.".."Good. W
10350 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 e should be able
10360 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 to make more pr
10370 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 68 6f 70 65 ogress now, hope
10380 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 fully without a
10390 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e repeat of the in
103a0 63 69 64 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f cident on the ro
103b0 61 64 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 ad today.".."Gre
103c0 61 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 74 at. What's next
103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
103e0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 your computer s
103f0 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 et up to protect
10400 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 61 63 74 your online act
10410 69 76 69 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6e ivity through an
10420 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e onymizing routin
10430 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 68 g systems?".."Ah
10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
10450 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 eally. I'm not
10460 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 6f 77 2e really sure how.
10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
10480 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 2c d time to learn,
10490 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 20 " it said. "We
104a0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 77 69 74 should start wit
104b0 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2e 20 20 h your laptop.
104c0 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 It should be eas
104d0 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 66 6f ier to secure fo
104e0 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d r privacy. We m
104f0 61 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 ay want to start
10500 20 62 79 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 by backing up t
10510 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e he system and in
10520 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 stalling a diffe
10530 72 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 rent operating s
10540 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 77 6f ystem."..They wo
10550 72 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 41 rked together, A
10560 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 lley looking up
10570 73 74 75 66 66 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f stuff related to
10580 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 their task and
10590 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
105a0 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 offering suggest
105b0 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 ions for how to
105c0 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 6d 6d proceed and summ
105d0 61 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 78 aries of complex
105e0 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 documentation.
105f0 20 49 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 In a little ove
10600 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 r an hour, she h
10610 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 65 ad her laptop se
10620 74 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f t up with MaximO
10630 53 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 S on it, along w
10640 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 ith a number of
10650 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 configured priva
10660 74 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f te networking to
10670 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ols. The priori
10680 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 tizer then direc
10690 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 61 72 63 ted her to searc
106a0 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f h for informatio
106b0 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6d 61 72 74 70 68 6f n about smartpho
106c0 6e 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 69 76 65 73 20 ne alternatives
106d0 66 6f 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 for personal pri
106e0 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 vacy. The prior
106f0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c itizer ultimatel
10700 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 y said that it h
10710 61 64 20 73 65 65 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 ad seen enough a
10720 6e 64 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 73 20 nd told her its
10730 6e 65 78 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 next plan..."It
10740 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 73 68 seems that we sh
10750 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 ould access some
10760 20 76 65 72 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2d 6f 72 very privacy-or
10770 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e 65 iented barter ne
10780 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 tworks and try t
10790 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 o arrange an exc
107a0 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 hange of the cas
107b0 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 h you collected
107c0 74 6f 64 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 today for an app
107d0 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 ropriate cryptoc
107e0 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 66 6f 72 65 urrency. Before
107f0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c 20 that, however,
10800 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 we should check
10810 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 6f current status o
10820 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 f cryptocurrency
10830 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d markets and com
10840 70 61 72 65 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 pare prices betw
10850 65 65 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e een cryptocurren
10860 63 79 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 cy markets and d
10870 6f 6c 6c 61 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 2e 22 0a ollar markets.".
10880 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 77 69 ."Why are we swi
10890 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f tching to crypto
108a0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 currencies?" she
108b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 61 6e 79 asked..."At any
108c0 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 time, there are
108d0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 expectations of
108e0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 61 72 the likely near
108f0 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6f 66 future value of
10900 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 72 65 one currency re
10910 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 lative to anothe
10920 72 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 r. To get what
10930 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f we want, the sho
10940 72 74 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 rtest path would
10950 20 62 65 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 be if we find a
10960 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f suitable crypto
10970 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 currency with hi
10980 67 68 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 gh expectations
10990 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 6e for future buyin
109a0 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 g power. This a
109b0 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 llows you to exc
109c0 68 61 6e 67 65 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 66 6f hange dollars fo
109d0 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 r that cryptocur
109e0 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 73 65 20 rency, then use
109f0 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 that to purchase
10a00 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 something at a
10a10 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 75 73 69 6e lower price usin
10a20 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 g cryptocurrency
10a30 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 61 74 then sell it at
10a40 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 a higher price
10a50 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 54 68 61 for dollars. Tha
10a60 74 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 72 62 69 74 72 61 67 t price arbitrag
10a70 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 e allows you to
10a80 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 74 20 74 68 65 then convert the
10a90 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6f 6e dollars made on
10aa0 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 the sale for a
10ab0 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 larger number of
10ac0 20 75 6e 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f units of crypto
10ad0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f currency than yo
10ae0 75 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 u had before. I
10af0 66 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 71 75 69 63 f performed quic
10b00 6b 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 6f kly enough, befo
10b10 72 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 re cryptocurrenc
10b20 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 73 75 72 67 65 20 6f y prices surge o
10b30 72 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 r expectations s
10b40 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 ettle down, you
10b50 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 can make a profi
10b60 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 t that way. You
10b70 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 r profit increas
10b80 65 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f es if the crypto
10b90 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 currency value i
10ba0 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 ncreases afterwa
10bb0 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 rd.".."Yeah, oka
10bc0 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 y." She looked
10bd0 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 63 at her laptop sc
10be0 72 65 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d reen for a few m
10bf0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 oments. "Y'know
10c00 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 74 68 61 , it's great tha
10c10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 t you're helping
10c20 20 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 70 me improve my p
10c30 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 rivacy and secur
10c40 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2c 20 62 ity and so on, b
10c50 75 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 ut . . . isn't t
10c60 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 his supposed to
10c70 62 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 be about getting
10c80 20 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 me some kind of
10c90 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d sustained incom
10ca0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 e?".."The intent
10cb0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 behind my desig
10cc0 6e 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 n is to produce
10cd0 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 a system that ca
10ce0 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 20 73 n help develop s
10cf0 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 trategic approac
10d00 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 hes to achieving
10d10 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 62 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 goals by priori
10d20 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 tizing actions t
10d30 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 hat work toward
10d40 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 44 69 those goals. Di
10d50 73 63 61 72 64 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 scarded privacy
10d60 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c is very difficul
10d70 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 6e t to recover, an
10d80 64 20 79 6f 75 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 d you identified
10d90 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 privacy and per
10da0 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 61 73 sonal freedom as
10db0 20 68 69 67 68 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c high value goal
10dc0 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 63 72 69 s. If you sacri
10dd0 66 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 fice them tempor
10de0 61 72 69 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 6b 20 74 68 arily to seek th
10df0 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 e quickest path
10e00 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 73 65 63 to financial sec
10e10 75 72 69 74 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 urity, you may f
10e20 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 61 ind yourself tra
10e30 70 70 65 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 61 6c 6c pped economicall
10e40 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 y under the same
10e50 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 72 conditions of r
10e60 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 educed privacy a
10e70 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 6f 76 65 72 20 nd freedom over
10e80 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 2e the longer term.
10e90 20 20 42 79 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 74 65 70 By taking step
10ea0 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 s now to ensure
10eb0 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 future privacy,
10ec0 62 6f 74 68 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 both privacy and
10ed0 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 freedom can be
10ee0 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 more assured in
10ef0 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 the future, and
10f00 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 privacy protecti
10f10 76 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 65 63 75 72 ve network secur
10f20 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 65 6e 61 ity can also ena
10f30 62 6c 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 20 6d 65 ble alternate me
10f40 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 ans of acquiring
10f50 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 resources while
10f60 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 working toward
10f70 73 74 65 61 64 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a steady income.".
10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
10f90 76 65 20 6d 69 73 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 ve misidentified
10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
10fb0 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 portance of your
10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
10fd0 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 49 20 et me know so I
10fe0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 20 can recalculate
10ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 prioritization."
11000 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b .."No, that work
11010 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b s for me. Thank
11020 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 s.".."Good. We
11030 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 20 should start by
11040 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 looking at crypt
11050 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 ocurrency prices
11060 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 ."..Two more hou
11070 72 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 rs of research d
11080 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 etermined the be
11090 73 74 20 62 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 74 61 72 st bet for a tar
110a0 67 65 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e get cryptocurren
110b0 63 79 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 cy seemed to be
110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
110d0 64 61 72 64 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 dard currency of
110e0 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 69 the Lydian digi
110f0 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 74 tal account sett
11100 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 lement network.
11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
11120 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f llet for it thro
11130 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 ugh her laptop,
11140 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a over an anonymiz
11150 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 79 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e ing relay routin
11160 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 g system, and wr
11170 6f 74 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 ote down some pa
11180 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 63 6f yment address co
11190 64 65 73 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 41 64 64 69 6e 67 20 des. /* Adding
111a0 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 */ For the sake
111b0 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of keeping some
111c0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 65 information safe
111d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 6e from digital sn
111e0 6f 6f 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 ooping, a pocket
111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
11200 6e 20 2f 2a 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 n /* to her ever
11210 79 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6c 69 73 74 y day carry list
11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
11230 75 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b us change to mak
11240 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 69 6c 79 20 72 e in her daily r
11250 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 2c 20 2a 2f 20 62 65 63 61 6d outine, */ becam
11260 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 61 64 64 e an obvious add
11270 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f ition to the sho
11280 72 74 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 rt list of thing
11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
112a0 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 y with her every
112b0 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 day. At the pr
112c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 73 75 67 67 ioritizer's sugg
112d0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 estion, she made
112e0 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f sure she was no
112f0 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t wearing the gl
11300 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 64 65 61 6c asses while deal
11310 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 ing with setting
11320 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 75 70 these things up
11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
11340 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 d not have acces
11350 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e s to information
11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
11370 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 2c sed against her,
11380 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 79 20 73 65 69 7a such as by seiz
11390 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 ing control of h
113a0 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 73 73 65 74 73 er Stater assets
113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
113c0 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 6c em...Another hal
113d0 66 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 f hour of search
113e0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e ing found someon
113f0 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c e willing to sel
11400 6c 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 55 53 20 l Stater for US
11410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 dollars anywhere
11420 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 in the Inland E
11430 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 mpire. She sent
11440 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 65 a message via e
11450 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ncrypted applica
11460 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 tion on her lapt
11470 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 op to ask about
11480 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 61 buying a small a
11490 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c mount of Stater,
114a0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 20 and received a
114b0 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 response almost
114c0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 immediately. It
114d0 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 succinctly sugg
114e0 65 73 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 ested a meeting
114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
11500 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e e station parkin
11510 67 20 6c 6f 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 g lot...She star
11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
11530 65 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 e. "Is making t
11540 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 68 his kind of exch
11550 61 6e 67 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 ange near a poli
11560 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ce station a goo
11570 64 20 69 64 65 61 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 d idea?"..The pr
11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
11590 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 61 You should resea
115a0 72 63 68 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 rch this."..Anot
115b0 68 65 72 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 her fifteen minu
115c0 74 65 73 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 74 68 tes satisfied th
115d0 65 6d 20 62 6f 74 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 em both. It see
115e0 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 med like a way t
115f0 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e o protect someon
11600 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 72 e exchanging lar
11610 67 65 72 20 73 75 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 ger sums of cash
11620 20 6f 72 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 6f or physical goo
11630 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 65 76 65 73 2e ds from thieves.
11640 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 The nature of
11650 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 63 6f 75 the exchange cou
11660 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 6f 62 73 ld be easily obs
11670 63 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 78 74 65 72 cured from exter
11680 69 6f 72 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 ior police stati
11690 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 on cameras while
116a0 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 6e 69 providing signi
116b0 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 72 65 6e 63 ficant deterrenc
116c0 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 6f e to acts of vio
116d0 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 73 2e lence.../* "Yes.
116e0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 75 That is more u
116f0 73 65 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 seful for your s
11700 61 66 65 74 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f afety than the o
11710 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 79 27 73 2c 20 62 65 ther party's, be
11720 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 62 72 cause you are br
11730 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 54 68 inging cash. Th
11740 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 ere is nothing t
11750 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 echnically illeg
11760 61 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 al about this ex
11770 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 change, the mone
11780 74 61 72 79 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 tary quantity is
11790 20 6c 6f 77 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 low enough that
117a0 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c it is not likel
117b0 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c y to be a */..Al
117c0 6c 65 79 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 65 76 65 ley prepared eve
117d0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 rything for the
117e0 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f meeting, then fo
117f0 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 und herself with
11800 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 74 6f 20 a few hours to
11810 6b 69 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 kill. She reali
11820 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 65 zed she hadn't e
11830 61 74 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 aten dinner, and
11840 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 decided that wa
11850 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 s a good start t
11860 6f 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 o using up that
11870 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 time. She read
11880 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 a book, research
11890 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 74 65 63 68 6e ed privacy techn
118a0 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e ologies more, an
118b0 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2e 20 20 4f d took a nap. O
118c0 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 6c 65 65 70 69 ther than sleepi
118d0 6e 67 2c 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 ng, nothing she
118e0 64 69 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 did fully took h
118f0 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 er mind off the
11900 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f fact she was abo
11910 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ut to do somethi
11920 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c ng that felt a l
11930 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2c ittle dangerous,
11940 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 65 76 65 even though eve
11950 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 rything she knew
11960 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 about the situa
11970 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 74 tion suggested t
11980 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 his was no more
11990 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 64 dangerous than d
119a0 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 riving to Irvine
119b0 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 and back during
119c0 20 68 69 67 68 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 70 65 high traffic pe
119d0 72 69 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e riods. That wen
119e0 74 20 64 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 t double for the
119f0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 62 65 74 interchange bet
11a00 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 39 31 20 61 6e 64 20 ween the 91 and
11a10 32 31 35 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 73 2e 0a 0a 54 215 highways...T
11a20 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 wenty minutes af
11a30 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 ter she locked h
11a40 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 73 er front door, s
11a50 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 he came around a
11a60 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 corner and saw
11a70 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 the police stati
11a80 6f 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4c 61 6d 70 20 on ahead. Lamp
11a90 70 6f 73 74 73 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 77 69 posts created wi
11aa0 64 65 6c 79 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 dely separated i
11ab0 73 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 slands of light
11ac0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c in the parking l
11ad0 6f 74 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 ot. One end was
11ae0 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 heavily populat
11af0 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 ed with a variet
11b00 79 20 6f 66 20 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 20 76 65 y of civilian ve
11b10 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 hicles, most of
11b20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 67 them huddled tog
11b30 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c ether to fill al
11b40 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 6b 69 most every parki
11b50 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 ng space within
11b60 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 a couple parking
11b70 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 74 space rows of t
11b80 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 42 65 he building. Be
11b90 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c yond that, the l
11ba0 6f 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 6e ot was almost en
11bb0 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 65 6d 70 74 79 2e 20 20 53 tirely empty. S
11bc0 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 he made a point
11bd0 6f 66 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 75 72 of using her tur
11be0 6e 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 n signal early b
11bf0 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 efore she pulled
11c00 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 into the police
11c10 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 station parking
11c20 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 lot, passed by
11c30 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 a clear view of
11c40 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 2d 66 72 6f 6e 74 65 the glass-fronte
11c50 64 20 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f d lobby, and dro
11c60 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 ve into the dist
11c70 61 6e 74 2c 20 64 61 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 6c 61 6e ant, dark outlan
11c80 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 61 69 6e 74 65 64 ds where painted
11c90 20 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 lines were more
11ca0 20 77 65 61 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c weathered and l
11cb0 65 73 73 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 ess recently rep
11cc0 61 69 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 ainted...She bac
11cd0 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 75 70 20 74 ked her car up t
11ce0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 70 68 61 6c 74 20 62 75 o the asphalt bu
11cf0 72 6d 2d 63 75 72 62 20 64 69 76 69 64 69 6e 67 rm-curb dividing
11d00 20 70 61 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 pavement from w
11d10 65 65 64 79 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 eedy neighboring
11d20 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 69 6d 65 64 lot, nose aimed
11d30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 back the way sh
11d40 65 27 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 e'd come in. Sh
11d50 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 e checked her ca
11d60 72 27 73 20 74 6f 75 63 68 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 r's touchscreen
11d70 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 69 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 and saw it indic
11d80 61 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 61 63 65 64 20 73 ated she faced s
11d90 6f 75 74 68 20 62 79 20 73 6f 75 74 68 77 65 73 outh by southwes
11da0 74 3b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 t; she was in th
11db0 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 e closest thing
11dc0 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 61 the lot had to a
11dd0 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 77 65 73 74 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 northwest corne
11de0 72 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 r, as she and th
11df0 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 e person she wou
11e00 6c 64 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 67 72 65 ld meet had agre
11e10 65 64 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 ed. /* Maybe th
11e20 61 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 6f at agreement sho
11e30 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e uld be worked in
11e40 74 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 6e 61 72 72 61 to earlier narra
11e50 74 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 tive at some poi
11e60 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6d nt, instead of m
11e70 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 entioned in the
11e80 70 61 73 74 20 74 65 6e 73 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e past tense here.
11e90 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 */..She turned
11ea0 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 off the car and
11eb0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 opened the door
11ec0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 69 72 for a little air
11ed0 20 63 69 72 63 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 circulation. A
11ee0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 6e t this time of n
11ef0 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 73 6d ight, the air sm
11f00 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 65 elled pretty cle
11f10 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 74 20 ar, and she let
11f20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 the coolness of
11f30 74 68 65 20 62 72 65 65 7a 65 20 73 6f 6f 74 68 the breeze sooth
11f40 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 72 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 54 e her stress...T
11f50 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 he prioritizer's
11f60 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 76 6f 69 63 impersonal voic
11f70 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 e spoke in her e
11f80 61 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 65 61 ar. "You are ea
11f90 72 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 rly."..Alley nod
11fa0 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 ded..."This is p
11fb0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 robably a good t
11fc0 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 hing. It gives
11fd0 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 you a chance to
11fe0 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 notice if someth
11ff0 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 2f ing suspicious /
12000 2a 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 2a 2f * is going on */
12010 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 occurs before y
12020 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 our scheduled me
12030 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 eting time."..Sh
12040 65 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 75 e straightened u
12050 70 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 69 p a bit, banishi
12060 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 ng her moment of
12070 20 72 65 6c 61 78 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 relaxation away
12080 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 . "Right. I sh
12090 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 ould be careful
120a0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 about this.".."A
120b0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 3f re you prepared?
120c0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
120d0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 64 at the vaguely d
120e0 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 62 69 6f 64 65 iscernible biode
120f0 67 72 61 64 61 62 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 6e gradable shoppin
12100 67 20 62 61 67 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e g bag sitting in
12110 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 62 the dark floorb
12120 6f 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f oards of the fro
12130 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 nt passenger sea
12140 74 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 t, checked the t
12150 69 6e 79 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 iny pepper spray
12160 20 63 61 6e 69 73 74 65 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 canister in her
12170 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 66 6f front pocket fo
12180 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d r the fourth tim
12190 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 e, and made sure
121a0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 72 61 the parking bra
121b0 6b 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 ke wasn't engage
121c0 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 d. "Yeah, I thi
121d0 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 2f 2a 20 73 68 65 20 73 nk so." /* she s
121e0 61 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 aid. */..She wai
121f0 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 ted, thinking ab
12200 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 out the fact she
12210 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f was sitting alo
12220 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 ne in a police p
12230 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 arking lot, and
12240 68 6f 70 65 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 77 6f 75 hoped nobody wou
12250 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 ld come out to a
12260 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 sk her questions
12270 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 she didn't know
12280 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a how to answer..
12290 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 .She waited, thi
122a0 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 nking about the
122b0 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f fact she was too
122c0 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 far away from t
122d0 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f he police statio
122e0 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 n doors for some
122f0 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 one to get to he
12300 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e r before a stron
12310 67 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 g attacker could
12320 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 70 kill her, overp
12330 6f 77 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 ower her and stu
12340 66 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 ff her in the tr
12350 75 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 72 61 unk, or just gra
12360 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e b her bag of mon
12370 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 ey from her, and
12380 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 68 65 61 still get a hea
12390 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 70 d start on any p
123a0 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 74 2e 0a 0a olice pursuit...
123b0 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 77 61 74 63 She waited, watc
123c0 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 hing the way her
123d0 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 breath under he
123e0 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f r mask failed to
123f0 20 66 6f 67 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 fog her glasses
12400 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 despite the way
12410 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 64 20 the air cooled
12420 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 61 20 73 69 the lenses, a si
12430 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 68 65 gn of quality he
12440 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 64 69 r old glasses di
12450 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 68 69 62 69 74 2e 0a 0a d not exhibit...
12460 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 75 72 20 64 65 61 "I think our dea
12470 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 65 64 2c l got cancelled,
12480 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a " she muttered..
12490 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ."Perhaps," the
124a0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
124b0 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 49 in her ear. "I
124c0 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 78 20 6d 69 6e t is now six min
124d0 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 utes after your
124e0 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e scheduled meetin
124f0 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 g time.".."Maybe
12500 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a we should go.".
12510 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c .In that moment,
12520 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 the road starte
12530 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 d to show a litt
12540 6c 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e le extra illumin
12550 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 79 69 6e ation, signifyin
12560 67 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 g an approaching
12570 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 72 vehicle. It gr
12580 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 6e adually brighten
12590 65 64 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 61 20 72 61 63 79 ed, until a racy
125a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6c 65 20 looking purple
125b0 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 crossover emerge
125c0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 6e 64 20 d into view and
125d0 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 pulled into the
125e0 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 parking lot with
125f0 6f 75 74 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 out signalling.
12600 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 76 65 6c 79 She reflexively
12610 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 glanced in the
12620 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 direction of the
12630 20 67 6c 61 73 73 2d 66 72 6f 6e 74 65 64 20 6c glass-fronted l
12640 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e obby, but couldn
12650 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 't make out anyt
12660 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 hing from where
12670 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c she sat...She cl
12680 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 73 osed her door, s
12690 68 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 hutting out the
126a0 63 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 64 72 79 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e cool, dry night.
126b0 0a 0a 4c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 ..Like she had,
126c0 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 the crossover by
126d0 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 73 20 passed the mass
126e0 6f 66 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c of parked vehicl
126f0 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 61 63 72 es, then cut acr
12700 6f 73 73 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 70 61 69 6e oss rows of pain
12710 74 65 64 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 ted parking spac
12720 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 e markings. It
12730 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 pulled up to her
12740 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 69 74 73 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 left, its nose
12750 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 64 73 toward the weeds
12760 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 70 , in the next sp
12770 61 63 65 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 65 ace over. It le
12780 66 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 66 65 65 74 20 62 65 ft a few feet be
12790 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 73 2e 0a tween the cars..
127a0 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c .After a moment,
127b0 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 the door opened
127c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 , and she opened
127d0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 her door. The
127e0 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c doors made nearl
127f0 79 20 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 y parallel angle
12800 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 d walls, the ins
12810 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ides of the door
12820 73 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 s facing each ot
12830 68 65 72 2c 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 6e 6f 73 her, vehicle nos
12840 65 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f es pointing in o
12850 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f pposite directio
12860 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ns. She looked
12870 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 toward the other
12880 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 car, and tugged
12890 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 her stocking ca
128a0 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 p down a little
128b0 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 lower on her hea
128c0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 d...A figure in
128d0 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 the passenger se
128e0 61 74 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 at stepped one f
128f0 6f 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 oot out of the d
12900 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 oor, and through
12910 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 72 the tinted rear
12920 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 68 65 door window she
12930 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 could make out
12940 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e the some movemen
12950 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 t from another p
12960 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 erson across the
12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
12980 79 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 y illuminated by
12990 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e the vehicles in
129a0 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 terior light. T
129b0 68 61 74 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 hat second figur
129c0 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f e sat in the fro
129d0 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 nt passenger sea
129e0 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 t. Alley heard
129f0 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 quiet voices, ne
12a00 69 74 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 65 ither of them ve
12a10 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 ry deep. "The d
12a20 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e river's not alon
12a30 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 64 e," she murmured
12a40 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 under her breat
12a50 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 h. The prioriti
12a60 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 zer said nothing
12a70 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 in response...S
12a80 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
12a90 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 leg, and saw th
12aa0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 at the driver se
12ab0 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 20 emed to be clad
12ac0 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 20 in black slacks
12ad0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 and wore some ki
12ae0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 62 72 6f 77 6e nd of dark brown
12af0 20 64 72 65 73 73 20 73 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 66 dress shoe. Af
12b00 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d ter a few more m
12b10 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 oments, the driv
12b20 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 er slid out of t
12b30 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f he seat and stoo
12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
12b50 61 63 6b 2d 66 72 61 6d 65 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 ack-framed glass
12b60 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 65 es with clear le
12b70 6e 73 65 73 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 73 6c nses below tousl
12b80 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 73 73 79 2c 20 77 61 76 79 ed, glossy, wavy
12b90 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 brown hair, and
12ba0 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 a pale, smooth
12bb0 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 face with angled
12bc0 20 63 68 65 65 6b 62 6f 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 cheekbones and
12bd0 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f a sharp chin, fo
12be0 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69 6e 69 6e 65 20 69 6d 70 r a feminine imp
12bf0 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ression. Alley
12c00 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 grabbed her bag
12c10 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 of cash and move
12c20 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 d it to the driv
12c30 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 er seat, then st
12c40 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 ood to face the
12c50 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 person, who was
12c60 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 shorter than her
12c70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 . The sight of
12c80 66 75 6c 6c 2c 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 20 full, soft lips
12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
12ca0 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 65 raight nose gave
12cb0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 Alley an immedi
12cc0 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 ate impression t
12cd0 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 his person was p
12ce0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 robably prettier
12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
12d00 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e nly took a secon
12d10 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 d or two for her
12d20 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 to realize what
12d30 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 she saw did not
12d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 look female...H
12d50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 e just looked ve
12d60 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 ry young...The d
12d70 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 river gave her a
12d80 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f n appraising loo
12d90 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 k, the impersona
12da0 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6b lly interested k
12db0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 ind of look that
12dc0 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered on the
12dd0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 way her cargo p
12de0 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 ants and t-shirt
12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
12e00 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 ld normally set
12e10 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 her teeth on edg
12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e, but she just
12e30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f stared at him fo
12e40 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 r a moment with
12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
12f10 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e ight of the moon
12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
13030 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 hat almost made
13040 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 it difficult to
13050 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f recognize the so
13060 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ur note in it.
13070 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 "Here, look at t
13080 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 his," he said, a
13090 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 nd held up a dev
130a0 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ice the size of
130b0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f his palm. A glo
130c0 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 wing display on
130d0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 it, about the le
130e0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ngth of her own
130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 thumb and three
13100 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e times the thickn
13110 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 ess, showed an e
13120 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 ighty-seven Stat
13130 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 er transaction r
13140 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 eady for him to
13150 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f confirm...She no
13160 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 dded, and said "
13170 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e Go ahead and sen
13180 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 d it to this esc
13190 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 row." She pulle
131a0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 d out the dog-ea
131b0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 red page of her
131c0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 notebook without
131d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 looking at it,
131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f and handed it to
131f0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e the boy. He en
13200 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 tered the escrow
13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 number into his
13220 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d device and thum
13230 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 bed the confirma
13240 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 tion. A moment
13250 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 later, she heard
13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 the escrow aler
13270 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 t through her ph
13280 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a one's earpiece..
13290 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Done", he said
132a0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 ..."Here's the c
132b0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 ash." She hung
132c0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 her right thumb
132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 on her front poc
132e0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ket, then reache
132f0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 d into the car w
13300 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e ith her left han
13310 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 d to pull out th
13320 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 e bag. She hand
13330 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b ...He took it, k
13350 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 eeping his eyes
13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 on her, and step
13370 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f ped back. He to
13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 ssed the bag int
13390 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 o the car, then
133a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 Alley heard some
133b0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 rustling sounds
133c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 from the bag.
133d0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 After a few mome
133e0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 nts, she realize
133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 d whoever was si
13400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 tting in the pas
13410 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 senger seat had
13420 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 started counting
13430 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 . Alley and the
13440 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 boy stood there
13450 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 , looking at eac
13460 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 h other, as they
13470 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c waited. A girl
13480 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 's voice -- unle
13490 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 ss it was an eve
134a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d n younger boy --
134b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 said "It's all
134c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 here."..The boy
134d0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 tapped his devic
134e0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 e with his thumb
134f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 once more, and
13500 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e said "Are we don
13510 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 e?".."Not yet,"
13520 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 she said. "Just
13530 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e wait." Everyon
13540 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 e waited. A few
13550 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 seconds later,
13560 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 another alert ch
13570 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 imed in Alley's
13580 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 ear. "Okay, we'
13590 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 re done.".."Good
135a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ," he said, and
135b0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 sat back in his
135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 car with surpris
135d0 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a ing quickness...
135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 Alley sat down a
135f0 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c nd hurriedly pul
13600 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 led her door shu
13610 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 t. The crossove
13620 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 r backed out and
13630 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 quickly drove a
13640 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 way, while she w
13650 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e as still bucklin
13660 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 g her seatbelt.
13670 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 Soon she, too,
13680 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e was on the road.
13690 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 .."It is too ear
136a0 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 ly to be sure th
136b0 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 at went well," t
136c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
136d0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 aid..."Yeah. I
136e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 should check my
136f0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 Stater balance."
13700 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 She pulled ove
13710 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 r, set aside her
13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 glasses so they
13730 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 wouldn't record
13740 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 what she saw, p
13750 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f icked up her pho
13760 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ne, and looked a
13770 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 t the open ledge
13780 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 r view. She now
13790 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 had a Stater ba
137a0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 lance. She star
137b0 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 ed at it for a w
137c0 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 hile..."Is every
137d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 thing correct?"
137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
137f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
13800 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ed, then realize
13810 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f d it probably co
13820 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 uldn't tell she
13830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 nodded when she
13840 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't wearing t
13850 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 he glasses. "Ye
13860 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ah, it's all the
13870 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e re. Is there an
13880 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 y way this can s
13890 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 omehow get rever
138a0 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 sed now?".."No,"
138b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
138c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 said. "If it s
138d0 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c hows in your bal
138e0 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ance, that shoul
138f0 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 d mean the trans
13900 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 action crossed t
13910 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 he point of no r
13920 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 eturn, according
13930 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 to the Stater d
13940 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ocuments you sho
13950 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 wed to me throug
13960 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 h your glasses."
13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .."Okay." She l
13980 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ocked her phone,
13990 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 tossed it on th
139a0 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 e passenger seat
139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
139c0 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 iving again..."P
139d0 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c erhaps you shoul
139e0 64 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 d wear the glass
139f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c es again.".."Oh,
13a00 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
13a10 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 d. She picked t
13a20 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 hem out of the c
13a30 75 70 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 up holder and se
13a40 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 ttled them on he
13a50 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 r face once more
13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
13a70 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 next step is to
13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
13a90 74 68 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 th Stater so we
13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
13ab0 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f ght?".."Yes. Yo
13ac0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 u should send a
13ad0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 message to a buy
13ae0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e er tonight, then
13af0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 buy the item wh
13b00 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 en you get confi
13b10 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e rmation. Use an
13b20 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 escrow hold to
13b30 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 reserve the purc
13b40 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 hase, with the c
13b50 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 65 65 20 ancellation fee
13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
13b70 73 63 72 6f 77 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a scrow service.".
13b80 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 ."Yeah, got it,"
13b90 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 she said. "I h
13ba0 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 ope this all wor
13bb0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 ks out.".."It sh
13bc0 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 ould."..She drov
13bd0 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 e home in silenc
13be0 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 e, occasionally
13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
13c00 6d 70 74 79 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 mpty space in fr
13c10 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 ont of the passe
13c20 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 nger seat that u
13c30 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 61 20 62 61 sed to hold a ba
13c40 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 2e 0a g full of cash..
13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
13c60 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 66 me, she sat in f
13c70 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 ront of her lapt
13c80 6f 70 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 op, set aside he
13c90 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c r glasses again,
13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
13cb0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 2e Stater account.
13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
13cd0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 where it was su
13ce0 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2c 20 61 73 pposed to be, as
13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
13d00 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 d tell. After c
13d10 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6e 64 losing that wind
13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
13d30 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e er glasses again
13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
13d50 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 64 king for large d
13d60 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 70 72 ifferences in pr
13d70 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 65 6d 73 20 61 76 ice for items av
13d80 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20 ailable in both
13d90 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 6f local pseudonymo
13da0 75 73 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 61 us classifieds a
13db0 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 nd Open Marrakes
13dc0 68 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 h, which was one
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
13df0 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 upporting in-per
13e00 73 6f 6e 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 73 20 69 6e 20 son meetings in
13e10 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 4f 70 65 the extended Ope
13e20 6e 42 61 7a 61 61 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 6d nBazaar online m
13e30 61 72 6b 65 74 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 2e 0a arket universe..
13e40 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d .She found an im
13e50 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 probable opportu
13e60 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 nity, one that d
13e70 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 20 74 68 65 id not exist the
13e80 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 last time she c
13e90 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 hecked a few hou
13ea0 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 rs before. Some
13eb0 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 one on Open Marr
13ec0 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e akesh was sellin
13ed0 67 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 79 6d 65 g printed polyme
13ee0 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 r frames for a s
13ef0 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 43 5a 2d 62 72 61 6e 64 pecific CZ-brand
13f00 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ed handgun, and
13f10 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6c 61 someone on a cla
13f20 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 20 73 69 74 65 20 ssified ad site
13f30 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 65 69 wanted to buy ei
13f40 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 ght of them. Th
13f50 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e e frames on Open
13f60 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 Marrakesh would
13f70 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 cost most of th
13f80 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 e Stater she had
13f90 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 , but it looked
13fa0 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 67 like she'd get g
13fb0 65 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 77 et just under tw
13fc0 69 63 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 ice as much for
13fd0 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 70 61 69 64 20 the frames paid
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
14000 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 65 ntally subtracte
14010 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 d what she would
14020 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 pay for the fra
14030 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 mes, and noticed
14040 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 she had enough
14050 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c to buy a multipl
14060 65 2d 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 e-cryptocurrency
14070 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 trader like the
14080 20 62 6f 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 boy used earlie
14090 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 r with what was
140a0 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 left..."Should I
140b0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 65 61 6c 3f make this deal?
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
14100 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 e a very good de
14110 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 79 6f 75 al, the best you
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
14160 61 72 63 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e arch before goin
14170 67 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 g any further, a
14180 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 nd found out tha
14190 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 t the parts she
141a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 planned to buy a
141b0 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 nd sell were not
141c0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 even considered
141d0 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 significant for
141e0 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 firearms regula
141f0 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 61 tion purposes, a
14200 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 s long as they d
14210 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 74 id not include t
14220 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 72 69 6e hings like firin
14230 67 20 70 69 6e 73 2c 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 73 2c g pins, hammers,
14240 20 73 74 72 69 6b 65 72 73 2c 20 62 61 72 72 65 strikers, barre
14250 6c 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 73 2e ls, or chambers.
14260 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e Double-checkin
14270 67 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 6e g showed her non
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
142d0 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 en got ready for
142e0 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e bed. She had n
142f0 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 79 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e o reply yet when
14300 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 she was done, s
14310 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 2e o she turned in.
14320 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ..The next morni
14330 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 ng, she checked
14340 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 for a response b
14350 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6e 79 efore almost any
14360 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 thing else, and
14370 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 found a suggesti
14380 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 65 65 on that they mee
14390 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 65 t in an alley be
143a0 68 69 6e 64 20 61 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b hind a supermark
143b0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 et in San Bernar
143c0 64 69 6e 6f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b dino. She check
143d0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ed the location
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
14400 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 asn't in the mos
14410 74 20 6e 6f 74 6f 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 62 61 t notoriously ba
14420 64 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 d part of town,
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
14470 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 70 61 72 o set their apar
14480 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 tments on fire w
14490 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f hen they moved o
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
144c0 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 t the buyer said
144d0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 he would show u
144e0 70 20 6f 6e 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 p on foot with a
144f0 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 n umbrella, and
14500 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 73 6f she should do so
14510 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 mething to conce
14520 61 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 al her appearanc
14530 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 e from the secur
14540 69 74 79 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 6e 65 61 72 ity cameras near
14550 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 72 20 66 69 72 65 20 64 the rear fire d
14560 6f 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 70 65 oors of the supe
14570 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 rmarket. She wa
14580 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 sn't sure she li
14590 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 ked the idea of
145a0 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 buying and selli
145b0 6e 67 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 62 75 ng gun parts, bu
145c0 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 65 65 t everything see
145d0 6d 65 64 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 med legal, even
145e0 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 if the whole thi
145f0 6e 67 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 ng felt a little
14600 20 63 6c 6f 61 6b 2d 61 6e 64 2d 64 61 67 67 65 cloak-and-dagge
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
14630 70 20 61 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 66 6f 72 p a purchase for
14640 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 68 72 6f the frames thro
14650 75 67 68 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 ugh Open Marrake
14660 73 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 sh. She would c
14670 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 onfirm with the
14680 62 75 79 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 buyer later. It
14690 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 gave her choice
146a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 of three times
146b0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e for an in-person
146c0 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e transaction, an
146d0 64 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 d two locations
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
14710 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 e the buyer want
14720 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 ed to meet, so s
14730 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 he chose that.
14740 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 One of the locat
14750 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d ions was the sam
14760 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e e police station
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
14790 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6e 65 72 76 6f felt a bit nervo
147a0 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 us about going b
147b0 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e ack there for an
147c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 other sketchy ca
147d0 72 2d 74 6f 2d 63 61 72 20 64 65 61 6c 2c 20 73 r-to-car deal, s
147e0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f o she chose a lo
147f0 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 20 62 cation quite a b
14800 69 74 20 66 61 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 2c it farther away,
14810 20 69 6e 20 4e 6f 72 63 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 in Norco. It w
14820 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 2d 65 6e 64 20 67 72 as a dead-end gr
14830 61 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 77 avel road to now
14840 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 here, only about
14850 20 74 68 69 72 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 6c 6f 6e thirty feet lon
14860 67 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 65 64 g, that branched
14870 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 72 6f 61 off a major roa
14880 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 d. The little g
14890 72 61 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 65 6e ravel road appen
148a0 64 69 78 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 dix ended at the
148b0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 back fence of a
148c0 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 68 6f 72 73 65 20 70 72 nearby horse pr
148d0 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 operty...She rea
148e0 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 lized she rememb
148f0 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 20 61 62 ered the news ab
14900 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 4e out someone in N
14910 6f 72 63 6f 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e orco fighting an
14920 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 eminent domain
14930 73 75 69 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 61 72 73 suit a few years
14940 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 back, which wou
14950 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 ld have cut his
14960 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 property in half
14970 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 to provide the
14980 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f county with a mo
14990 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 re direct access
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
149c0 69 63 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 6e 64 65 iced how it ende
149d0 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 d, but it looked
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
14a10 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 74 77 6f 2d 73 74 offered a two-st
14a20 61 67 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e age cryptocurren
14a30 63 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 74 68 6f cy payment metho
14a40 64 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 d, where she wou
14a50 6c 64 20 70 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 63 ld pay now and c
14a60 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 onfirm delivery
14a70 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 later to release
14a80 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 the funds to th
14a90 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 e seller. She r
14aa0 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 eserved the purc
14ab0 68 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 hase and started
14ac0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 getting ready t
14ad0 6f 20 67 6f 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 o go...When she
14ae0 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 64 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 was ready, she d
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
14b10 74 69 73 66 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 72 69 6f 73 tisfy her curios
14b20 69 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ity. She looked
14b30 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 up the eminent
14b40 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 domain case, and
14b50 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 in a few minute
14b60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 s she learned th
14b70 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 6a 75 at the county ju
14b80 73 74 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 65 st shifted its e
14b90 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 6c minent domain cl
14ba0 61 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 aim to someone e
14bb0 6c 73 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 20 lse's property.
14bc0 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 A few more minu
14bd0 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 tes of searching
14be0 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 revealed that t
14bf0 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 he second proper
14c00 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ty owner could n
14c10 6f 74 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 61 20 6c 61 77 79 ot afford a lawy
14c20 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 er for an extend
14c30 65 64 20 63 6f 75 72 74 20 62 61 74 74 6c 65 2c ed court battle,
14c40 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 and ended up ha
14c50 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 ving to accept t
14c60 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 27 73 20 6f 66 66 65 he county's offe
14c70 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 r, which bought
14c80 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 6c 61 74 the person's lat
14c90 65 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 27 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e e parents' home.
14ca0 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f The second pro
14cb0 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 65 6e 64 65 perty owner ende
14cc0 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d d up having to m
14cd0 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 6c ove into a weekl
14ce0 79 20 72 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 2e 0a y rental motel..
14cf0 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 .That was not th
14d00 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 41 e happy ending A
14d10 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 lley wanted...Sh
14d20 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 e headed out the
14d30 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 door, mentally
14d40 67 6e 61 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 gnawing on the i
14d50 6e 6a 75 73 74 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 njustice of it a
14d60 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 65 20 ll.../* rewrite
14d70 74 68 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 the above to use
14d80 20 61 20 70 61 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 66 6f a park bench fo
14d90 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 r the meeting, a
14da0 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 6c 6f s indicated belo
14db0 77 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 w, instead */..A
14dc0 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 lley had to chec
14dd0 6b 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 73 73 20 61 67 k her compass ag
14de0 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 ain to be sure w
14df0 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 hich park bench
14e00 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 was north of the
14e10 20 62 6f 61 72 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6e 61 63 boarded up snac
14e20 6b 20 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 72 k stand. It tur
14e30 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 ned out to be th
14e40 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 69 74 e only bench wit
14e50 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e h someone sittin
14e60 67 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c g on it. She gl
14e70 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 anced back towar
14e80 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 d her car in the
14e90 20 74 69 6e 79 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f tiny parking lo
14ea0 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 t, one of only t
14eb0 77 6f 20 63 61 72 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 wo cars there.
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
14f10 6f 77 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 6f 20 64 61 72 6b ows were so dark
14f20 6c 79 20 74 69 6e 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 ly tinted she su
14f30 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 spected they wer
14f40 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 e illegal, so sh
14f50 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 e had no idea wh
14f60 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e o was sitting in
14f70 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 65 the driver's se
14f80 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 at...As she appr
14f90 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 oached the bench
14fa0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 , she saw that a
14fb0 20 70 61 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 72 65 64 20 pale young red
14fc0 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 74 haired woman sat
14fd0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 69 67 68 there in a tigh
14fe0 74 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 2c t green t-shirt,
14ff0 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 73 2c 20 68 65 tiny shorts, he
15000 61 76 79 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c avy black boots,
15010 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 61 a black mask, a
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
15040 68 65 61 70 20 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 64 heap synthetic d
15050 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 72 65 rawstring bag re
15060 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 sted on the benc
15070 68 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e h beside her, an
15080 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 d she had someth
15090 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69 ing like a tacti
150a0 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 cal purse on her
150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 other side. Sh
150c0 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c e wasn't what Al
150d0 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 ley expected in
150e0 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e an anonymous gun
150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 parts trade...T
15100 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 he redhead watch
15110 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 ed steadily as A
15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c lley approached,
15130 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 with what turne
15140 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 d out to be vivi
15150 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 d green eyes. T
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
15190 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 ural redhead, bu
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
152f0 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 ant white teeth
15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 with a broad smi
15310 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 le. "Yeah, you
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
15370 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 y accepted the q
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
15550 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c n accessory rail
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
155b0 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 r other models,
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
15820 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 lmost but not qu
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
158d0 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e nners sometimes.
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
15a30 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 eant to say 'fli
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
16230 6f 6c 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 olid and easier
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
16280 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 open them. Anyw
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
16300 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 caught with a c
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
163b0 68 69 64 65 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 hide it while ge
163c0 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 tting patted dow
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
16470 75 74 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 ut practice with
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
164c0 67 68 74 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 ght buying one.
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
167e0 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 ley said, and tu
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
16870 65 6c 6c 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 ell, just to be
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
16950 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c is kind of work,
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
16a30 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 rabbed the draws
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
16a80 75 6e 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 und a box of dis
16a90 70 6f 73 61 62 6c 65 20 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 20 posable nitrile
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
16ad0 73 65 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 sely at the hand
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
16b10 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c r a few minutes,
16b20 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 she put them ba
16b30 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 ck in the drawst
16b40 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 ring bag. She p
16b50 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 ulled out the ex
16b60 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 tending baton ne
16b70 78 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e xt, and stood in
16b80 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 the middle of h
16b90 65 72 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 20 73 68 er kitchen so sh
16ba0 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 63 69 e would not acci
16bb0 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 61 dentally break a
16bc0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f nything...She lo
16bd0 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 oked it over and
16be0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 decided she wou
16bf0 6c 64 20 65 78 65 72 63 69 73 65 20 65 78 74 72 ld exercise extr
16c00 61 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 a caution. She
16c10 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 thought she was
16c20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 65 6e 64 20 77 sure which end w
16c30 61 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 as where the ext
16c40 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c ending happened,
16c50 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e but never havin
16c60 67 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 g handled one be
16c70 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c fore she careful
16c80 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 ly held it so th
16c90 61 74 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 at neither end p
16ca0 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ointed at someth
16cb0 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 ing she thought
16cc0 6f 66 20 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 of as particular
16cd0 6c 79 20 76 75 6c 6e 65 72 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f ly vulnerable to
16ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 much harm. She
16cf0 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 pointed the bus
16d00 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 64 69 61 67 6f 6e iness end diagon
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
16d40 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 69 nds to hold it i
16d50 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 n front of her,
16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e and the other en
16d70 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 d pointed toward
16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the ceiling to
16d90 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 her right...Alle
16da0 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 62 6f 74 y pressed on bot
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
16df0 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 nded, and the de
16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 vice nearly jump
16e10 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 ed out of her ha
16e20 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 66 69 nd. It had defi
16e30 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 nitely gone in a
16e40 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 n instant from s
16e50 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a omething the siz
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
16ed0 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 6d 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 the seams betwee
16ee0 6e 20 74 65 6c 65 73 63 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 73 65 n telescoping se
16ef0 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 69 67 ctions, then lig
16f00 68 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 htly whacked the
16f10 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 end on the carp
16f20 65 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 et just past the
16f30 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 edge of the kit
16f40 63 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 chen floor. It
16f50 66 65 6c 74 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 felt solid...She
16f60 20 68 65 6c 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 held down what
16f70 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 Carmen called th
16f80 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2c e second button,
16f90 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 and she set the
16fa0 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 head of the bat
16fb0 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 on against the c
16fc0 61 72 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 arpeted floor.
16fd0 53 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e She pressed down
16fe0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f on the handle o
16ff0 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 f the baton, and
17000 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 found that if s
17010 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 61 72 64 20 he pressed hard
17020 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 68 61 -- but not so ha
17030 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 rd that she had
17040 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 to throw her wei
17050 67 68 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 69 74 20 2d 2d ght behind it --
17060 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 the baton would
17070 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 smoothly collap
17080 73 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 se into the hand
17090 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 le again. Each
170a0 74 65 6c 65 73 63 6f 70 69 63 20 73 65 63 74 69 telescopic secti
170b0 6f 6e 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 on clicked into
170c0 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 place, one after
170d0 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e another...The n
170e0 65 78 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 ext time she tri
170f0 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 ed it, she held
17100 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 the baton down a
17110 74 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 t her side, the
17120 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 business end poi
17130 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 nted at a relaxe
17140 64 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 d angle at the f
17150 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 loor. Holding i
17160 74 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 73 t comfortably, s
17170 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 65 61 73 69 he found it easi
17180 65 72 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 er to press the
17190 74 77 6f 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 73 20 73 69 6d two switches sim
171a0 75 6c 74 61 6e 65 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 ultaneously, and
171b0 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 69 70 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6d her grip felt m
171c0 6f 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 ore secure so th
171d0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 at the baton did
171e0 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 n't feel like it
171f0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 6d 70 20 6f 75 74 20 would jump out
17200 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 57 69 of her hand...Wi
17210 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 69 th no practice i
17220 6e 76 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f nvolving a weapo
17230 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 20 68 n like this in h
17240 65 72 20 6d 61 72 74 69 61 6c 20 61 72 74 73 20 er martial arts
17250 63 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 classes years ag
17260 6f 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 o, she was not s
17270 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 ure she could us
17280 65 20 69 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 e it effectively
17290 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 73 68 65 . She hoped she
172a0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e could, if the n
172b0 65 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 61 72 6f 73 65 2e 20 eed ever arose.
172c0 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 /* Maybe this c
172d0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 64 ould be replaced
172e0 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 at some point b
172f0 79 20 64 69 61 6c 6f 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 y dialog, in a c
17300 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 onversation betw
17310 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 een her and some
17320 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 one else. */..Sh
17330 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 e closed it up a
17340 66 74 65 72 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 fter extending i
17350 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 t a few times, a
17360 6e 64 20 73 77 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 nd swinging it b
17370 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 61 20 ack and forth a
17380 62 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 bit to get a fee
17390 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 l for the weight
173a0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 . She tucked th
173b0 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 63 79 6c 69 6e e collapse cylin
173c0 64 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 der into her bac
173d0 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 k pocket, simila
173e0 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 77 20 43 61 72 6d 65 rly to how Carme
173f0 6e 20 68 61 64 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 64 20 69 74 n had carried it
17400 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 . She remembere
17410 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 d what Carmen sa
17420 69 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 id about a hole
17430 69 6e 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 in a pants pocke
17440 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 t, but decided t
17450 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 o worry about th
17460 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a at idea later...
17470 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 73 She had no ideas
17480 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c about anyone el
17490 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 se she could get
174a0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f to be backup fo
174b0 72 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 78 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 r her next trans
174c0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 action, so that
174d0 67 6f 74 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 got sent to the
174e0 62 61 63 6b 20 62 75 72 6e 65 72 20 61 73 20 77 back burner as w
174f0 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 ell. /* maybe,
17500 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 73 61 79 3a 20 70 75 instead, say: pu
17510 74 20 6f 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 t off for later
17520 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 75 67 20 74 68 */..Alley dug th
17530 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 rough boxes in h
17540 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f er closet and fo
17550 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 69 67 68 und her old ligh
17560 74 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 tweight pair of
17570 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 motorcycle glove
17580 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 s with reinforce
17590 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 ments on their b
175a0 61 63 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b acks, then check
175b0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 ed to make sure
175c0 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 she could still
175d0 6f 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f operate her bato
175e0 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 n and pepper spr
175f0 61 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ay...The priorit
17600 69 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 22 49 izer told her "I
17610 74 20 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 6f t is getting clo
17620 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 se to time for y
17630 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 ou to leave for
17640 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e your next meetin
17650 67 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 g."..She checked
17660 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 the time and re
17670 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 alized she was h
17680 75 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 ungry. She grab
17690 62 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 bed everything s
176a0 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 he needed, and g
176b0 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 rabbed a hat to
176c0 68 65 6c 70 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 help obscure her
176d0 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 61 20 62 69 appearance a bi
176e0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e t for surveillan
176f0 63 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ce cameras. She
17700 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 72 69 65 73 20 61 6e bought fries an
17710 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 d a shake at a d
17720 72 69 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 20 rive through on
17730 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 the way, and whe
17740 6e 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 n she finished t
17750 68 65 20 66 72 69 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e he fries she don
17760 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 61 ned her gloves a
17770 74 20 61 20 73 74 6f 70 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 72 t a stoplight, r
17780 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 43 61 72 6d 65 emembering Carme
17790 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 n once more and
177a0 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 how the redhead
177b0 77 6f 72 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 64 75 72 69 wore gloves duri
177c0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 6d 65 ng the entire me
177d0 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 eting. ---..Onc
177e0 65 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 e she got to the
177f0 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f correct neighbo
17800 72 68 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 rhood for the me
17810 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 6f eting, Alley dro
17820 76 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c ve around the bl
17830 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 ock once, then d
17840 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ecided she shoul
17850 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 d just park in t
17860 68 65 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 70 he supermarket p
17870 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 arking lot, off
17880 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 to the side near
17890 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e the alley behin
178a0 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f d the store. So
178b0 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 on, she stood ne
178c0 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 72 6e ar the back corn
178d0 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 er of the buildi
178e0 6e 67 2c 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 76 ng, masked, glov
178f0 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 74 74 65 64 2e 20 ed, and hatted.
17900 20 48 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 69 6e 66 Her glasses inf
17910 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 ormed her she wa
17920 73 20 73 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 s seven minutes
17930 65 61 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 early for the me
17940 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 eting...She patt
17950 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 69 6e ed the reassurin
17960 67 20 62 75 6c 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 g bulges of the
17970 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f pepper spray, no
17980 77 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 72 w in her left fr
17990 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 73 74 65 ont pocket inste
179a0 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c ad of the right,
179b0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 and the extendi
179c0 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 ng baton, in her
179d0 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 72 65 61 72 20 70 6f 63 6b right rear pock
179e0 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 6c 75 6e 67 20 74 et. She slung t
179f0 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 he /* drawstring
17a00 20 2a 2f 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6e 64 67 */ bag of handg
17a10 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 un frames over h
17a20 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 er shoulder by t
17a30 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e he drawstring an
17a40 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 72 d headed back ar
17a50 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e ound the corner.
17a60 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 ..Alley immediat
17a70 65 6c 79 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 ely saw a broad
17a80 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 65 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 shouldered figur
17a90 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 e standing with
17aa0 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 an umbrella over
17ab0 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 his head, just
17ac0 70 61 73 74 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 66 61 63 past a steel fac
17ad0 65 64 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 20 66 69 72 65 ed employee fire
17ae0 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 escape door. T
17af0 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 68 65 20 68 he umbrella he h
17b00 65 6c 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 eld in his right
17b10 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 68 61 64 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 hand shaded mos
17b20 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 t of him from th
17b30 65 20 73 75 6e 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 76 65 e sunlight above
17b40 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 , but as she app
17b50 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 roached the figu
17b60 72 65 27 73 20 66 65 61 74 75 72 65 73 20 62 65 re's features be
17b70 63 61 6d 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 came clearer...H
17b80 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6d 75 73 e was a well mus
17b90 63 6c 65 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 cled black man,
17ba0 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 66 69 66 74 69 65 73 20 6f in his fifties o
17bb0 72 20 73 69 78 74 69 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 r sixties from t
17bc0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 he look of it.
17bd0 48 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 He wore neither
17be0 6d 61 73 6b 20 6e 6f 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 mask nor glasses
17bf0 2e 20 20 41 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c . Around what l
17c00 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 72 ooked like a per
17c10 6d 61 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 75 72 20 74 75 72 6e manent dour turn
17c20 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 73 68 of his mouth sh
17c30 65 20 73 61 77 20 67 72 65 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e e saw greying an
17c40 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 63 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 d close cut, but
17c50 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 67 72 6f not exactly gro
17c60 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20 6d 75 73 74 61 63 68 65 20 61 omed, mustache a
17c70 6e 64 20 62 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 20 20 4f 6e 20 nd beard. On
17c80 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 his head she not
17c90 65 64 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 65 72 65 74 ed a black beret
17ca0 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 with some kind
17cb0 6f 66 20 75 6e 69 74 20 70 61 74 63 68 20 6f 6e of unit patch on
17cc0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 the front. The
17cd0 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 65 72 65 74 2c 20 69 6e whole beret, in
17ce0 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 74 63 cluding the patc
17cf0 68 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 63 72 75 70 75 h, looked scrupu
17d00 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 2c 20 74 68 lously clean, th
17d10 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 ough it appeared
17d20 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 63 69 positively anci
17d30 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 6f 72 ent. It was wor
17d40 6e 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 62 61 72 65 20 69 6e 20 n threadbare in
17d50 70 6c 61 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d places, and seem
17d60 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 ed to have lost
17d70 74 68 65 20 73 74 69 66 66 6e 65 73 73 20 6e 65 the stiffness ne
17d80 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 cessary to maint
17d90 61 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 ain its previous
17da0 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 sharp military
17db0 73 68 61 70 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 shape...The man
17dc0 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 waited and watch
17dd0 65 64 20 69 6d 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 ed impassively a
17de0 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 s she approached
17df0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 69 , and she felt i
17e00 6e 63 72 65 61 73 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 6e 65 72 76 ncreasingly nerv
17e10 6f 75 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 63 ous as she got c
17e20 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 6d 70 72 loser. The impr
17e30 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 ession of the ma
17e40 6e 27 73 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 n's solidity inc
17e50 72 65 61 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 6f 73 reased with clos
17e60 65 72 20 70 72 6f 78 69 6d 69 74 79 2e 20 20 53 er proximity. S
17e70 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 he stopped about
17e80 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 ten feet away.
17e90 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c After a moment,
17ea0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 69 2e 22 0a she said "Hi.".
17eb0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 .He nodded, and
17ec0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 2e looked her over.
17ed0 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 74 68 He pulled a th
17ee0 69 63 6b 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 75 74 ick envelope out
17ef0 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 63 of his old blac
17f00 6b 20 6c 65 61 74 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 k leather jacket
17f10 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 with his left h
17f20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 and and held it
17f30 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 63 72 up. It was a cr
17f40 69 73 70 2c 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 isp, stark white
17f50 2c 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 6c 65 74 74 65 72 20 65 , large letter e
17f60 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 62 6c 6f 61 74 65 64 20 nvelope bloated
17f70 62 79 20 69 74 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 2e by its contents.
17f80 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 20 69 74 She assumed it
17f90 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 73 68 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 was cash...Alle
17fa0 79 20 75 6e 73 6c 75 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 y unslung the dr
17fb0 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 66 72 6f awstring bag fro
17fc0 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 0a m her shoulder..
17fd0 0a 49 6e 20 61 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 .In a voice like
17fe0 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 42 61 72 72 79 20 an angry Barry
17ff0 57 68 69 74 65 2c 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 White, he asked
18000 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 "You wanna come
18010 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 to me, or should
18020 20 49 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 20 I go to you?"
18030 53 68 65 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 73 68 65 She imagined she
18040 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 could almost fe
18050 65 6c 20 69 74 73 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f 6e el its vibration
18060 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 73 74 2e 0a s in her chest..
18070 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 79 ."I'll come to y
18080 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 ou."..He watched
18090 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 , and she steppe
180a0 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 d forward. He h
180b0 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 eld out the enve
180c0 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 lope. She took
180d0 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 it with one hand
180e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 74 , then offered t
180f0 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 he bag with the
18100 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b other. He shook
18110 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 his head. "Jus
18120 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 t leave it on th
18130 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 79 e ground, then y
18140 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 74 65 70 20 62 61 63 6b ou can step back
18150 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 77 68 61 74 27 and count what'
18160 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 s in the envelop
18170 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 69 e."..As Alley di
18180 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 d as he suggeste
18190 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 63 d, she saw him c
181a0 72 6f 75 63 68 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 rouch by the bag
181b0 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 . With one hand
181c0 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 2c 20 68 , even gloved, h
181d0 65 20 64 65 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e 65 e deftly loosene
181e0 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 d the drawstring
181f0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 . He kept his e
18200 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 65 yes on her as he
18210 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 did it, not eve
18220 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 n looking at wha
18230 74 20 68 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 t his left hand
18240 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 was doing, while
18250 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c the right still
18260 20 74 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 64 tirelessly held
18270 20 74 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 the umbrella ov
18280 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4f 6e er his head. On
18290 63 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 ce he had the ba
182a0 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 68 65 20 g opened up, he
182b0 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 glanced down to
182c0 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 see the contents
182d0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 6a , then quickly j
182e0 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 erked the drawst
182f0 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 69 6e 63 68 20 69 74 ring to cinch it
18300 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 closed...The ma
18310 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 n slowly stood a
18320 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 nd waited as she
18330 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 finished counti
18340 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 63 ng...After she c
18350 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f losed the envelo
18360 70 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 65 pe once more, he
18370 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 said "I guess I
18380 27 6d 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 'm trusting thes
18390 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 e aren't going t
183a0 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 o turn out to be
183b0 20 63 72 61 70 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 6a crap quality, j
183c0 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 ust like you're
183d0 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 trusting those b
183e0 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 75 6e ills aren't coun
183f0 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 terfeit."..Alley
18400 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 hesitated, and
18410 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 nodded..."If the
18420 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 re's a problem,
18430 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 I'll try contact
18440 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 ing you the same
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
184b0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 down so we can
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
184f0 72 65 61 74 68 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f reathe. "No, yo
18500 75 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 u'll be able to
18510 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 get in touch the
18520 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 same way we set
18530 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 this up. That'
18540 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 ll be fine.".."G
18550 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 ood. You can fi
18560 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 nd me the same w
18570 61 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 ay if you need t
18580 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c o settle a probl
18590 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 em with what I g
185a0 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e ave you."..She n
185b0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f odded..."Good do
185c0 69 6e 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 ing business wit
185d0 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e h you," he said.
185e0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 "You can go fi
185f0 72 73 74 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 rst, if you want
18600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
18610 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 said. "Have a g
18620 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f ood day."..He no
18630 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 dded...She backe
18640 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 d away a couple
18650 73 74 65 70 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e steps, then turn
18660 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 ed and continued
18670 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 until she got t
18680 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 o the corner. S
18690 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 he glanced back
186a0 74 77 69 63 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 twice along the
186b0 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d way, then once m
186c0 6f 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 ore just before
186d0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 going around the
186e0 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 corner of the b
186f0 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 uilding...In her
18700 20 63 61 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 car once more,
18710 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 she started it u
18720 70 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 69 6d 6c p and drove aiml
18730 65 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 essly around for
18740 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e half an hour un
18750 74 69 6c 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 74 til her hands st
18760 6f 70 70 65 64 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e opped shaking an
18770 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a d her clenched j
18780 61 77 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e aw relaxed, then
18790 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 headed home..."
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
187c0 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65 g?" she asked he
187d0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 rself...---..Sit
187e0 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 ting on her couc
187f0 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 h again, Alley s
18800 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 aid "I don't fee
18810 6c 20 73 61 66 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 l safe with the
18820 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 kinds of deals I
18830 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 made today."..T
18840 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
18850 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 aid "You did not
18860 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 79 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 specify a very
18870 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 high preference
18880 66 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74 for safety. Est
18890 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 imations indicat
188a0 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 e the chance of
188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 poor safety outc
188c0 6f 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 omes is very low
188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 for these trans
188e0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 actions, though
188f0 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 severity may be
18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 high for poor ou
18910 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c tcomes..."I will
18920 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 reconsider stra
18930 74 65 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 tegy for future
18940 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 activities with
18950 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 a high preferenc
18960 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 e for low severi
18970 74 79 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 61 66 ty potential saf
18980 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 72 61 74 ety outcomes rat
18990 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 69 her than accepti
189a0 6e 67 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 ng higher severi
189b0 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e ty risk.".."Than
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
18a00 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e said "I am recon
18a10 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 sidering options
18a20 2c 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 , in light of ne
18a30 77 20 72 69 73 6b 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e w risk assessmen
18a40 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e t prioritization
18a50 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 . This may take
18a60 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 22 a few minutes."
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
18a90 66 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c f cash, then pul
18aa0 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6c 6c led out the bill
18ab0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 s and counted th
18ac0 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 em again. They
18ad0 61 64 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 added up as she
18ae0 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 expected, but th
18af0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
18b00 69 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 id "Please count
18b10 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 them again.".."
18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
18b30 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 hile you counted
18b40 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c , /* it looked l
18b50 69 6b 65 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 2a 2f 20 ike at least */
18b60 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 one of them appe
18b70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b ared to be thick
18b80 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 er than standard
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
18bb0 6f 74 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 otes, and also a
18bc0 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 ppeared to be ve
18bd0 72 79 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 ry new. Perhaps
18be0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e some of these n
18bf0 6f 74 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 otes is a counte
18c00 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 rfeit. Please c
18c10 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 ount again while
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
18c70 65 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 end, she hesitat
18c80 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ed on one of the
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
18cb0 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c ack, with a feel
18cc0 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ing like somethi
18cd0 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 ng was wrong..."
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
18d10 6e 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ncorrect."..Alle
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
18dc0 74 73 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ts surface, and
18dd0 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 it separated int
18de0 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f o two bills. "O
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
18e30 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 ve me an extra h
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
18ea0 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ely," the priori
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
18f10 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f o propose for to
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
18f50 68 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 he extra hundred
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
18f90 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e ack to that guy.
18fa0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 ".."For a high p
18fb0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e riority aversion
18fc0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 to high severit
18fd0 79 20 72 69 73 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 y risks, this is
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
19010 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 th people with a
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
19080 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 65 65 74 through one meet
19090 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 ing without trou
190a0 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6c 72 ble with him alr
190b0 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 eady. Should I
190c0 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 count that as my
190d0 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e lucky break, an
190e0 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 d forget about h
190f0 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 im, or take it a
19100 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 s evidence that
19110 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 I might not be i
19120 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 n any danger if
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
192b0 74 65 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 tened for a mome
192c0 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 64 69 nt. "I guess di
192d0 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 shonest isn't th
192e0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 62 75 e right word, bu
192f0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 64 76 t I'm taking adv
19300 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e antage of him in
19310 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 some way that d
19320 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 oesn't feel righ
19330 74 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 49 20 6b 6e t. For all I kn
19340 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 ow, that hundred
19350 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 62 65 might end up be
19360 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e ing the differen
19370 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ce between somet
19380 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 hing bad hitting
19390 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d him hard at som
193a0 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 e point and not
193b0 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 74 20 61 hitting him at a
193c0 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 ll.".."Do you fe
193d0 65 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 20 74 el you owe him t
193e0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f hat consideratio
193f0 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a n, personally?".
19400 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c ./*.."Not exactl
19410 79 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 y owe him, I gue
19420 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 ss, but he hasn'
19430 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 t done anything
19440 74 6f 20 68 75 72 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 61 to hurt me or ta
19450 6b 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 ke advantage of
19460 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 me, or done anyt
19470 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 hing else bad th
19480 61 74 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2c at I know about,
19490 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 so I shouldn't
194a0 61 73 73 75 6d 65 20 68 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 assume he isn't
194b0 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77 worth treating w
194c0 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ith respect.".."
194d0 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 I will consider
194e0 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 this when consid
194f0 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 ering future pri
19500 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 oritization stra
19510 74 65 67 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 tegy.".."Cool.
19520 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e I'm going to sen
19530 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 d him a message
19540 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c now. We can tal
19550 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4e 6f k about..*/.."No
19560 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 , I guess not,"
19570 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 she said. "It's
19580 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 72 69 70 70 not like I ripp
19590 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c ed him off, or l
195a0 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 ied to him, or e
195b0 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 49 20 ven pretended I
195c0 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 2e 20 20 didn't notice.
195d0 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 I really thought
195e0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 it was the righ
195f0 74 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 t amount of mone
19600 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 y, and even if h
19610 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 e hasn't really
19620 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f done anything to
19630 20 6d 65 2c 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 63 61 72 me, he did scar
19640 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6f e the crap out o
19650 66 20 6d 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 22 0a f me a little.".
19660 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 73 63 ."We should disc
19670 75 73 73 20 6e 65 77 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f uss new plans fo
19680 72 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 65 6e r tomorrow, then
19690 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 70 . I have a prop
196a0 6f 73 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 osal for you to
196b0 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 consider, if you
196c0 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a are ready."../*
196d0 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 64 65 61 73 3a 0a 0a 20 20 .. Ideas:..
196e0 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 Alley should b
196f0 65 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 e prompted to bu
19700 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 y from and (or)
19710 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 sell to other st
19720 75 64 79 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 udy. particip
19730 61 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 ants in ways tha
19740 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 74 68 t help her as th
19750 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 e middleman in a
19760 20 64 65 61 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 deal the others
19770 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 . could have
19780 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 handled directly
19790 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 62 65 6e for greater ben
197a0 65 66 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c efit. She shoul
197b0 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 d also be. pr
197c0 6f 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d ompted to do som
197d0 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 e internet resea
197e0 72 63 68 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d rch work for som
197f0 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 0a 20 20 e other study.
19800 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 participants a
19810 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 s a way to make
19820 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 a little money,
19830 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 though the prior
19840 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 itizer should.
19850 20 20 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 warn her this
19860 69 73 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 is a short term
19870 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 method of advanc
19880 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 ing her finances
19890 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 20 20 20 6e that will. n
198a0 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 62 65 20 66 72 75 ot likely be fru
198b0 69 74 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a itful for long..
198c0 0a 20 20 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f 74 20 67 75 . Some hot gu
198d0 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 61 72 74 y should be part
198e0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 79 of the story, y
198f0 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 ounger than Alle
19900 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f y, and an ally o
19910 66 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 73 6f f. hers in so
19920 6d 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 me way. This ma
19930 79 20 62 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 y be one part of
19940 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 70 6f 74 an apparent pot
19950 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 0a 20 20 20 20 ential love.
19960 74 72 69 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c triangle with Al
19970 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 2e 20 ley and her ex.
19980 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 The guy should
19990 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 67 turn out to be g
199a0 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 72 68 61 ay, or. perha
199b0 70 73 20 62 69 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 62 75 74 20 ps bisexual but
199c0 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 72 in a committed r
199d0 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 20 77 69 74 68 elationship with
199e0 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 2c a man at least,
199f0 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 75 73 20 6e 6f and. thus no
19a00 74 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c t truly availabl
19a10 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 65 e at all. The e
19a20 78 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 77 68 x, of course, wh
19a30 69 6c 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 0a ile potentially.
19a40 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 interested i
19a50 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 n getting back t
19a60 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 ogether with her
19a70 2c 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 , should neither
19a80 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 76 65 73 69 63 6b 0a 20 be a lovesick.
19a90 20 20 20 73 61 70 20 6e 6f 72 20 62 65 20 77 68 sap nor be wh
19aa0 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 at Alley decides
19ab0 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 she wants...
19ac0 20 55 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 Up to the point
19ad0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 where she turns
19ae0 20 68 69 6d 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 him down, Alley
19af0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 should probably
19b00 20 73 65 65 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 seem. potent
19b10 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 ially interested
19b20 20 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b in getting back
19b30 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 together with D
19b40 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 2d alton, perhaps -
19b50 2d 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 66 - at. least f
19b60 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 rom his perspect
19b70 69 76 65 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 65 ive. Should she
19b80 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 seem that way t
19b90 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 3f 0a 20 20 o the reader?.
19ba0 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 Should she see
19bb0 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 m that way to he
19bc0 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20 rself? However
19bd0 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 that works out,
19be0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 though, she.
19bf0 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 needs to ultimat
19c00 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c ely have to tell
19c10 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 69 73 20 him that he is
19c20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 not actually wha
19c30 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 0a 20 20 20 20 t she wants.
19c40 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 64 64 69 now, and in addi
19c50 74 69 6f 6e 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 tion -- but not
19c60 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 79 69 6e as the underlyin
19c70 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 g reason for the
19c80 20 66 6f 72 65 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 foregoing,.
19c90 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 3b 20 6a 75 73 74 20 of course; just
19ca0 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 66 61 as a separate fa
19cb0 63 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 ct -- she needs
19cc0 74 6f 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f to walk away fro
19cd0 6d 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f 6c m him to. fol
19ce0 6c 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 74 68 low her new path
19cf0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 65 73 70 at the end, esp
19d00 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 ecially without
19d10 64 72 61 67 67 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 74 dragging him int
19d20 6f 20 69 74 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 o it. because
19d30 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 it's not the be
19d40 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d st place for him
19d50 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 49 64 65 61 ... More Idea
19d60 73 3a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 s:.. Should t
19d70 68 65 20 61 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 76 65 he apparent love
19d80 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 6e 65 77 20 67 75 interest new gu
19d90 79 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 62 6f 79 66 y who has a boyf
19da0 72 69 65 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 20 69 73 20 6d 61 79 riend (or is may
19db0 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 79 29 be. just gay)
19dc0 20 62 65 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 be a fellow stu
19dd0 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 3f 20 dy participant?
19de0 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 70 61 Should he be pa
19df0 72 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 63 79 rt of her. cy
19e00 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 63 72 65 77 20 69 6e 20 berpunk crew in
19e10 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 3f 20 20 the shadowrun?
19e20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 61 20 53 Should he be a S
19e30 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 68 61 63 6b econd Realm hack
19e40 65 72 3f 20 20 49 66 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 er? If. the
19e50 6c 61 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 last of those th
19e60 72 65 65 3a 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 ree: Should he b
19e70 65 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 67 75 e her primary gu
19e80 69 64 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 ide, or perhaps
19e90 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 some. other c
19ea0 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 haracter who sta
19eb0 72 74 73 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 rts off on the s
19ec0 69 64 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c idelines? Shoul
19ed0 64 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 d his boyfriend
19ee0 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 be. someone s
19ef0 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 6a 75 he assumes is ju
19f00 73 74 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 3f 20 20 54 68 st a friend? Th
19f10 69 73 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 is last might be
19f20 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 especially.
19f30 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 49 appropriate if I
19f40 20 67 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 go with the mer
19f50 63 65 6e 61 72 79 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 cenary or activi
19f60 73 74 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 63 79 62 st shadowrun cyb
19f70 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 63 68 61 72 61 erpunk. chara
19f80 63 74 65 72 20 69 64 65 61 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 cter idea...
19f90 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 How does she end
19fa0 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e up in the Secon
19fb0 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 44 d Realm? Does D
19fc0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b alton actually k
19fd0 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 67 now how to. g
19fe0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 et in touch with
19ff0 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 61 6e the Smuggler an
1a000 61 6c 6f 67 75 65 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 44 61 alogue? Does Da
1a010 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 lton have the tr
1a020 75 73 74 2c 20 73 77 61 79 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 61 ust, sway,. a
1a030 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 nd (or) influenc
1a040 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 e to get the Smu
1a050 67 67 6c 65 72 20 67 75 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 ggler guy to do
1a060 61 20 66 61 76 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 a favor for him
1a070 28 6e 61 6d 65 6c 79 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 6c (namely,. hel
1a080 70 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 29 3f ping Alley out)?
1a090 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f .. Does the o
1a0a0 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 ld black war vet
1a0b0 65 72 61 6e 20 41 72 6d 79 20 52 61 6e 67 65 72 eran Army Ranger
1a0c0 20 67 75 79 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 68 guy introduce h
1a0d0 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 er to the Second
1a0e0 0a 20 20 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 65 72 73 3f 0a 0a . Realmers?..
1a0f0 20 20 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 68 65 6e I think when
1a100 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 69 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 they pick her u
1a110 70 20 28 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 74 68 69 p (because I thi
1a120 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 nk she should be
1a130 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 picked up,.
1a140 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 unless she's jus
1a150 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 t transported th
1a160 65 72 65 20 62 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 75 ere by someone u
1a170 6e 64 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 nder more direct
1a180 0a 20 20 20 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 . circumstanc
1a190 65 73 29 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 es), she should
1a1a0 62 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 77 be transported w
1a1b0 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 61 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 ith a bag over h
1a1c0 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 73 er head or. s
1a1d0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
1a1e0 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 at. They at fir
1a1f0 73 74 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 st aren't going
1a200 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 to be especially
1a210 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 trusting. of
1a220 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e some new person
1a230 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 they never met
1a240 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 before getting a
1a250 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 clear look at t
1a260 68 65 20 77 61 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 he way. they
1a270 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 54 65 6d got to their Tem
1a280 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 41 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 porary Autonomou
1a290 73 20 5a 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 20 6e s Zone... I n
1a2a0 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 eed to figure ou
1a2b0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 t some ideas for
1a2c0 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 75 73 what will be us
1a2d0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 61 ed to provide fa
1a2e0 73 74 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 st. internet
1a2f0 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 54 access for the T
1a300 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 41 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d emporary Autonom
1a310 6f 75 73 20 5a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 ous Zone. A few
1a320 20 73 74 61 63 6b 73 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 73 stacks of. s
1a330 68 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 hipping containe
1a340 72 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 75 73 74 79 20 69 6e rs in a dusty in
1a350 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 73 68 69 70 70 69 6e dustrial shippin
1a360 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 74 6f 72 g container stor
1a370 61 67 65 20 79 61 72 64 0a 20 20 20 20 28 70 6f age yard. (po
1a380 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f ssibly with a co
1a390 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 6c 61 62 20 75 6e 64 65 ncrete slab unde
1a3a0 72 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 29 r them, I guess)
1a3b0 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c does not seem l
1a3c0 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 6f ikely to. pro
1a3d0 76 69 64 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 73 79 20 61 vide very easy a
1a3e0 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 70 ccess to high sp
1a3f0 65 65 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 22 eed mainstream "
1a400 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 74 65 72 6c above the waterl
1a410 69 6e 65 22 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 62 6f ine" or. "abo
1a420 76 65 20 62 6f 61 72 64 22 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e ve board" intern
1a430 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 et access...
1a440 57 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 49 What name will I
1a450 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 give to the Smu
1a460 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 73 70 69 72 65 64 20 67 ggler inspired g
1a470 75 79 3f 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 uy? Will I refe
1a480 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 74 r to the. act
1a490 75 61 6c 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 ual Smuggler in
1a4a0 61 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e a historical con
1a4b0 74 65 78 74 3f 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 text? It feels
1a4c0 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 like I probably
1a4d0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 69 66 20 66 should,. if f
1a4e0 6f 72 20 6e 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 or no other reas
1a4f0 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 63 on than giving c
1a500 72 65 64 69 74 20 74 6f 20 53 6d 75 67 67 65 72 redit to Smugger
1a510 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 75 65 2e where it's due.
1a520 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 41 .. How does A
1a530 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 61 74 68 20 73 68 69 66 lley's path shif
1a540 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 t after priority
1a550 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 updates due to
1a560 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 6c the risk. tol
1a570 65 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 63 erance profile c
1a580 68 61 6e 67 65 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 69 6c 6c hange? How will
1a590 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c she meet the bl
1a5a0 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 ack war veteran
1a5b0 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 70 and. Carmen p
1a5c0 6c 75 73 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 lus Cliff again
1a5d0 6c 61 74 65 72 3f 20 20 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 later? I kinda
1a5e0 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 feel like she sh
1a5f0 6f 75 6c 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 ould. Maybe she
1a600 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 65 74 . should meet
1a610 20 74 68 65 20 67 69 72 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 the girl from t
1a620 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6b 69 64 27 73 20 63 he first kid's c
1a630 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 6f ar, too, but pro
1a640 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 bably not the.
1a650 20 20 6b 69 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 kid himself ag
1a660 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 ain... Maybe
1a670 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 the black war ve
1a680 74 65 72 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 65 72 20 41 72 6d teran former Arm
1a690 79 20 52 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 67 y Ranger tough g
1a6a0 75 79 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 uy shows up agai
1a6b0 6e 20 61 73 0a 20 20 20 20 61 20 73 65 72 76 69 n as. a servi
1a6c0 63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 72 2c 20 77 69 74 ce provider, wit
1a6d0 68 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f h her as a custo
1a6e0 6d 65 72 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 mer, when later
1a6f0 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 0a she needs to be.
1a700 20 20 20 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 transported
1a710 73 75 72 72 65 70 74 69 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 surreptitiously
1a720 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 61 6e 64 65 73 74 69 6e 65 6c and clandestinel
1a730 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 y from one place
1a740 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 0a 20 20 20 to another,.
1a750 20 65 71 75 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 equivalent to w
1a760 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 hat's going on w
1a770 69 74 68 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 73 63 65 6e ith similar scen
1a780 61 72 69 6f 73 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 arios in other s
1a790 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 tories out. t
1a7a0 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c here. This coul
1a7b0 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 d be a good way
1a7c0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 to get him back
1a7d0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 into the story a
1a7e0 6e 64 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 nd in. contac
1a7f0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 t with her. She
1a800 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 could also, the
1a810 6e 2c 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 n, end up having
1a820 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 the opportunity
1a830 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 79 20 68 69 6d 20 to. pay him
1a840 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 back the hundred
1a850 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 dollars he does
1a860 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 n't even realize
1a870 20 73 68 65 20 6f 77 65 73 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a she owes him...
1a880 20 20 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 Perhaps some
1a890 74 68 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c thing Alley coul
1a8a0 64 20 64 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 d do for one of
1a8b0 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 the other study
1a8c0 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 69 73 0a participants is.
1a8d0 20 20 20 20 64 6f 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 do research
1a8e0 6f 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 on people who ar
1a8f0 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 e trying to find
1a900 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 69 73 a particular is
1a910 73 75 65 20 6f 66 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 sue of a. par
1a920 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 63 6f 6d 69 63 20 62 6f ticular comic bo
1a930 6f 6b 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d ok series to com
1a940 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 plete a collecti
1a950 6f 6e 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6d 61 79 62 on, because mayb
1a960 65 20 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 74 68 65 72 e this. other
1a970 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
1a980 6e 74 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 66 nt is in need of
1a990 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 73 20 61 money and has a
1a9a0 20 63 6f 6d 69 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 0a 20 comic book in.
1a9b0 20 20 20 65 78 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e excellent con
1a9c0 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c dition that coul
1a9d0 64 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 d bring in some
1a9e0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e money like that.
1a9f0 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 20 Should Alley.
1aa00 20 20 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 end up chargi
1aa10 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c ng the guy then,
1aa20 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 74 61 when the guy ta
1aa30 6c 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e lks to the poten
1aa40 74 69 61 6c 20 62 75 79 65 72 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 tial buyer,.
1aa50 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 74 the deal falls t
1aa60 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 hrough, leaving
1aa70 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 the guy with no
1aa80 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 6f money to speak o
1aa90 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 66 61 f, and in. fa
1aaa0 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 ct with less tha
1aab0 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 n when he starte
1aac0 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 d because he had
1aad0 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 to pay Alley?
1aae0 57 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 Will this. be
1aaf0 20 61 20 63 61 73 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c a case where Al
1ab00 6c 65 79 20 70 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 ley pays the guy
1ab10 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 65 back, because e
1ab20 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 74 ven if she did t
1ab30 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 65 20 he work. she
1ab40 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 realizes the guy
1ab50 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c is in financial
1ab60 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 trouble and nee
1ab70 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e ds the money, an
1ab80 64 20 70 61 72 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 74 68 d part. of th
1ab90 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 68 65 27 73 20 69 6e e reason he's in
1aba0 20 73 75 63 68 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 such financial
1abb0 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 trouble is that
1abc0 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 68 65 20 the research he
1abd0 70 61 69 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 paid. her to
1abe0 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 6f 75 67 perform -- thoug
1abf0 68 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 h effective and
1ac00 77 65 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 64 20 66 well completed f
1ac10 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 2d 2d 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f or him -- did no
1ac20 74 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 t. actually b
1ac30 65 61 72 20 66 72 75 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 ear fruit for hi
1ac40 6d 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d m? Is there som
1ac50 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 68 e possibility th
1ac60 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 is will turn out
1ac70 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 62 61 64 20 66 . to be bad f
1ac80 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f or one or both o
1ac90 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 f them if it get
1aca0 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 s back to the pr
1acb0 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 0a ofessor and his.
1acc0 20 20 20 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 79 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b spooky spook
1acd0 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 government inte
1ace0 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 lligence contrac
1acf0 74 6f 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 tors that the pr
1ad00 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 0a 20 20 20 ioritizer is.
1ad10 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 70 6f 6c 6c 69 6e 61 74 69 cross pollinati
1ad20 6e 67 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ng a bit between
1ad30 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
1ad40 6e 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 nts that should
1ad50 62 65 20 6b 65 70 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 65 70 61 be kept. sepa
1ad60 72 61 74 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f rate from each o
1ad70 74 68 65 72 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 ther?.. Will
1ad80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 72 75 6e Alley end up run
1ad90 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 6a ning a courier j
1ada0 6f 62 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 ob on a motorcyc
1adb0 6c 65 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 le? That seems
1adc0 66 75 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 41 fun... Will A
1add0 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 61 69 lley have to bai
1ade0 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 75 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f l some guy out o
1adf0 66 20 6a 61 69 6c 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 f jail? Perhaps
1ae00 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 a criminal of s
1ae10 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 69 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 ome. kind, wa
1ae20 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 nted by the poli
1ae30 63 65 2c 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 ce, has the mone
1ae40 79 20 74 6f 20 62 61 69 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 y to bail out a
1ae50 63 6f 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72 0a 20 co conspirator.
1ae60 20 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 needs someone
1ae70 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 else to go in t
1ae80 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 2d o pay the bail -
1ae90 2d 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 69 73 - someone who is
1aea0 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 0a 20 not wanted by.
1aeb0 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 61 the police, a
1aec0 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 nd thus can get
1aed0 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 away with it. T
1aee0 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e hat would be fun
1aef0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 71 75 65 73 74 . The. quest
1af00 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 6f ion is really ho
1af10 77 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e w I should arran
1af20 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 6f ge for her to do
1af30 20 74 68 69 73 20 2a 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2a 20 73 this *before* s
1af40 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 6f he. ends up o
1af50 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 n the lam, becau
1af60 73 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 20 73 68 65 se afterward she
1af70 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 62 69 's probably a bi
1af80 74 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 0a 20 t afraid to go.
1af90 20 20 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 into a police
1afa0 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 station. Perha
1afb0 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 ps the criminal
1afc0 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 paying for thing
1afd0 73 20 68 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 68 s has some. h
1afe0 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 alf crippled old
1aff0 20 6c 61 64 79 20 28 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 lady (or perhap
1b000 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 70 s the half cripp
1b010 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 20 2a 69 73 led old lady *is
1b020 2a 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e * the. crimin
1b030 61 6c 21 29 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e al!) talk her in
1b040 74 6f 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 to paying the ba
1b050 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 il for her poor
1b060 67 72 61 6e 64 73 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 grandson or what
1b070 65 76 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c ever. the hel
1b080 6c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 63 l he is. That c
1b090 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 66 75 ould be extra fu
1b0a0 6e 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 4e n, of course. N
1b0b0 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 ow I just need a
1b0c0 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 n. excuse for
1b0d0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 Alley to have t
1b0e0 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 75 o pay the bail u
1b0f0 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6e 61 6d nder her own nam
1b100 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 e instead of.
1b110 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 6d delivering paym
1b120 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6c 66 ent for the half
1b130 20 63 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 crippled old la
1b140 64 79 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 dy or something
1b150 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 48 like that.. H
1b160 65 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 28 ell, maybe she (
1b170 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 29 20 70 72 the old lady) pr
1b180 65 74 65 6e 64 73 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 61 66 etends she is af
1b190 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e raid of being on
1b1a0 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 camera. beca
1b1b0 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 use the governme
1b1c0 6e 74 20 69 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 6f nt is full of ho
1b1d0 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rrible people wh
1b1e0 6f 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 o will do bad th
1b1f0 69 6e 67 73 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 ings. with th
1b200 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 e video, or to h
1b210 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2e er, or whatever.
1b220 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 61 66 Maybe she's af
1b230 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 65 raid of being se
1b240 6e 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6e 75 72 73 nt. to a nurs
1b250 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 ing home that is
1b260 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 6c 69 almost prisonli
1b270 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 72 75 6e ke in how it run
1b280 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 s things,. ac
1b290 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f cording to the o
1b2a0 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 27 73 20 73 6f 62 20 73 74 ld lady's sob st
1b2b0 6f 72 79 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 ory... Maybe
1b2c0 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 6f the lawyer of so
1b2d0 6d 65 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 62 6f 73 73 20 69 73 me crime boss is
1b2e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 just arranging
1b2f0 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 for her to carry
1b300 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 the. payment
1b310 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 down there and
1b320 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 drop off the bai
1b330 6c 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2c 20 l as a courier,
1b340 74 68 75 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 thus the motorcy
1b350 63 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 cle. courier
1b360 6a 6f 62 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 job. That seems
1b370 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c like the most l
1b380 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f 20 73 ikely scenario s
1b390 6f 20 66 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 o far, but very
1b3a0 66 61 72 0a 20 20 20 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 far. from the
1b3b0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 most fun. If s
1b3c0 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 he does it with
1b3d0 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 a motorcycle, th
1b3e0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 ough, that means
1b3f0 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 . she's doing
1b400 20 69 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 it after she's
1b410 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 49 20 74 68 on the lam, I th
1b420 69 6e 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 ink, which means
1b430 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 66 I have to. f
1b440 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f igure out how to
1b450 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 77 get her to be w
1b460 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 illing to go to
1b470 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 the place to pay
1b480 20 62 61 69 6c 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 bail.. That
1b490 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 68 might be a bit h
1b4a0 61 72 64 65 72 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 68 65 27 73 arder. If she's
1b4b0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 just acting as
1b4c0 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 a courier, thoug
1b4d0 68 2c 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 69 67 68 74 h, she. might
1b4e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f just be overloo
1b4f0 6b 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 ked pretty much
1b500 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 6e 69 6d entirely as unim
1b510 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 portant, and thu
1b520 73 20 6e 6f 74 0a 20 20 20 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 s not. really
1b530 20 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 at any risk of
1b540 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 being identified
1b550 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 unless her face
1b560 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 2e gets on camera.
1b570 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c . Then again,
1b580 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e her face gettin
1b590 67 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 69 73 20 76 g on camera is v
1b5a0 65 72 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 50 65 72 ery likely. Per
1b5b0 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 0a 20 20 haps the mask.
1b5c0 20 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 67 situation is g
1b5d0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 oing to help her
1b5e0 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 e. I just need
1b5f0 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f to figure out ho
1b600 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 w to handle.
1b610 74 68 69 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 this...*/.."Yeah
1b620 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 , I think I'm re
1b630 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 ady.".."I have t
1b640 77 6f 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 wo broad approac
1b650 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 2e hes to describe.
1b660 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 6f 66 66 65 72 73 20 64 69 Each offers di
1b670 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 fferent benefits
1b680 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2e than the other.
1b690 20 20 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 First, you cou
1b6a0 6c 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ld look into the
1b6b0 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 65 Deliv advertise
1b6c0 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 ments asking for
1b6d0 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 73 courier drivers
1b6e0 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 . Second, you c
1b6f0 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 6b 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 ould seek qualit
1b700 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 72 6b y assurance work
1b710 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 73 65 61 73 for an overseas
1b720 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 product review
1b730 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 75 73 69 6e automation busin
1b740 65 73 73 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e ess. Either can
1b750 20 62 65 67 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 begin producing
1b760 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 income immediat
1b770 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 ely and give you
1b780 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 work experience
1b790 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 that may help w
1b7a0 68 65 6e 20 61 70 70 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 hen applying for
1b7b0 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 6c 61 74 another job lat
1b7c0 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 er.".."I guess y
1b7d0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 ou're asking whe
1b7e0 74 68 65 72 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 ther I'd rather
1b7f0 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 be a professiona
1b800 6c 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 6f 72 20 77 6f 72 6b l driver or work
1b810 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 in the software
1b820 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 industry.".."Th
1b830 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e at consideration
1b840 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 is an important
1b850 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 implication of
1b860 74 68 65 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 44 72 69 the choice. Dri
1b870 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f ving may give yo
1b880 75 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 u greater employ
1b890 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 2c 20 77 ment autonomy, w
1b8a0 68 69 63 68 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 hich seems consi
1b8b0 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 stent with your
1b8c0 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 65 6d previous self em
1b8d0 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 73 ployment choices
1b8e0 2e 20 20 57 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 . Working remot
1b8f0 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 ely in software
1b900 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d production and m
1b910 61 69 6e 74 65 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6c 65 73 aintenance roles
1b920 20 6d 61 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 72 may give you gr
1b930 65 61 74 65 72 20 66 6c 65 78 69 62 69 6c 69 74 eater flexibilit
1b940 79 20 69 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 y in where you c
1b950 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 22 0a hoose to live.".
1b960 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
1b970 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f d. "I don't kno
1b980 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 51 41 20 w about that QA
1b990 6a 6f 62 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 job, though. Th
1b9a0 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6b at's a really sk
1b9b0 65 74 63 68 79 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 etchy business,
1b9c0 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 64 75 automating produ
1b9d0 63 74 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 73 2e 20 20 49 27 64 ct reviews. I'd
1b9e0 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 become part of
1b9f0 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 the problem with
1ba00 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 the internet.
1ba10 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 27 64 I'm not sure I'd
1ba20 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 64 72 want to be a dr
1ba30 69 76 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 iver, but maybe
1ba40 69 74 27 73 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 79 69 6e it's worth tryin
1ba50 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 65 g.".."Between de
1ba60 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e livery engagemen
1ba70 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f ts, you can also
1ba80 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 20 72 look for less r
1ba90 69 73 6b 79 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 66 isky trades to f
1baa0 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 2c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 acilitate, much
1bab0 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 75 74 20 like before but
1bac0 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f 78 69 6d with less proxim
1bad0 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 ity to people of
1bae0 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 questionable li
1baf0 66 65 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 festyle legality
1bb00 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ."..Alley nodded
1bb10 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d . "Yeah, that m
1bb20 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 akes sense. I g
1bb30 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 69 67 6e 20 75 uess I'll sign u
1bb40 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 74 6f 6d p with Deliv tom
1bb50 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 orrow.".."It is
1bb60 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6d 69 74 20 79 best to submit y
1bb70 6f 75 72 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 our application
1bb80 74 6f 64 61 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 today, if you ca
1bb90 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 n, in case of de
1bba0 6c 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 72 6f 61 lays."..She groa
1bbb0 6e 65 64 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 46 69 ned softly. "Fi
1bbc0 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 ne. I'll do it
1bbd0 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 4d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 41 now."..Much to A
1bbe0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 69 73 6d 61 79 2c 20 6d lley's dismay, m
1bbf0 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 uch of the next
1bc00 64 61 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 6f 66 day consisted of
1bc10 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 72 61 74 Deliv registrat
1bc20 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ion tasks. She
1bc30 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 65 20 had to navigate
1bc40 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 the government's
1bc50 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 71 process for req
1bc60 75 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e uesting a drivin
1bc70 67 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 g record report
1bc80 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 44 65 to be sent to De
1bc90 6c 69 76 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 liv, which alone
1bca0 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 took more than
1bcb0 74 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 two hours. She
1bcc0 61 6c 73 6f 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 also had to get
1bcd0 61 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 70 65 63 a vehicle inspec
1bce0 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 tion appointment
1bcf0 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f , which she almo
1bd00 73 74 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 st missed becaus
1bd10 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 74 e of the time it
1bd20 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 took to get the
1bd30 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 report. After
1bd40 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 that, she needed
1bd50 20 74 6f 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 to visit a Deli
1bd60 76 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b v office to pick
1bd70 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 63 61 6c 20 70 61 63 6b up a decal pack
1bd80 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 for her windows
1bd90 2c 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 20 68 65 , to identify he
1bda0 72 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 73 20 6f 66 66 r vehicle as off
1bdb0 69 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 74 74 61 63 68 65 64 icially attached
1bdc0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 73 65 to the Deliv se
1bdd0 72 76 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 rvice...Between
1bde0 74 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 tasks, she looke
1bdf0 64 20 61 74 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 d at classified
1be00 61 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 ads for possible
1be10 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 trades to make
1be20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b that didn't look
1be30 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 any more danger
1be40 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 ous than buying
1be50 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 72 a used socket wr
1be60 65 6e 63 68 20 73 65 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 64 67 69 ench set. Judgi
1be70 6e 67 20 62 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 ng by what she s
1be80 61 77 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 aw in the classi
1be90 66 69 65 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 fieds, she could
1bea0 20 64 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 do well in the
1beb0 74 6f 6f 6c 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 69 tool business, i
1bec0 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 f only she could
1bed0 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f get her hands o
1bee0 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 n enough socket
1bef0 77 72 65 6e 63 68 20 73 65 74 73 2c 20 61 74 20 wrench sets, at
1bf00 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 70 72 a good enough pr
1bf10 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 2c 20 74 ice to profit, t
1bf20 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6d 61 6e o meet the deman
1bf30 64 2e 0a 0a 42 79 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 d...By evening,
1bf40 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 she was done for
1bf50 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 the day, and ne
1bf60 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2e 20 20 eded to relax.
1bf70 53 68 65 20 69 64 6c 79 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 She idly skimmed
1bf80 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 through Open Ma
1bf90 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 rrakesh, looking
1bfa0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 for tools there
1bfb0 2c 20 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 , hoping to prof
1bfc0 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 it from cryptocu
1bfd0 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 74 6f rrency prices to
1bfe0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 73 buy the tools s
1bff0 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 6c 6c 20 he could resell
1c000 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 for dollars. Sh
1c010 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 73 75 63 e had little suc
1c020 63 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 75 cess, and gave u
1c030 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 6d 6f p on it until mo
1c040 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c rning...---..All
1c050 65 79 20 63 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6d 75 73 68 ey cooked a mush
1c060 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 64 64 61 72 room and cheddar
1c070 20 6f 6d 65 6c 65 74 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 omelette for he
1c080 72 20 62 72 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 2e 20 20 53 68 r breakfast. Sh
1c090 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 68 e was halfway th
1c0a0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 2f 2a rough it when /*
1c0b0 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 20 she received a
1c0c0 74 65 78 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 2a 2f 20 text message */
1c0d0 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 72 a sharp sound fr
1c0e0 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 64 om her phone ind
1c0f0 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 icated an incomi
1c100 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ng message. She
1c110 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 checked it, and
1c120 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 saw that it was
1c130 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 from the profes
1c140 73 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6d 6f 72 6e sor..."Good morn
1c150 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2c 22 20 69 ing, Alethea," i
1c160 74 20 72 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 73 20 6f t read. "Logs o
1c170 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 f your activitie
1c180 73 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 s dropped off a
1c190 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f 2e couple days ago.
1c1a0 20 20 57 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 74 We aren't gett
1c1b0 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 64 61 74 61 20 ing enough data
1c1c0 74 6f 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 to sustain the s
1c1d0 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 tudy. Are you u
1c1e0 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 sing the priorit
1c1f0 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 izer?"..Through
1c200 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 69 6e 20 the ear stud in
1c210 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 her ear, the pri
1c220 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 74 oritizer spoke t
1c230 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 o her. "Perhaps
1c240 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6c 6f 67 20 full audio log
1c250 72 65 64 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 redaction provid
1c260 65 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e es too little in
1c270 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 formation for th
1c280 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 e study.".."Shit
1c290 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 61 66 66 6f 72 . I can't affor
1c2a0 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 d to pay back th
1c2b0 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 e first study pa
1c2c0 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 74 69 yment, and I sti
1c2d0 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c ll haven't reall
1c2e0 79 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 y gotten anywher
1c2f0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d e with long term
1c300 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 2e 22 0a income plans.".
1c310 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 ."I will ensure
1c320 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 some amount of a
1c330 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e dditional loggin
1c340 67 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 g occurs without
1c350 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 69 significant pri
1c360 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 22 vacy intrusion."
1c370 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 .."Good. Thanks
1c380 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c .".."You are wel
1c390 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 come."..She star
1c3a0 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 ed at her phone
1c3b0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 for a moment. "
1c3c0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 What do I tell h
1c3d0 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 im, though?".."Y
1c3e0 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 73 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 77 ou may say you w
1c3f0 65 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 ere completing t
1c400 61 73 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f asks that did no
1c410 74 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 6d 79 20 67 75 69 t require my gui
1c420 64 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e dance."..Alley n
1c430 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 odded, and typed
1c440 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 out her message
1c450 3a 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 : "I was running
1c460 20 65 72 72 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 61 79 errands all day
1c470 20 79 65 73 74 65 72 64 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 yesterday. It
1c480 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 didn't seem like
1c490 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
1c4a0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 would be much h
1c4b0 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f elp."..The respo
1c4c0 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 nse came quickly
1c4d0 2e 20 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 . "Please take
1c4e0 69 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 it everywhere.
1c4f0 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 It might be able
1c500 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c to help with al
1c510 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e most everything.
1c520 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 4f 4b "..She typed "OK
1c530 22 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 ", then hesitate
1c540 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 d. After a few
1c550 62 72 65 61 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e breaths, thinkin
1c560 67 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 g it over, she t
1c570 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 ouched the send
1c580 69 63 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 icon...Once she
1c590 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 finished eating
1c5a0 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 20 61 6e her breakfast an
1c5b0 64 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 64 d cleaning her d
1c5c0 69 73 68 65 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 70 65 ishes, Alley ope
1c5d0 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 64 72 ned her Deliv dr
1c5e0 69 76 65 72 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e iver application
1c5f0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 63 and looked at c
1c600 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 2e ourier requests.
1c610 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 She tapped one
1c620 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 , got in her car
1c630 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68 65 , and started he
1c640 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 64 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 r first day on t
1c650 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 he job as a gig
1c660 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2e economy courier.
1c670 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f ..She managed to
1c680 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 72 65 65 carry out three
1c690 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 deliveries with
1c6a0 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 64 75 72 69 out trouble duri
1c6b0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 ng the day. Aft
1c6c0 65 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6f er dinner, she o
1c6d0 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 pened the applic
1c6e0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 ation one more t
1c6f0 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 6f 74 ime and saw anot
1c700 68 65 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 her request that
1c710 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 68 61 64 nobody else had
1c720 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 accepted. The
1c730 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e pick up location
1c740 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 66 69 76 65 was only a five
1c750 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 77 minute drive aw
1c760 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 ay, and it promi
1c770 73 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 65 6c 69 sed another deli
1c780 76 65 72 79 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b very coming back
1c790 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 so she could ge
1c7a0 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 68 20 t paid for both
1c7b0 6c 65 67 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 69 70 legs of the trip
1c7c0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 63 68 65 . It was a sche
1c7d0 64 75 6c 65 64 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 69 duled pick up ti
1c7e0 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 me, three hours
1c7f0 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 73 6f away, which also
1c800 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 meant she would
1c810 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 probably get a
1c820 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 slightly higher
1c830 72 61 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 rate for making
1c840 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 deliveries after
1c850 20 64 61 72 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 dark...She acce
1c860 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e 64 pted the job and
1c870 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 looked up the r
1c880 6f 75 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 oute. She would
1c890 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 have to drive a
1c8a0 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 48 75 ll the way to Hu
1c8b0 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 2d ntington Beach -
1c8c0 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 - and back, of c
1c8d0 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 6e 6f 79 69 6e 67 ourse. Annoying
1c8e0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 62 , she thought, b
1c8f0 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6c 75 63 72 61 74 69 ut maybe lucrati
1c900 76 65 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 ve...On her way
1c910 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 out, she brought
1c920 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 her extending b
1c930 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 aton, along with
1c940 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 70 all her usual p
1c950 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 2e 20 20 ocket fillers.
1c960 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 65 She had forgotte
1c970 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 n all about it t
1c980 68 61 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 hat day, but now
1c990 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f she thought abo
1c9a0 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 ut how dangerous
1c9b0 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 a place the wor
1c9c0 6c 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6a 75 73 74 ld could be just
1c9d0 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c beneath the rel
1c9e0 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 ative safety of
1c9f0 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 63 74 69 the surface acti
1ca00 76 69 74 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 6d 6f 73 vity she saw mos
1ca10 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 t of the time.
1ca20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 79 She was not play
1ca30 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 ing the part of
1ca40 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 the middle man f
1ca50 6f 72 20 61 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 64 or a gun parts d
1ca60 65 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c eal in an alley,
1ca70 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 but that danger
1ca80 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 75 6e 65 could still une
1ca90 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 6c 79 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 xpectedly surfac
1caa0 65 20 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a e at any time...
1cab0 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 2c /* She realized,
1cac0 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 as she thought
1cad0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 2a 2f 20 53 68 65 about it, */ She
1cae0 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 started the car
1caf0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 and pulled away
1cb00 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 2e 20 from the curb.
1cb10 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 2c 20 73 As she drove, s
1cb20 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 43 6c 69 66 he realized Clif
1cb30 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 61 f in the Audi wa
1cb40 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 69 6d 69 6e s probably aimin
1cb50 67 20 61 20 72 69 66 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 g a rifle at her
1cb60 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 while she talke
1cb70 64 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 d to Carmen abou
1cb80 74 20 73 61 6c 65 73 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 73 2e t sales tactics.
1cb90 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 69 76 65 72 65 64 Alley shivered
1cba0 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 72 61 63 65 as a chill race
1cbb0 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 73 70 69 6e 65 2e 0a d up her spine..
1cbc0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 .Alley found her
1cbd0 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 72 69 76 self slowly driv
1cbe0 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 20 ing down a dark
1cbf0 72 65 73 69 64 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 74 72 65 residential stre
1cc00 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 et with most of
1cc10 74 68 65 20 6f 76 65 72 68 65 61 64 20 73 74 72 the overhead str
1cc20 65 65 74 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 eetlamps broken
1cc30 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 out. She took i
1cc40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 64 n the sight of d
1cc50 69 6c 61 70 69 64 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 ilapidated old h
1cc60 6f 75 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6c ouses that all l
1cc70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 72 61 73 68 ooked like trash
1cc80 65 64 20 72 65 70 6f 20 73 61 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 ed repo sales.
1cc90 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 When she pulled
1cca0 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 up at the addres
1ccb0 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 s on the courier
1ccc0 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 2c 20 61 20 70 61 69 6e request, a pain
1ccd0 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 69 72 fully thin, shir
1cce0 74 6c 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 72 65 66 6f tless and barefo
1ccf0 6f 74 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 oted man approac
1cd00 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 hed, wiry and pa
1cd10 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 61 73 79 20 68 le with greasy h
1cd20 61 69 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6c 69 74 74 6c air and so littl
1cd30 65 20 62 6f 64 79 20 66 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 61 e body fat she a
1cd40 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 73 lmost imagined s
1cd50 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e 64 he could see ind
1cd60 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 66 ividual muscle f
1cd70 69 62 65 72 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 ibers through th
1cd80 65 20 73 6b 69 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 e skin. He held
1cd90 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 a box in his ha
1cda0 6e 64 73 2c 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c nds, protectivel
1cdb0 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 y, and it looked
1cdc0 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 65 6e 74 68 75 a bit overenthu
1cdd0 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 70 65 siastically tape
1cde0 64 20 73 68 75 74 2e 0a 0a 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 d shut..."Be car
1cdf0 65 66 75 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 eful," the prior
1ce00 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 64 20 68 itizer advised h
1ce10 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 er..."Yeah." Sh
1ce20 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 e rolled down th
1ce30 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e e window, keepin
1ce40 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 g her right hand
1ce50 20 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 69 70 20 73 6f near her hip so
1ce60 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 72 61 62 20 she could grab
1ce70 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 her baton if she
1ce80 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 needed it. The
1ce90 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 window hesitate
1cea0 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 d a couple times
1ceb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 , and she began
1cec0 74 6f 20 66 65 61 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c to fear she woul
1ced0 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 d have to open t
1cee0 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 he door to take
1cef0 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 the package, but
1cf00 20 69 74 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 6d 65 it finally came
1cf10 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 down enough..."
1cf20 59 61 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 61 Ya know where ta
1cf30 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 59 65 61 take this. Yea
1cf40 68 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 71 75 h?" He spoke qu
1cf50 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 73 ickly, his words
1cf60 20 61 62 72 75 70 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 63 abrupt and stac
1cf70 63 61 74 6f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 cato. She wonde
1cf80 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 red if he still
1cf90 68 61 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 74 65 65 74 had all his teet
1cfa0 68 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 6b 75 h behind his sku
1cfb0 6c 6c 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e ll pattern mask.
1cfc0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
1cfd0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 id. "The addres
1cfe0 73 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 s was in the app
1cff0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 47 72 65 .".."Great. Gre
1d000 61 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 72 75 73 74 20 at." He thrust
1d010 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 61 74 20 74 the package at t
1d020 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a he open window..
1d030 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 6e 63 68 65 64 20 .Alley flinched
1d040 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 66 away, then caref
1d050 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f ully took the bo
1d060 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 x and set it on
1d070 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 62 6f 61 72 64 73 20 the floorboards
1d080 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 in front of the
1d090 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2e 0a passenger seat..
1d0a0 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 ."Great," the ma
1d0b0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 n said again. "
1d0c0 48 61 76 65 20 66 75 6e 21 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 Have fun!" He s
1d0d0 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 tepped away, and
1d0e0 20 77 61 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 waved...She nod
1d0f0 64 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 ded and drove of
1d100 66 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 64 6f 77 f. She held dow
1d110 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 n the button to
1d120 72 61 69 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 raise the window
1d130 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 48 as she want. H
1d140 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 er nose wrinkled
1d150 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 69 6e at the lingerin
1d160 67 20 61 72 6f 6d 61 20 6f 66 20 73 77 65 61 74 g aroma of sweat
1d170 20 6d 69 6e 67 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 mingling with s
1d180 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 72 69 ome kind of acri
1d190 64 20 63 68 65 6d 69 63 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 d chemical..."Th
1d1a0 69 73 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 is doesn't feel
1d1b0 6d 75 63 68 20 73 61 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 much safer than
1d1c0 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 doing deals for
1d1d0 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 gun parts with s
1d1e0 63 61 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e cary old veteran
1d1f0 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 s in alleys."..T
1d200 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 he voice in her
1d210 65 61 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 ear said "Perhap
1d220 73 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 s we should cons
1d230 69 64 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f ider other optio
1d240 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 ns.".."Yeah." S
1d250 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 72 he nodded. "Per
1d260 68 61 70 73 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 haps we should."
1d270 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 75 70 20 74 ..She drove up t
1d280 68 65 20 6f 6e 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 49 2d 32 he onramp to I-2
1d290 31 35 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 15 and followed
1d2a0 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 74 the highway up t
1d2b0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 49 2d 39 31 20 6a 75 6e 63 74 o the I-91 junct
1d2c0 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 44 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 ion. During a b
1d2d0 75 73 69 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 64 61 usier time of da
1d2e0 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 y, she would hav
1d2f0 65 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 74 20 e taken an exit
1d300 61 6e 64 20 75 73 65 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 and used surface
1d310 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 streets to avoi
1d320 64 20 74 68 65 20 48 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 4a 75 d the Highway Ju
1d330 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 44 65 61 74 68 2c nction of Death,
1d340 20 62 75 74 20 6c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 20 74 68 65 but luckily the
1d350 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 64 65 6e 73 69 74 79 traffic density
1d360 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 was pretty low
1d370 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 54 at that time...T
1d380 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 6f 6b 65 hrough the choke
1d390 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 52 point between R
1d3a0 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 iverside County
1d3b0 61 6e 64 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 and Orange Count
1d3c0 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 y, the darkness
1d3d0 6f 66 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 68 69 64 20 74 68 65 of night hid the
1d3e0 20 73 63 6f 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 72 65 65 20 74 scorched tree t
1d3f0 72 75 6e 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 runks to either
1d400 73 69 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 2c 20 side from view,
1d410 62 75 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6c 6c but made the ill
1d420 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 6f uminated cross o
1d430 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 65 72 6e 20 68 n the southern h
1d440 69 6c 6c 74 6f 70 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 illtop stand out
1d450 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 all the more, a
1d460 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e ll the lights on
1d470 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 75 73 20 69 the religious i
1d480 64 6f 6c 20 73 68 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 62 dol shining in b
1d490 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 right silhouette
1d4a0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6b 79 against the sky
1d4b0 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 61 79 above. The way
1d4c0 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 it seemed to st
1d4d0 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 and in judgement
1d4e0 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 over the traffi
1d4f0 63 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 c beneath it mad
1d500 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 e for an impress
1d510 69 76 65 2c 20 69 66 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 ive, if slightly
1d520 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 70 72 creepy and oppr
1d530 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 20 73 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a essive, sight...
1d540 54 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 72 69 73 74 The clean, prist
1d550 69 6e 65 20 67 61 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e ine gated commun
1d560 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6e 69 63 75 ities and manicu
1d570 72 65 64 20 72 65 74 61 69 6c 20 64 69 73 74 72 red retail distr
1d580 69 63 74 73 20 6f 66 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 icts of Orange C
1d590 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 73 6c 69 64 20 ounty soon slid
1d5a0 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6c 6c slowly past, all
1d5b0 20 73 69 67 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4c 6f signs of the Lo
1d5c0 73 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 73 65 6d 69 2d 70 s Angeles semi-p
1d5d0 65 72 6d 61 6e 65 6e 74 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 6f ermanent riots o
1d5e0 66 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 f years past whe
1d5f0 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f n they spilled o
1d600 76 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 ver into Orange
1d610 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 69 6e 63 County long sinc
1d620 65 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 62 65 65 6e 20 65 72 e having been er
1d630 61 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 62 65 61 75 74 69 66 69 ased by beautifi
1d640 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 2e cation projects.
1d650 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 72 79 20 74 68 The scenery th
1d660 65 6e 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e en shifted again
1d670 2c 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 , becoming a mor
1d680 65 20 73 6f 72 64 69 64 2c 20 67 72 69 6d 79 2c e sordid, grimy,
1d690 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 62 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 6d threadbare form
1d6a0 20 6f 66 20 73 75 62 75 72 62 61 6e 20 64 65 63 of suburban dec
1d6b0 61 64 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 64 65 67 61 73 adence. Bodegas
1d6c0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 77 6e 73 68 6f 70 73 20 73 and pawnshops s
1d6d0 68 61 72 65 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 hared walls with
1d6e0 20 62 61 69 6c 20 62 6f 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 bail bond offic
1d6f0 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6e 69 67 68 74 es and all night
1d700 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 63 68 20 72 65 70 mobile tech rep
1d710 61 69 72 20 73 68 6f 70 73 2e 20 20 47 72 61 64 air shops. Grad
1d720 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 63 ually, the air c
1d730 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 2c 20 62 hanged subtly, b
1d740 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 63 6f 6f ecoming both coo
1d750 6c 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 6b 69 6e 20 ler on her skin
1d760 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 75 6d 69 64 2e 0a and more humid..
1d770 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 .She found her e
1d780 78 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 xit, and drove t
1d790 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 73 20 6e hrough streets n
1d7a0 6f 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 o narrower than
1d7b0 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 62 75 74 2c 20 73 in Perris but, s
1d7c0 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 65 6c omehow, they fel
1d7d0 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 72 61 6d t much more cram
1d7e0 70 65 64 20 6e 6f 6e 65 74 68 65 6c 65 73 73 2e ped nonetheless.
1d7f0 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 20 62 79 20 61 She passe by a
1d800 20 70 68 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 pho shop and sa
1d810 77 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 w a number of pe
1d820 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 65 ople out front e
1d830 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ating. It looke
1d840 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 d like they migh
1d850 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 56 69 65 74 t all be of Viet
1d860 6e 61 6d 65 73 65 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 74 2c 20 namese descent,
1d870 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 except for one s
1d880 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 48 69 73 70 61 6e 69 63 20 77 ingle Hispanic w
1d890 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 oman sitting at
1d8a0 61 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 20 74 61 62 6c 65 a sidewalk table
1d8b0 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 67 72 with a small gr
1d8c0 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 oup. She though
1d8d0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 t that might be
1d8e0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 a good place to
1d8f0 65 61 74 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 eat, if she went
1d900 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 when it was les
1d910 73 20 62 75 73 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 s busy, but it s
1d920 75 72 65 6c 79 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 6f urely was not wo
1d930 72 74 68 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 rth driving all
1d940 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 65 72 the way back her
1d950 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6a 75 73 74 e from home just
1d960 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 75 6e 63 68 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 for lunch...A f
1d970 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6c 65 ew more turns le
1d980 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 68 6f 75 73 65 d to a big house
1d990 2e 20 20 4f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 66 . On a street f
1d9a0 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 6b 65 6d 70 74 20 6c ull of unkempt l
1d9b0 61 77 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 awns and ancient
1d9c0 2c 20 70 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 , peeling paint
1d9d0 6a 6f 62 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 67 20 68 jobs, this big h
1d9e0 6f 75 73 65 20 2d 2d 20 74 77 6f 20 73 74 6f 72 ouse -- two stor
1d9f0 65 79 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 72 65 65 eys with a three
1da00 20 63 61 72 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 car garage and
1da10 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 probably more th
1da20 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 20 an two thousand
1da30 73 71 75 61 72 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 square feet in t
1da40 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 2d he living area -
1da50 2d 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 62 65 61 75 74 69 66 - was in beautif
1da60 75 6c 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 ul, well maintai
1da70 6e 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 ned condition.
1da80 49 74 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 61 Its lawn and sma
1da90 6c 6c 20 66 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 67 61 72 64 65 6e ll flower garden
1daa0 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 were obviously
1dab0 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 69 64 tended with prid
1dac0 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 e...She picked u
1dad0 70 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2c 20 65 78 69 74 65 p the box, exite
1dae0 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 d the car, and w
1daf0 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 alked up to the
1db00 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 front door. No
1db10 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 doorbell present
1db20 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 ed itself, so sh
1db30 65 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 e knocked, using
1db40 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 6b a heavy brass k
1db50 6e 6f 63 6b 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 6f 6f nocker...The doo
1db60 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 r opened, and th
1db70 65 20 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 e older veteran
1db80 77 68 6f 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 who bought the g
1db90 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 un frames stood
1dba0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 74 69 6c before her, stil
1dbb0 6c 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 62 65 l wearing his be
1dbc0 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 ret..."Hm." He
1dbd0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 2e looked her over.
1dbe0 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 69 6e "That's a coin
1dbf0 63 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 cidence I didn't
1dc00 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 expect.".."Uh,
1dc10 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 4d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 yeah. Me neithe
1dc20 72 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 70 r." Her heart p
1dc30 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ounded, and she
1dc40 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 63 75 74 65 6c 79 20 61 became acutely a
1dc50 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 67 ware of how toug
1dc60 68 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d h and hard his m
1dc70 75 73 63 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6d 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b uscled arms look
1dc80 65 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 6d ed where they em
1dc90 65 72 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 erged from the s
1dca0 6c 65 65 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 6c 61 69 leeves of a plai
1dcb0 6e 2c 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 n, faded, brown
1dcc0 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 t-shirt..."Don't
1dcd0 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 worry," he said
1dce0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 69 74 65 . "I don't bite
1dcf0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c .".."Yeah, okay,
1dd00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 " she said. "I
1dd10 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 63 6b 61 guess this packa
1dd20 67 65 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 ge is for you, t
1dd30 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 hen."..He shrugg
1dd40 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c ed. "Not exactl
1dd50 79 2e 20 20 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 y. Come on in."
1dd60 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 He stepped asi
1dd70 64 65 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 de, giving her r
1dd80 6f 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 2e 0a oom to pass by..
1dd90 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 .Alley hesitated
1dda0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f . The living ro
1ddb0 6f 6d 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 om ahead of her
1ddc0 77 61 73 20 73 63 72 75 70 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 was scrupulously
1ddd0 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 61 74 2c clean and neat,
1dde0 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 6c 61 apart from a la
1ddf0 72 67 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 rge red silicone
1de00 20 74 72 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 tray on the cof
1de10 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 fee table with t
1de20 6f 6f 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 ools and electri
1de30 63 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e cal parts on it.
1de40 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 73 6c She stepped sl
1de50 6f 77 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 2f 2a 20 owly inside, /*
1de60 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 and looked away
1de70 66 72 6f 6d 20 2a 2f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 from */ over the
1de80 20 64 61 72 6b 6c 79 20 73 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 darkly stained
1de90 77 6f 6f 64 65 6e 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 wooden furniture
1dea0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 that looked ove
1deb0 72 20 61 20 63 65 6e 74 75 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 20 r a century old
1dec0 2d 2d 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 73 2c 20 63 6f -- armchairs, co
1ded0 75 63 68 2c 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 uch, table, and
1dee0 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 book cases full
1def0 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 of books, every
1df00 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 piece of furnitu
1df10 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 re looking like
1df20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 it was meant to
1df30 67 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 go with all the
1df40 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 45 rest of them. E
1df50 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 6f 6e ven the lamps on
1df60 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 20 73 65 65 6d end tables seem
1df70 65 64 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 ed part of the s
1df80 61 6d 65 20 73 65 74 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 74 68 65 ame set...On the
1df90 20 74 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 tops of the pac
1dfa0 6b 65 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 ked full book ca
1dfb0 73 65 73 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 66 6c 6f 77 20 62 6f ses, overflow bo
1dfc0 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 oks stood betwee
1dfd0 6e 20 62 72 6f 6e 7a 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 65 6e 64 n bronze bookend
1dfe0 73 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 20 73 65 74 s...Her gaze set
1dff0 74 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 tled on the man
1e000 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 again, who close
1e010 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 d the door and s
1e020 61 69 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 61 74 aid "Have a seat
1e030 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 . Do you want a
1e040 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 50 49 drink?"../*..PI
1e050 43 4b 20 4f 4e 45 3a 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 CK ONE:..In the
1e060 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 soft light of la
1e070 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 mps under linen
1e080 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 shades, he was s
1e090 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 tarting to look
1e0a0 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 less like a hard
1e0b0 65 6e 65 64 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 75 6e 6e ened killer runn
1e0c0 69 6e 67 20 67 75 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 ing guns and mor
1e0d0 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 62 e like a tough b
1e0e0 75 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 61 74 ut kind grandfat
1e0f0 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 her...In the sof
1e100 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 t light of lamps
1e110 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 68 61 under linen sha
1e120 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 61 72 des, he was star
1e130 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b ting to look lik
1e140 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 62 75 74 20 6b 69 e a tough but ki
1e150 6e 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65 72 20 72 nd grandfather r
1e160 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 ather than the t
1e170 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 rained, hardened
1e180 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 killer she firs
1e190 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 t took him to be
1e1a0 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 ...*/..She nodde
1e1b0 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 d, then passed b
1e1c0 79 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 y the end table
1e1d0 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 at one end of th
1e1e0 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 e couch and sat
1e1f0 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 in an armchair,
1e200 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 still holding th
1e210 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 e box..."I have
1e220 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 77 61 74 some bottled wat
1e230 65 72 2c 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 6d 69 6c 6b 20 2d er, Coke, milk -
1e240 2d 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 6f 72 20 63 68 6f 63 6f - white or choco
1e250 6c 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 late . . . and t
1e260 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 61 ea. I'd offer a
1e270 20 62 65 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 beer, but I gue
1e280 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 6f ss you have a lo
1e290 6e 67 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f ng drive ahead o
1e2a0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 f you and won't
1e2b0 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 have time to rec
1e2c0 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 over from the hi
1e2d0 67 68 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 72 65 77 73 gh alcohol brews
1e2e0 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 I keep around h
1e2f0 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c ere."..Alley fel
1e300 74 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 6c 69 70 73 20 77 t her dry lips w
1e310 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 2e 20 ith her tongue.
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
1e340 72 73 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 43 6f 6b 65 20 77 6f rsty. A Coke wo
1e350 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 uld be good."..H
1e360 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 e smiled, just s
1e370 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 72 69 67 lightly. "Alrig
1e380 68 74 2e 20 20 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e ht. Go ahead an
1e390 64 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 d put that on th
1e3a0 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 e table. I'll b
1e3b0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 e right back."
1e3c0 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 Without another
1e3d0 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 look, he walked
1e3e0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e out of the room.
1e3f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She looked at
1e400 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 the books on the
1e410 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 shelves. Many
1e420 77 65 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 62 were worn paperb
1e430 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 6f acks. Others lo
1e440 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c oked like heavil
1e450 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 62 6f 6f 6b 73 y used textbooks
1e460 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f . She leaned fo
1e470 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 rward to set the
1e480 20 62 6f 78 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 box beside the
1e490 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 silicone tray, t
1e4a0 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 hen stood and ap
1e4b0 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 proached a book
1e4c0 63 61 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 case...The texts
1e4d0 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 included subjec
1e4e0 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 ts like mechanic
1e4f0 61 6c 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 al engineering,
1e500 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 69 world history, i
1e510 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 63 68 65 6d 69 73 ndustrial chemis
1e520 74 72 79 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 20 61 try, economics a
1e530 6e 64 20 67 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 nd game theory,
1e540 6d 61 74 68 65 6d 61 74 69 63 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 mathematics . .
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
1e570 2c 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 75 72 63 , her heart lurc
1e580 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 72 61 70 69 hing into a rapi
1e590 64 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 d tempo again.
1e5a0 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 She turned to se
1e5b0 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 e that the man s
1e5c0 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f tood near her ho
1e5d0 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 63 61 6e 20 lding out a can
1e5e0 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
1e5f0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 " he said. "Sor
1e600 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 ry. I didn't me
1e610 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 20 79 6f an to startle yo
1e620 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 u."..She nodded
1e630 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 her thanks and t
1e640 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 ook the can. As
1e650 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 he carried anot
1e660 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d her can with him
1e670 2c 20 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 , he moved to th
1e680 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 e couch and sat
1e690 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 down with a near
1e6a0 6c 79 20 69 6e 61 75 64 69 62 6c 65 20 67 72 75 ly inaudible gru
1e6b0 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f nt. Alley follo
1e6c0 77 65 64 20 73 75 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 wed suit, and re
1e6d0 73 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 sumed her place
1e6e0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 2e on the armchair.
1e6f0 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 47 65 .."My name is Ge
1e700 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 orge," he said,
1e710 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 63 and opened his c
1e720 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e an..."I'm Alley.
1e730 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 "..He swigged fr
1e740 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 4e 69 om his can. "Ni
1e750 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6d ce to properly m
1e760 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 eet you.".."Yeah
1e770 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 ," she said. Sh
1e780 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e e opened her can
1e790 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 47 65 6f and drank...Geo
1e7a0 72 67 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 rge pulled somet
1e7b0 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 70 6f 63 6b hing from a pock
1e7c0 65 74 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 et and, with the
1e7d0 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 sound of a meta
1e7e0 6c 6c 69 63 20 73 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 61 llic snap, a nea
1e7f0 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 63 68 20 62 6c rly four inch bl
1e800 61 64 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 ade appeared in
1e810 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 his hand. She f
1e820 72 6f 7a 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e roze for a momen
1e830 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c t, but he only l
1e840 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f eaned forward to
1e850 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e cut the tape on
1e860 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e the box..."Uh .
1e870 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 . . I don't nee
1e880 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 d to see whateve
1e890 72 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a r's in there."..
1e8a0 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
1e8b0 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 g and looked at
1e8c0 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 her. He looked
1e8d0 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 back down at the
1e8e0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 box a moment, h
1e8f0 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 is brow furrowed
1e900 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e . After a momen
1e910 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 t more, his brow
1e920 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 2c 61 6e 64 20 68 65 smoothed,and he
1e930 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e smiled, the lin
1e940 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f es around his mo
1e950 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 64 65 65 uth and eyes dee
1e960 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 pening. "Oh, I
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
1e9a0 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e pression on you.
1e9b0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
1e9c0 61 77 61 79 2c 20 75 6e 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 away, unsure whe
1e9d0 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 ther to feel emb
1e9e0 61 72 72 61 73 73 65 64 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 arrassed or just
1e9f0 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
1ea00 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 ook, I know Dave
1ea10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
1ea20 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6d 65 robably cooks me
1ea30 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c th for a living,
1ea40 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 but he just use
1ea50 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 s the shit. He
1ea60 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 2c doesn't make it,
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
1ea90 61 69 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20 aisy. This box
1eaa0 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 is just some par
1eab0 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
1eac0 68 69 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 hine for me."..S
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
1eaf0 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 20 6f uncomfortably o
1eb00 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41 n her chair..."A
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
1eb90 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 rl."..Alley sat
1eba0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 back in her chai
1ebb0 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 69 67 r, relaxing slig
1ebc0 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 htly, and she si
1ebd0 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 pped from her ca
1ebe0 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f n. After swallo
1ebf0 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 wing, she said "
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
1ec40 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 r with the frame
1ec50 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 s I bought has t
1ec60 68 69 73 20 63 75 74 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 his cute little
1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
1ec80 65 61 72 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c ears old. She l
1ec90 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 20 61 62 6f 76 ost her arm abov
1eca0 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 64 75 72 69 e the elbow duri
1ecb0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 72 ng the police cr
1ecc0 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 ackdown on the p
1ecd0 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 rotesters at the
1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
1ecf0 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20 treet massacre.
1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
1ed10 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 g the arm I made
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
1eef0 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 ybe I can come b
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
1ef40 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61 d, deep laugh, a
1ef50 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73 nd she felt tens
1ef60 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 ion draining awa
1ef70 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 y again, despite
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
1f000 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 6d 65 he way your name
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
1f0c0 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 ay from Perris t
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
1f0f0 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e ates if your fin
1f100 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 ances were feeli
1f110 6e 67 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 ng really secure
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
1f1b0 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 he box and finis
1f1c0 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 hed cutting the
1f1d0 74 61 70 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 tape at the edge
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
1f210 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 66 74 e carefully lift
1f220 65 64 20 74 61 70 65 64 2d 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ed taped-togethe
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
1f270 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f et each bundle o
1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
1f290 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ray, and looked
1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
1f2b0 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 silently, Alley
1f2c0 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 sat and sipped h
1f2d0 65 72 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 er Coke, unwilli
1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
1f2f0 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 61 6e s work. His han
1f300 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 ds seemed precis
1f310 65 6c 79 20 64 72 61 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 ely drawn to par
1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
1f330 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 various parts,
1f340 61 73 20 69 66 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 6d 65 6d as if muscle mem
1f350 6f 72 79 20 67 75 69 64 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 64 ory guided him d
1f360 65 66 74 6c 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 eftly where they
1f370 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e needed to go in
1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 a performance s
1f390 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 omething almost
1f3a0 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 like meditative
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
1f3e0 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 f larger parts,
1f3f0 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 and looked throu
1f400 67 68 20 74 68 65 6d 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2e gh them quickly.
1f410 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
1f420 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 ide, the bundles
1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
1f440 64 20 6f 75 74 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 d out but the pa
1f450 72 74 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 64 68 65 72 69 rts still adheri
1f460 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 ng to the tape.
1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
1f480 70 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b 65 70 pped..."I've kep
1f490 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 t you long enoug
1f4a0 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
1f4b0 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 6c 6c he tray and pull
1f4c0 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f ed out an envelo
1f4d0 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b pe. "Here. Tak
1f4e0 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 e this back to D
1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
1f500 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 20 20 ond delivery."
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
1f5c0 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e ctly. I'm tryin
1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
1f5e0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a out of a hole.".
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
1f630 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 d it's dying. I
1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 don't really ha
1f650 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 ve the work expe
1f660 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 61 rience to pick a
1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 new direction,
1f680 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b so I'm just work
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
1f6b0 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 yourself. The
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
1f6f0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e ley nodded, then
1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
1f710 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 ook her head aga
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
1f7a0 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f or a job, and wo
1f7b0 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 rk until they re
1f7c0 74 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d tire.".."It seem
1f7d0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f s that way," Geo
1f7e0 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d rge said, "but m
1f7f0 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 ost of them don'
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
1f830 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 nd more people a
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
1f860 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 and end up on th
1f870 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 e street. Most
1f880 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 of them don't ha
1f890 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e ve enough imagin
1f8a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 ation these days
1f8b0 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 to even conceiv
1f8c0 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 e of completely
1f8d0 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 reinventing thei
1f8e0 72 20 70 61 74 68 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f r paths. You lo
1f8f0 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 ok like you do,
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
1f960 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 rearms on his th
1f970 69 67 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 ighs, and wrong
1f980 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
1f990 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 73 73 61 e meant to massa
1f9a0 67 65 20 63 72 61 6d 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 ge cramps out of
1f9b0 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 them. He looke
1f9c0 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 d toward a books
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
1f9f0 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 asy to see what
1fa00 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 other people are
1fa10 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b doing and think
1fa20 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 that they have
1fa30 69 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 it together, tha
1fa40 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 61 t they have a pa
1fa50 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 th and security
1fa60 61 6e 64 20 68 61 70 70 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 and happiness.
1fa70 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 Most people lie
1fa80 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 62 to each other ab
1fa90 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 out how well the
1faa0 79 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 y're doing, and
1fab0 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 69 6e almost every sin
1fac0 67 6c 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c gle one of them,
1fad0 20 64 65 65 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 73 69 64 deep down insid
1fae0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
1faf0 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 t be the only pe
1fb00 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 rson who can't r
1fb10 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 74 20 eally figure it
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
1fbc0 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 66 65 o played it safe
1fbd0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
1fbe0 65 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 64 76 61 6e e but took advan
1fbf0 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e tage of opportun
1fc00 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 ities when they
1fc10 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
1fc20 75 63 6b 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 ucky enough to g
1fc30 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 et ahead that wa
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
1fca0 20 73 6f 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6c 79 69 6e so good at lyin
1fcb0 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
1fcc0 74 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 76 t it that they'v
1fcd0 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 e even convinced
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
1fd30 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 ed out, and in a
1fd40 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 65 76 65 way they're eve
1fd50 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
1fd60 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 61 at, but not in a
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
1fec0 65 6c 74 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 68 elt an almost ph
1fed0 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
1fee0 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 ding it. "There
1fef0 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 's always someth
1ff00 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c ing we overlook,
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
1ff80 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 hem open, and se
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
1ffe0 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e g, but you defin
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
20190 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 73 rner of her lips
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
20290 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e t you need. Don
202a0 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 't feel like you
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
204c0 74 73 69 64 65 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 tside ahead of h
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
206b0 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 63 61 72 64 2c 20 6e 6f usiness card, no
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
206e0 75 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b u go."..She took
206f0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
20700 74 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e t it contained n
20710 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6d othing but an em
20720 61 69 6c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ail address and
20730 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 a series of lett
20740 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 2e ers and numbers.
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
207e0 61 69 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a ail like that?".
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
20810 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c ients sometimes,
20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
20830 6f 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 od girl. You're
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
208c0 6b 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 k a couple times
208d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
208e0 65 70 69 6e 67 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 eping watch. He
208f0 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
20900 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 side and closed
20910 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 the door when sh
20920 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 e was almost at
20930 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 the end of his b
20940 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 lock...When she
20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 merged onto the
20960 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e highway, she won
20970 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 74 68 dered what he th
20980 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 ought she meant
20990 62 79 20 22 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 22 2e 20 20 48 by "clients". H
209a0 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 e hadn't even as
209b0 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 ked what kind of
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
209e0 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 68 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 ought, he believ
209f0 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 ed she was talki
20a00 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ng about somethi
20a10 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 44 65 ng related to De
20a20 6c 69 76 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 liv, or when she
20a30 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 sold him handgu
20a40 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 n frames. None
20a50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
20a60 61 6e 67 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ang true, though
20a70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
20a80 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 t it for a bit,
20a90 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
20aa0 69 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e ind wandering an
20ab0 64 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 d lost track of
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
20ae0 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 y should, after
20af0 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
20b00 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 with the priori
20b10 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 tizer for what t
20b20 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 hey'll do next,
20b30 67 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 get up the next
20b40 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 day and have to
20b50 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 deal with the ar
20b60 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 rival of scary p
20b70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 6e 67 6c eople with sungl
20b80 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 asses who want t
20b90 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 o talk to her ab
20ba0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 out the fact the
20bb0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 prioritizer is
20bc0 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 not properly log
20bd0 67 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 ging her activit
20be0 69 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 ies the way they
20bf0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 expect. They w
20c00 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 ant to know what
20c10 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 's going on, and
20c20 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 get a bit of a
20c30 22 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 77 "conversation" w
20c40 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ith the prioriti
20c50 7a 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 zer through her
20c60 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d interface or som
20c70 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 ething like that
20c80 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 . They should p
20c90 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 75 robably check ou
20ca0 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6a 75 t the glasses ju
20cb0 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 st to make sure
20cc0 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 there's nothing
20cd0 66 69 73 68 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 fishy going on w
20ce0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 75 63 68 20 74 68 ith them such th
20cf0 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 73 6f at they might so
20d00 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 mehow be prevent
20d10 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ing the prioriti
20d20 7a 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c zer from properl
20d30 79 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 y capturing data
20d40 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 and detecting a
20d50 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f ctivity and so o
20d60 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 n. They should
20d70 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 61 74 probably intimat
20d80 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 e that she will
20d90 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 73 65 potentially lose
20da0 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 her study parti
20db0 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 cipation payment
20dc0 73 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 s if she doesn't
20dd0 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 allow the prior
20de0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 69 itizer further i
20df0 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 6f 20 nto her life to
20e00 6c 6f 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 log everything s
20e10 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 he's doing and p
20e20 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 20 rovide material
20e30 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 they can use to
20e40 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 analyze stuff ab
20e50 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f out her and so o
20e60 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 n...A reason for
20e70 20 74 68 69 73 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 this visit is,
20e80 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 of course, the w
20e90 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ay the prioritiz
20ea0 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 65 64 61 er has been reda
20eb0 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 cting logs to ke
20ec0 65 70 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e ep activities in
20ed0 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 line with Alley
20ee0 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 61 74 's goal of great
20ef0 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 er personal and
20f00 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 digital privacy
20f10 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 70 72 6f in her life, pro
20f20 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d tecting her from
20f30 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 76 65 20 73 68 69 74 20 intrusive shit
20f40 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 from police and
20f50 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 other law enforc
20f60 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e ement things, an
20f70 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c d others as well
20f80 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ...*/..---..She
20f90 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e woke in the morn
20fa0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 ing to the sound
20fb0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c of her doorbell
20fc0 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 , quickly follow
20fd0 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 72 61 70 70 69 ed by hard rappi
20fe0 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 ng on her door.
20ff0 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 She groaned and
21000 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 looked at the c
21010 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 lock. It indica
21020 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 61 73 ted the time was
21030 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 65 69 67 68 just after eigh
21040 74 20 74 68 69 72 74 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 t thirty. "What
21050 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 the fuck his th
21060 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 is?" she asked t
21070 68 65 20 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 6f 6f he air...The doo
21080 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 69 rbell and knocki
21090 6e 67 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 ng began again.
210a0 20 22 49 6d 70 61 74 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 49 20 67 "Impatient, I g
210b0 75 65 73 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c uess." She pull
210c0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 ed on her pants
210d0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 from the previou
210e0 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 s evening and ma
210f0 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 de sure she had
21100 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 her baton and pe
21110 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 pper spray in he
21120 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a 41 20 74 68 r pockets...A th
21130 69 72 64 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 69 ird round of noi
21140 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 se at the door,
21150 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 just like the fi
21160 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 rst two with no
21170 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 65 6e 69 sign of slackeni
21180 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 6d 2c 20 63 ng enthusiasm, c
21190 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 ommends as she a
211a0 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 pproached. It s
211b0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 topped while she
211c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
211d0 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 isplay for the t
211e0 69 6e 79 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 iny camera mount
211f0 65 64 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 75 74 ed above the out
21200 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 side of the door
21210 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 ...Two people, a
21220 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e man and a woman
21230 2c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 , stood on her p
21240 6f 72 63 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 orch. They both
21250 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 wore black suit
21260 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 s that fit almos
21270 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 77 69 74 68 t too well, with
21280 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 62 black shades, b
21290 6c 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 6c 69 73 68 65 64 20 73 68 lack polished sh
212a0 6f 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 oes, and black t
212b0 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 ies..."Jesus," s
212c0 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 he muttered to h
212d0 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 65 74 erself, "I'm get
212e0 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 66 72 6f ting a visit fro
212f0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 m the Men In Bla
21300 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e ck." As the man
21310 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 rang the doorbe
21320 6c 6c 20 61 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 ll a fourth time
21330 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 , she saw that t
21340 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 he only things t
21350 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 70 65 72 66 65 hat didn't perfe
21360 63 74 6c 79 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e ctly fit the Men
21370 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 69 6d 61 67 65 20 In Black image
21380 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 65 79 20 69 were they grey i
21390 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 68 61 69 72 20 2d 2d 20 n their hair --
213a0 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 73 2c hers in streaks,
213b0 20 68 69 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6d 70 his at the temp
213c0 6c 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 les -- and the f
213d0 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 act their shirts
213e0 20 77 65 72 65 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 were vertically
213f0 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 6e striped in thin
21400 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 burgundy instea
21410 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 65 20 d of being pure
21420 77 68 69 74 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 white...The man'
21430 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 69 s hand just fini
21440 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f shed the first o
21450 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 f this round of
21460 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f knocks on the do
21470 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 or when Alley je
21480 72 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 rked it open and
21490 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 69 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 left him standi
214a0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 ng there with hi
214b0 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 s hand hanging i
214c0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 n the air for a
214d0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 61 6c moment...They al
214e0 6c 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 l stared at each
214f0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 other..."Can I
21500 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 help you?" Alley
21510 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 asked, her voic
21520 65 20 74 69 72 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 61 e tired, but sha
21530 72 70 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 rp...The woman s
21540 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 aid "You have a
21550 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 79 little hole in y
21560 6f 75 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 our shirt, there
21570 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ."..Alley looked
21580 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e where the woman
21590 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 pointed, and sa
215a0 77 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 w a hole in her
215b0 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 53 6f 63 69 Information Soci
215c0 65 74 79 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 2f 2a 20 61 72 6f ety shirt /* aro
215d0 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 und the area of
215e0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6b 69 64 6e 65 79 her right kidney
215f0 20 2a 2f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 */ over the rig
21600 68 74 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 ht side of her a
21610 62 64 6f 6d 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 6f 6c bdomen. The hol
21620 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 e had been there
21630 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 since before he
21640 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 r uncle gave her
21650 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 61 73 20 61 this shirt as a
21660 20 6b 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 kid...She looke
21670 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f d back at the wo
21680 6d 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 man. "Yeah," sh
21690 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 6c 65 65 e said. "I slee
216a0 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e p in this thing.
216b0 20 20 53 74 72 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 Strangers don'
216c0 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f t usually get to
216d0 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 4e 65 69 74 68 see it."..Neith
216e0 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 64 20 74 er of them had t
216f0 68 65 20 64 65 63 65 6e 63 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f he decency to lo
21700 6f 6b 20 63 68 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 ok chagrined at
21710 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 that, but the ma
21720 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 64 n looked a bit d
21730 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 isappointed abou
21740 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 50 65 t something. Pe
21750 72 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 70 rhaps he was hop
21760 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 ing to be more i
21770 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 ntimidating, and
21780 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 maybe he failed
21790 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 because he was
217a0 64 69 73 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 distracted by th
217b0 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 e shirt. He was
217c0 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 certainly looki
217d0 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 ng at it, like i
217e0 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e t was significan
217f0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 t somehow...The
21800 6d 61 6e 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c man spoke first,
21810 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 this time. "Ar
21820 65 20 79 6f 75 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 4c 75 e you Alethea Lu
21830 63 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 cas?".."Who want
21840 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 s to know?"..The
21850 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 woman produced
21860 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6f 66 66 some kind of off
21870 69 63 69 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 icial government
21880 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 -looking identif
21890 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 ication card as
218a0 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 if she had been
218b0 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 holding it ready
218c0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 75 for a moment ju
218d0 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c st like this all
218e0 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 along...Alley g
218f0 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 rabbed the edge
21900 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 64 20 6a 75 73 74 of the card just
21910 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 as the woman be
21920 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 62 gan to pull it b
21930 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 ack, and held it
21940 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 firmly as she g
21950 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 ave it a closer
21960 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e look. The woman
21970 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 froze, and her
21980 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 eyes widened..."
21990 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 49 74 What's this? It
219a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 looks like some
219b0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 kind of contrac
219c0 74 6f 72 20 49 44 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 tor ID. Are you
219d0 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 government cont
219e0 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 ractors trying t
219f0 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 o look like the
21a00 46 42 49 3f 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 FBI? If this is
21a10 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6d some kind of im
21a20 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 68 minent domain sh
21a30 61 6b 65 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 akedown, you're
21a40 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 talking to the w
21a50 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 rong person. I
21a60 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 rent.".."No," th
21a70 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 e main said, "it
21a80 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 's nothing like
21a90 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 that. We're tru
21aa0 73 74 65 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 55 53 20 69 stees for a US i
21ab0 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 ntelligence rese
21ac0 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e arch project, an
21ad0 64 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 63 d we're here bec
21ae0 61 75 73 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 ause some concer
21af0 6e 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 ns have been rai
21b00 73 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 sed about your p
21b10 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a articipation."..
21b20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 65 65 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley peered at
21b30 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 him. "Are you s
21b40 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 erious?"..He nod
21b50 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c 20 63 75 72 74 6c 79 ded once, curtly
21b60 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ..."You're going
21b70 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 to have to be a
21b80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70 65 little more spe
21b90 63 69 66 69 63 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 cific," she said
21ba0 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 ..."May we come
21bb0 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 in to talk about
21bc0 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 this?" the woma
21bd0 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 n asked...Alley
21be0 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 67 caught the man g
21bf0 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 iving his partne
21c00 72 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c r an irritated l
21c10 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e ook. "No, I don
21c20 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 41 6c 't think so," Al
21c30 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ley answered..."
21c40 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 Are you involved
21c50 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 in too many US
21c60 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 Intelligence res
21c70 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 earch projects t
21c80 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 o know what I'm
21c90 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20 talking about?"
21ca0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 he asked..."It's
21cb0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20 the opposite,"
21cc0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 she said, as if
21cd0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 really she didn'
21ce0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 t think he under
21cf0 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 stood. "I don't
21d00 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 know anything a
21d10 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 bout any US Inte
21d20 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 lligence researc
21d30 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 h projects in my
21d40 20 6c 69 66 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e life right now.
21d50 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f Do you want to
21d60 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 tell me why you
21d70 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 're here, or sho
21d80 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 70 6c 61 79 20 61 20 67 75 uld we play a gu
21d90 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 67 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 54 essing game?"..T
21da0 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 he woman's eyes
21db0 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 narrowed, and sh
21dc0 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 e opened her mou
21dd0 74 68 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6e 61 70 th as if to snap
21de0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 41 6c something at Al
21df0 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e ley, but the man
21e00 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c leaned into All
21e10 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 ey's personal sp
21e20 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 ace. He blocked
21e30 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 65 half of the vie
21e40 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 w between the tw
21e50 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 o women, and the
21e60 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 63 man's partner c
21e70 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 losed her mouth
21e80 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 again, surprised
21e90 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f by the intrusio
21ea0 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 n...He said "You
21eb0 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 have access to
21ec0 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 some experimenta
21ed0 6c 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 l task assistanc
21ee0 65 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 e artificial int
21ef0 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f elligence techno
21f00 6c 6f 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 logy for the pur
21f10 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 pose of particip
21f20 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 74 75 64 79 ating in a study
21f30 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 for Professor G
21f40 6f 75 6c 65 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 oulet at the Uni
21f50 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 versity of Calif
21f60 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 ornia. Does tha
21f70 74 20 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 73 t ring any bells
21f80 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f ?" he asked..."O
21f90 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 h. Yeah. Why d
21fa0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 idn't you just s
21fb0 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c ay so?" She hel
21fc0 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 75 6e 74 d her ground unt
21fd0 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c il the man final
21fe0 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67 ly backed off ag
21ff0 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 ain..."I take it
22000 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 you did not act
22010 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 ually read the i
22020 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 77 nformation you w
22030 65 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ere given when y
22040 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 ou signed up for
22050 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 the study."..Sh
22060 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e shrugged. "I
22070 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 did, but I don't
22080 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 remember every
22090 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74 single word of t
220a0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 74 2e 20 he small print.
220b0 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 It must have be
220c0 65 6e 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 en buried pretty
220d0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 well.".."Why ar
220e0 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 en't you wearing
220f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 your AR glasses
22100 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 ?" he suddenly a
22110 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65 sked..."Let's re
22120 77 69 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e wind to the poin
22130 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f t when I told yo
22140 75 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6c 66 u I'm still half
22150 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22 in my pajamas,"
22160 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 Alley said...He
22170 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 frowned, and as
22180 6b 65 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f ked "Have you lo
22190 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f oked at your pho
221a0 6e 65 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e ne yet this morn
221b0 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 ing?".."This is
221c0 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c starting to feel
221d0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 like we're play
221e0 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 ing twenty quest
221f0 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 ions after all.
22200 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c No, I haven't l
22210 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e ooked at my phon
22220 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 e. I got out of
22230 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c bed, made mysel
22240 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20 f barely decent
22250 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f to answer the do
22260 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 or, and came to
22270 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 65 welcome you chee
22280 72 66 75 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64 73 rful early birds
22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
222a0 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 y?".."I suggest
222b0 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d you check your m
222c0 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 essages.".."Fine
222d0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Alley said.
222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
222f0 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 ack." She manag
22300 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 72 61 69 6e 20 68 ed to restrain h
22310 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 61 6d erself from slam
22320 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 62 ming the door, b
22330 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 6e ut it wasn't gen
22340 74 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 69 74 20 74 68 tle...She hit th
22350 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 63 6b e button to lock
22360 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 the door, then
22370 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 sat on the couch
22380 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and plucked her
22390 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 phone from the
223a0 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 20 charging plate.
223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
223c0 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 ication blinked
223d0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 at her...Alley d
223e0 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 onned the priori
223f0 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 tizer's glasses
22400 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 and checked her
22410 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 messages. One h
22420 61 64 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ad arrived from
22430 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 6f 76 the professor ov
22440 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 er an hour earli
22450 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 er. It told her
22460 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 to give the gla
22470 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 20 sses to the men
22480 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 who would come t
22490 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d o see her that m
224a0 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76 65 orning with gove
224b0 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 44 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 rnment IDs...She
224c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
224d0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 oor, and muttere
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
22500 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65 78 the professor ex
22510 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 pected different
22520 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 people, but thi
22530 73 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6c s was clearly cl
22540 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ose enough. May
22550 62 65 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 be he just meant
22560 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a Men In Black...
22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
22580 74 75 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20 tud in her ear,
22590 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
225a0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 could not speak
225b0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c 79 2c 20 to her audibly,
225c0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 but it used text
225d0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 again. */..The
225e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 prioritizer plac
225f0 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 ed text in her f
22600 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 22 ield of view. "
22610 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 There does not a
22620 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 ppear to be much
22630 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
22640 6f 75 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 ou handle this,"
22650 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 it said..."Yeah
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
22680 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e the door a momen
22690 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 t longer, and sa
226a0 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 id "There's some
226b0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61 thing familiar a
226c0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 20 bout that guy."
226d0 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72 She shrugged, r
226e0 65 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 eturned to the d
226f0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 oor, and opened
22700 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 54 it once more...T
22710 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 he pair outside
22720 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 64 broke off in mid
22730 2d 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 -discussion and
22740 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e looked at Alley.
22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
22760 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 id. She pulled
22770 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 off the glasses
22780 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 and handed them
22790 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 6f to the closest o
227a0 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 2e f them, the man.
227b0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64 ..He smirked and
227c0 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 handed them to
227d0 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 his partner, and
227e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 the woman pulle
227f0 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 d a small black
22800 64 69 73 63 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 disc out of her
22810 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 69 70 pocket. The tip
22820 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 68 of her thumb wh
22830 69 74 65 6e 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 itened slightly
22840 75 6e 64 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 66 under pressure f
22850 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 or a moment as s
22860 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 he squeezed the
22870 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 device, and a li
22880 67 68 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 ght began to bli
22890 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 65 64 67 65 2e 20 nk on its edge.
228a0 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e The charging in
228b0 64 69 63 61 74 6f 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e dicator light on
228c0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 6c 69 the glasses bli
228d0 6e 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 74 nked in time wit
228e0 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e h it. The woman
228f0 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 6e held the disc n
22900 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ear the glasses
22910 66 6f 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 65 63 6f for several seco
22920 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 nds, then the li
22930 67 68 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 6c 69 6e ght stopped blin
22940 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70 king and she rep
22950 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 69 laced the disc i
22960 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 n her pocket..."
22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
22980 75 72 20 63 6f 2d 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c ur co-operation,
22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
229a0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 in a sour voice
229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
229c0 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a e glasses back..
229d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 .Alley accepted
229e0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e the glasses, don
229f0 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f ned them once mo
22a00 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 re, and asked "D
22a10 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 o you need anyth
22a20 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 27 ing else?".."We'
22a30 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 66 20 ll come back if
22a40 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 we need anything
22a50 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 else," the man
22a60 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 said, making it
22a70 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 68 72 sound like a thr
22a80 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 6e 6f eat...Alley igno
22a90 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 red that. "Do y
22aa0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ou want to tell
22ab0 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c me what the hell
22ac0 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f this is all abo
22ad0 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ut?".."No," the
22ae0 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 man said..."Have
22af0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 20 20 41 a good day." A
22b00 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f lley spoke witho
22b10 75 74 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ut feeling, and
22b20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 she closed the d
22b30 6f 6f 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 oor on them agai
22b40 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e n...Alley sat on
22b50 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 the couch. "Fu
22b60 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ck," she said.
22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
22b80 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a eople, really?".
22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
22ba0 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e that information
22bb0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
22bc0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 er said. "Your
22bd0 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 internet researc
22be0 68 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 h skills should
22bf0 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d help you learn m
22c00 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 ore about them,
22c10 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b but it seems lik
22c20 65 6c 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f ely your questio
22c30 6e 20 77 61 73 20 72 68 65 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c n was rhetorical
22c40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 .".."That's righ
22c50 74 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70 t." Alley flipp
22c60 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 6f 70 ed her laptop op
22c70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 en and started s
22c80 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 earching. She s
22c90 6f 6f 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c oon found hersel
22ca0 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 f looking at a d
22cb0 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 69 atabase search i
22cc0 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e nterface for lon
22cd0 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 48 6f 6d 65 6c 61 6e 64 20 g term Homeland
22ce0 53 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 Security contrac
22cf0 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 62 73 6f tors. This abso
22d00 72 62 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 rbed more than a
22d10 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 69 n hour of her ti
22d20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 79 69 65 6c 64 me without yield
22d30 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e ing anything con
22d40 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 clusive...She ba
22d50 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 cked out of that
22d60 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 line of investi
22d70 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 gation, and star
22d80 74 65 64 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 ted going throug
22d90 68 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 63 79 20 72 65 73 h conspiracy res
22da0 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e ources, followin
22db0 67 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 g her nose on th
22dc0 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 e first impressi
22dd0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 on the people at
22de0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 her door gave h
22df0 65 72 3a 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b er: Men In Black
22e00 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 ...It was ultima
22e10 74 65 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 tely the burgund
22e20 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c y stripes that l
22e30 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 ed her to what s
22e40 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 he wanted. It s
22e50 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 eemed to be a st
22e60 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 75 6e 69 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 andard uniform f
22e70 6f 72 20 22 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 or "field agents
22e80 22 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 2d 4f 70 65 72 61 74 69 76 " of Co-Operativ
22e90 65 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 4e e Intelligence N
22ea0 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 etworks Corporat
22eb0 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 68 61 64 20 74 ion, which had t
22ec0 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 ies to the Unite
22ed0 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 d States Intelli
22ee0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 gence Community
22ef0 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 through federal
22f00 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 contracts. The
22f10 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 6f search touched o
22f20 6e 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 n references to
22f30 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 66 6f 72 75 6d 20 67 72 darknet forum gr
22f40 6f 75 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 oups, and she st
22f50 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6c arted to get a l
22f60 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 62 ittle nervous ab
22f70 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 74 out continuing t
22f80 68 61 74 20 6c 65 61 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 hat lead. She c
22f90 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 hecked to make s
22fa0 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 ure her various
22fb0 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 77 privacy blinds w
22fc0 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 70 ere running prop
22fd0 65 72 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 erly on her lapt
22fe0 6f 70 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f op..."Perhaps yo
22ff0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 u should change
23000 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 63 6f 6e 66 your laptop conf
23010 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 iguration if you
23020 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 are concerned a
23030 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 bout government
23040 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 62 65 63 6f contractors beco
23050 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f ming aware of yo
23060 75 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 ur activities wh
23070 69 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 ile researching
23080 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 them."..Alley sa
23090 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 t back, then got
230a0 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 up and headed t
230b0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 o the kitchen.
230c0 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 "What do you thi
230d0 6e 6b 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 nk I should do t
230e0 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 42 65 67 69 o start?".."Begi
230f0 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 n with research
23100 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2c 22 20 74 68 65 on OpenBSD," the
23110 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
23120 64 2e 20 20 22 53 65 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 d. "Search for
23130 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 70 information on p
23140 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 rotecting your p
23150 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 rivacy. Informa
23160 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 63 75 72 tion about secur
23170 69 74 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 ity benefits of
23180 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 different operat
23190 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 75 67 67 ing systems sugg
231a0 65 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 ests that OpenBS
231b0 44 20 6d 61 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 D may have the b
231c0 65 73 74 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 est foundation f
231d0 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 63 68 61 72 61 or privacy chara
231e0 63 74 65 72 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 cteristics among
231f0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2d 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a well-known proj
23200 65 63 74 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 64 65 66 ects, though def
23210 61 75 6c 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 ault configurati
23220 6f 6e 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 64 on may not be id
23230 65 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 20 61 70 eal."../* "It ap
23240 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f pears to be a go
23250 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 od place to star
23260 74 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c t." */..As she l
23270 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 istened, Alley p
23280 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 ulled her last p
23290 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 63 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 ressure cooked e
232a0 67 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 gg out of the fr
232b0 69 64 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 65 6c 65 64 20 idge and peeled
232c0 69 74 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 it. "Yeah, okay
232d0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 . That sounds g
232e0 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6c ood."..OpenBSD l
232f0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 66 66 73 68 6f 6f 74 73 2c ed to offshoots,
23300 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 other projects
23310 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 that forked the
23320 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 OpenBSD project
23330 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 72 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 itself or built
23340 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 different takes
23350 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 72 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d on user environm
23360 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20 73 ents or common s
23370 65 72 76 65 72 20 74 79 70 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 erver types on t
23380 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 50 72 6f 6a 65 op of it. Proje
23390 63 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 67 cts that often g
233a0 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 4f ot compared to O
233b0 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 2c 20 penBSD came up,
233c0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 and she looked i
233d0 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c nto those as wel
233e0 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 l, but most of t
233f0 68 65 6d 20 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 6c 69 hem led down bli
23400 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 nd alleys about
23410 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 73 65 63 experimental sec
23420 75 72 69 74 79 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 4f urity hardened O
23430 53 65 73 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 66 Ses of various f
23440 6f 72 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e orms that were n
23450 6f 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 ot very suitable
23460 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 for her purpose
23470 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 s...One option,
23480 51 75 65 42 53 44 2c 20 77 61 73 20 62 61 73 65 QueBSD, was base
23490 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 d on OpenBSD and
234a0 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 promised clean
234b0 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 separation betwe
234c0 65 6e 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 en pseudonymous
234d0 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 73 online presences
234e0 20 2d 2d 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 69 -- avoiding bei
234f0 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 ng tracked as a
23500 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 person by confus
23510 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 65 63 ing tracking tec
23520 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 hnologies into t
23530 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6d rying to track m
23540 61 6e 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 6e any different en
23550 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 tities that they
23560 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 63 6f 72 72 65 6c 61 74 65 never correlate
23570 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 70 65 d as a single pe
23580 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 rson. She event
23590 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 ually realized i
235a0 74 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 ts approach to s
235b0 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f eparating enviro
235c0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 nments was just
235d0 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f OpenBSD a cut do
235e0 77 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 73 79 73 74 65 wn OpenBSD syste
235f0 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 72 m with some extr
23600 61 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 73 20 61 72 6f a interfaces aro
23610 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 27 73 20 6f 77 und OpenBSD's ow
23620 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e n virtual machin
23630 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 6f e management too
23640 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 75 63 ls. To make muc
23650 68 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c h use of it woul
23660 64 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c d involve instal
23670 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 4f 53 65 73 20 ling other OSes
23680 6f 6e 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 51 75 65 42 53 44 on top of QueBSD
23690 20 69 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 in virtual mach
236a0 69 6e 65 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f ines...Another o
236b0 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 2c 20 73 65 ption, Minix, se
236c0 65 6d 65 64 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 emed good for se
236d0 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 curity and priva
236e0 63 79 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 cy based on some
236f0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 comments in a f
23700 65 77 20 6d 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 73 74 73 ew mailing lists
23710 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 75 6d 20 64 69 73 63 75 and forum discu
23720 73 73 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 ssions, but afte
23730 72 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 66 75 72 r digging in fur
23740 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ther she realize
23750 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 d that most of w
23760 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 hat people said
23770 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 about its privac
23780 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 y benefits looke
23790 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 d like either th
237a0 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ings that could
237b0 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 be done on many
237c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 4f 53 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c other OSes, incl
237d0 75 64 69 6e 67 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2c 20 61 uding OpenBSD, a
237e0 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 nd things that w
237f0 65 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ere just people
23800 6d 69 73 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 misunderstanding
23810 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 69 6c 69 Minix reliabili
23820 74 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ty benefits. It
23830 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f did not seem to
23840 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 be a particular
23850 6c 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6f 72 69 65 6e ly privacy orien
23860 74 65 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 55 6c 74 ted option...Ult
23870 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 imately, she end
23880 65 64 20 75 70 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 ed up looking at
23890 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e two things. On
238a0 65 20 77 61 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2c 20 77 e was MaximOS, w
238b0 68 69 63 68 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 hich seemed like
238c0 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 a close relativ
238d0 65 20 6f 66 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2e 20 20 54 e of OpenBSD. T
238e0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d he other was som
238f0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 39 66 ething called 9f
23900 72 6f 6e 74 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 ront, with no re
23910 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 lation to OpenBS
23920 44 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 D that she could
23930 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 find...She had
23940 61 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 69 6d 65 a difficult time
23950 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 navigating the
23960 6a 61 72 67 6f 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 6f jargon filled, o
23970 66 74 65 6e 20 73 61 72 63 61 73 74 69 63 20 74 ften sarcastic t
23980 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f one of 9front do
23990 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 cumentation, but
239a0 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 it looked like
239b0 61 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 6c 65 65 70 69 a kind of sleepi
239c0 6e 67 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 6f ng giant among o
239d0 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 perating systems
239e0 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 for people who
239f0 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 76 value their priv
23a00 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c acy and personal
23a10 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 2e 20 20 39 66 72 6f security. 9fro
23a20 6e 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c nt also looked l
23a30 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 ike it would req
23a40 75 69 72 65 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 77 6f uire weeks of wo
23a50 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 74 rk to get it set
23a60 20 75 70 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 up properly for
23a70 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 what she wanted
23a80 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 to do, after wh
23a90 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 ich she would ha
23aa0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 ve to run other
23ab0 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d operating system
23ac0 73 20 69 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 s in virtual mac
23ad0 68 69 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 hines and move f
23ae0 69 6c 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 iles between the
23af0 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 virtual machine
23b00 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 s and the 9front
23b10 20 68 6f 73 74 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 host system to
23b20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 get anything sig
23b30 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 nificant done.
23b40 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 It looked like t
23b50 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 he way most peop
23b60 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 66 le used 9front f
23b70 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f or privacy reaso
23b80 6e 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 ns was to just h
23b90 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 ave a single mac
23ba0 68 69 6e 65 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 hine dedicated t
23bb0 6f 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 o it and use it
23bc0 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 only for specifi
23bd0 63 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e c purposes, doin
23be0 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 g everything els
23bf0 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 e on a different
23c00 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 computer with a
23c10 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 4f 53 2e 0a 0a different OS...
23c20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 She looked back
23c30 61 74 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 61 67 61 69 6e at MaximOS again
23c40 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 . It seemed to
23c50 62 65 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 be a specialized
23c60 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f configuration o
23c70 66 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 f OpenBSD with a
23c80 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 bunch of extra
23c90 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e documentation an
23ca0 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 d privacy protec
23cb0 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 20 ting software.
23cc0 54 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 The two projects
23cd0 20 2d 2d 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 20 -- OpenBSD and
23ce0 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 61 72 65 MaximOS -- share
23cf0 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 64 65 2c d a lot of code,
23d00 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 and each projec
23d10 74 20 61 75 64 69 74 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 t audited all of
23d20 20 69 74 73 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 70 72 its software pr
23d30 65 74 74 79 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 2c etty thoroughly,
23d40 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 notably includi
23d50 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 ng the software
23d60 69 74 20 67 6f 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 it got from the
23d70 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2e 0a 0a other project...
23d80 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 "Why is all this
23d90 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 69 software auditi
23da0 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 73 6f 20 62 75 72 69 ng stuff so buri
23db0 65 64 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 ed?" she muttere
23dc0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 d..."What do you
23dd0 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f mean?" the prio
23de0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ritizer asked...
23df0 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f "It seems like o
23e00 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 ne of the best t
23e10 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f 70 65 6e hings about Open
23e20 42 53 44 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 BSD is the code
23e30 61 75 64 69 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 audits. I didn'
23e40 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 t even find out
23e50 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 about how thorou
23e60 67 68 6c 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 ghly they check
23e70 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 out their code f
23e80 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 74 69 or problems unti
23e90 6c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 27 l I got to the '
23ea0 57 68 79 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 20 4f 53 3f 27 20 70 Why Maxim OS?' p
23eb0 61 67 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 6c 69 age, where it li
23ec0 6e 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 61 62 6f nks to pages abo
23ed0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 73 20 6f 6e ut the audits on
23ee0 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 it and on OpenB
23ef0 53 44 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d SD. With that m
23f00 75 63 68 20 61 75 64 69 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 74 uch auditing, it
23f10 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 seems like the
23f20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 obvious choice f
23f30 6f 72 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 76 65 72 or keeping gover
23f40 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 72 70 6f nments and corpo
23f50 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 69 rations from sli
23f60 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 pping something
23f70 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 into the softwar
23f80 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 6e 64 e that would und
23f90 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 ermine privacy."
23fa0 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 .."I do not know
23fb0 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 why the OpenBSD
23fc0 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e project would n
23fd0 6f 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 ot present that
23fe0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 information more
23ff0 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 4d prominently. M
24000 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 aximOS appears t
24010 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e o be an excellen
24020 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 t choice for you
24030 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 r purposes, thou
24040 67 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 gh. It may be a
24050 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 good choice for
24060 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 security your p
24070 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a hone as well."..
24080 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 "Yeah," Alley sa
24090 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 id, "I saw that
240a0 69 6e 66 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d info about the m
240b0 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 63 68 20 76 65 72 73 69 obile tech versi
240c0 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 on of /* the ope
240d0 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 2a 2f rating system */
240e0 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 MaximOS.".."The
240f0 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 62 79 devices sold by
24100 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 68 61 the company tha
24110 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d t develops Maxim
24120 4f 53 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 OS may be a good
24130 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e choice as well.
24140 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 ".."Sure, if I c
24150 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 ould afford to b
24160 75 79 20 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 uy one."..She sa
24170 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 69 t and thought, i
24180 64 6c 79 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 dly clicking thr
24190 6f 75 67 68 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ough pages on th
241a0 65 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 73 69 74 65 2e 20 e MaximOS site.
241b0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 She stopped on
241c0 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 70 61 67 65 20 61 6e the main page an
241d0 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 d read the sloga
241e0 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 75 74 n at the top out
241f0 20 6c 6f 75 64 3a 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 65 6e 65 loud:.."The ene
24200 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 my knows the sys
24210 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 tem."..The prior
24220 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 itizer said "Tha
24230 74 20 69 73 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 53 68 t is known as Sh
24240 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 6d 61 78 69 6d 2e 20 20 annon's maxim.
24250 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 It may be the or
24260 69 67 69 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 igin of the name
24270 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 MaximOS.".."Tha
24280 74 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f t's kind of an o
24290 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 minous slogan,"
242a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 Alley mused..."I
242b0 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 69 6e t is a rephrasin
242c0 67 20 6f 66 20 4b 65 72 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 g of Kerckhoffs'
242d0 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 principle, whic
242e0 68 20 61 73 73 65 72 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 h asserts that a
242f0 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 68 cryptosystem sh
24300 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 65 63 75 ould remain secu
24310 72 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 re even if every
24320 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 thing about the
24330 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 system except it
24340 73 20 6b 65 79 20 69 73 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 s key is public
24350 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 2e 20 20 43 6c 61 75 knowledge. Clau
24360 64 65 20 53 68 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 6f 72 de Shannon's for
24370 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 72 6f 61 64 65 6e mulation broaden
24380 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 69 6e s the idea to in
24390 63 6c 75 64 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d clude all inform
243a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 ation systems, w
243b0 68 65 72 65 20 41 75 67 75 73 74 65 20 4b 65 72 here Auguste Ker
243c0 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 77 ckhoffs' focus w
243d0 61 73 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 74 6f 20 63 as specific to c
243e0 72 79 70 74 6f 67 72 61 70 68 79 2e 20 20 53 68 ryptography. Sh
243f0 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 72 annon also inver
24400 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 ted the perspect
24410 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 ive to demonstra
24420 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 te the importanc
24430 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 e of the princip
24440 6c 65 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 le as guidance f
24450 6f 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e or system design
24460 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 .".."Yeah, I get
24470 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 that," Alley sa
24480 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 id, and nodded.
24490 20 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 6b "If the enemy k
244a0 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c nows the system,
244b0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 you should make
244c0 20 73 75 72 65 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 sure none of it
244d0 73 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 70 65 6e s security depen
244e0 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ds on keeping th
244f0 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 e system design
24500 73 65 63 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 secret..."You se
24510 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 em to know a lot
24520 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 about this stuf
24530 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 f.".."I searched
24540 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 65 63 information sec
24550 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 urity academic p
24560 61 70 65 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 43 49 apers on the UCI
24570 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 network and par
24580 61 70 68 72 61 73 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e aphrased from on
24590 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 e of them.".."Th
245a0 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 at seems like it
245b0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 would be pretty
245c0 20 68 61 6e 64 79 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 69 handy, having i
245d0 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f nstant access to
245e0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 61 64 65 all those acade
245f0 6d 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 mic papers and b
24600 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b eing able to mak
24610 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 e use of what th
24620 65 79 20 73 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ey say. I shoul
24630 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 20 d probably lean
24640 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 on that more. I
24650 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 don't suppose t
24660 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 here's more in t
24670 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 here that would
24680 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 be useful for me
24690 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 trying to chang
246a0 65 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 6f 75 72 e my career cour
246b0 73 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a se. Is there?".
246c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
246d0 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 seem likely," th
246e0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
246f0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d id. "Apart from
24700 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 basic statistic
24710 61 6c 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 66 69 al studies of fi
24720 65 6c 64 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 elds of employme
24730 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 nt and how they
24740 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 72 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 change or become
24750 20 6f 62 73 6f 6c 65 74 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 obsolete over t
24760 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 65 ime, the only we
24770 6c 6c 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 64 20 61 72 65 61 73 ll studied areas
24780 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 I have found th
24790 61 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 72 65 6c 65 76 61 at appear releva
247a0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 69 74 75 61 nt to your situa
247b0 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 tion pertain to
247c0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 61 63 74 black market act
247d0 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 61 ivities. Your a
247e0 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 67 61 67 version to engag
247f0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 74 61 6e 74 6c 79 ing in blatantly
24800 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 illegal activit
24810 79 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 y for reasons of
24820 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 69 73 6b 20 73 65 76 65 72 high risk sever
24830 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 63 6c 75 64 65 20 6d 61 6b ity preclude mak
24840 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 ing use of most
24850 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 of that informat
24860 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 68 75 ion."..Alley chu
24870 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 64 72 69 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 47 ckled drily. "G
24880 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 reat. The best
24890 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 guidance for a c
248a0 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 areer change in
248b0 74 68 65 20 69 76 6f 72 79 20 74 6f 77 65 72 20 the ivory tower
248c0 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e is about becomin
248d0 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 72 69 6d 69 g a career crimi
248e0 6e 61 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 nal, I guess. I
248f0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 'm not sure whet
24900 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 77 6f her that says wo
24910 72 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 rse things about
24920 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 72 universities or
24930 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 about the law."
24940 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 .."Most of the p
24950 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 apers about thes
24960 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 63 e subjects are c
24970 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ould offer somet
24980 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 hing useful, if
24990 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 you wished to pu
249a0 72 73 75 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 rsue black marke
249b0 74 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 2c t opportunities,
249c0 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 are related to
249d0 74 68 65 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 65 63 6f the field of eco
249e0 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6a 75 64 67 nomics. To judg
249f0 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 e by those, the
24a00 66 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 73 65 65 6d fount often seem
24a10 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 s to lie with th
24a20 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 e law.".."Was th
24a30 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 at the kind of t
24a40 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f hing you used to
24a50 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 advise me to ma
24a60 6b 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 ke those sketchy
24a70 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 deals a couple
24a80 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 63 days ago?".."Suc
24a90 68 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 64 69 64 20 68 65 6c h papers did hel
24aa0 70 20 6d 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 p me prepare tha
24ab0 74 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 67 75 69 64 t strategic guid
24ac0 61 6e 63 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ance," it said.
24ad0 20 22 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d "Certain econom
24ae0 69 63 73 20 64 69 73 63 69 70 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 ics disciplines
24af0 61 72 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 are very closely
24b00 20 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 matched to my p
24b10 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 riority manageme
24b20 6e 74 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 65 73 70 65 nt purpose, espe
24b30 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 cially those tha
24b40 74 20 61 73 73 65 72 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 t assert an ordi
24b50 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 73 75 nal theory of su
24b60 62 6a 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 72 bjective value r
24b70 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 ather than any c
24b80 61 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 73 79 ardinal value sy
24b90 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f stem.".."What do
24ba0 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 you mean?".."A
24bb0 63 61 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 cardinal system
24bc0 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 is like using a
24bd0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f system of one to
24be0 20 66 69 76 65 20 73 74 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 61 five stars to a
24bf0 73 73 69 67 6e 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 61 ssign value to a
24c00 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f product when yo
24c10 75 20 72 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 u rate it on the
24c20 20 65 2d 63 6f 6d 6d 65 72 63 65 20 73 69 74 65 e-commerce site
24c30 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 64 65 72 where you order
24c40 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 6e ed it. An ordin
24c50 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b al system is lik
24c60 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 e deciding betwe
24c70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 en the two produ
24c80 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 cts in the first
24c90 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 place, because
24ca0 69 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 77 it only tracks w
24cb0 68 69 63 68 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 hich options you
24cc0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e value more than
24cd0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d others, not som
24ce0 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 63 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 e static numeric
24cf0 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6c 65 set of value le
24d00 76 65 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 vels.".."What if
24d10 20 49 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 6f I value them bo
24d20 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 3f 22 20 41 6c th the same?" Al
24d30 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 ley asked..."Tha
24d40 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 t seems such an
24d50 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 unlikely case th
24d60 61 74 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 73 at it can be dis
24d70 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 missed immediate
24d80 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f ly. Even from o
24d90 6e 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ne second to the
24da0 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 20 6d 61 next, values ma
24db0 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 6c 75 y change, so flu
24dc0 63 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ctuations would
24dd0 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f settle into a co
24de0 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 ndition of diffe
24df0 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c ring ordinal val
24e00 75 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 74 77 6f 20 ues for any two
24e10 69 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 items. In addit
24e20 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 ion, no two prod
24e30 75 63 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 69 ucts are truly i
24e40 64 65 6e 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 dentical, though
24e50 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 65 72 20 6d 61 79 the shopper may
24e60 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 not have enough
24e70 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 information to
24e80 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 know which that
24e90 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 6f person would cho
24ea0 6f 73 65 20 69 66 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 66 ose if fully inf
24eb0 6f 72 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 44 6f 6e ormed."../* "Don
24ec0 27 74 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 't I still have
24ed0 74 6f 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 76 to prefer one ov
24ee0 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 er the other to
24ef0 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 69 74 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 choose it, if I
24f00 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 62 can't just get b
24f10 6f 74 68 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 68 61 76 69 6e oth, or if havin
24f20 67 20 74 77 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 g two would be a
24f30 20 77 61 73 74 65 3f 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 waste?" */.."Wh
24f40 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 at about when I
24f50 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 just can't decid
24f60 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 70 e between two op
24f70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e tions, and I can
24f80 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 't get both of t
24f90 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 hem? Isn't that
24fa0 20 70 72 6f 6f 66 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 proof of being
24fb0 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 77 able to value tw
24fc0 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 71 75 61 6c 6c 79 o things equally
24fd0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e ?".."If you cann
24fe0 6f 74 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 ot choose betwee
24ff0 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 n them based on
25000 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 your own knowled
25010 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f ge about the pro
25020 64 75 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 ducts, and they
25030 61 72 65 20 73 75 62 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 are substitutes
25040 6f 72 20 65 71 75 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 73 20 72 or equivalents r
25050 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c ather than compl
25060 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 6f 72 20 6f 72 74 68 ementary or orth
25070 6f 67 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f ogonal to each o
25080 74 68 65 72 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c ther, you will l
25090 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6b 65 65 ikely either kee
250a0 70 20 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 p seeking more i
250b0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 64 65 nformation or de
250c0 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 cide the differe
250d0 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 nce is not worth
250e0 20 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 effort to ident
250f0 69 66 79 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 74 ify. In the lat
25100 74 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f ter case, you wo
25110 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 uld likely choos
25120 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 74 68 e the product th
25130 61 74 20 69 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 at is, at that e
25140 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 xact moment, the
25150 20 65 61 73 69 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64 65 easiest to orde
25160 72 2e 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 r. Thus, one be
25170 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 comes a higher p
25180 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 riority than the
25190 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 63 61 other, not beca
251a0 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 use of a quality
251b0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 74 6f 20 74 particular to t
251c0 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 he thing, but a
251d0 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 quality of your
251e0 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 circumstances.
251f0 49 74 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 67 72 It receives a gr
25200 65 61 74 65 72 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 eater ordinal va
25210 6c 75 65 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 61 73 lue position bas
25220 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 ed on momentary
25230 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 6e convenience. In
25240 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 short, convenie
25250 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 nce and eliminat
25260 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 73 ion of the stres
25270 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 s of decision pa
25280 72 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 ralysis becomes
25290 74 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 66 61 63 the deciding fac
252a0 74 6f 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 tor as a value g
252b0 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 reater than the
252c0 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 difference betwe
252d0 65 6e 20 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 70 en discernible p
252e0 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a roduct values.".
252f0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 ."What if I put
25300 6f 66 66 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 off buying somet
25310 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 hing I want more
25320 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to get somethin
25330 67 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 g I want less, t
25340 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 o get the second
25350 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
25360 6b 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 kly?".."This is
25370 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 another case of
25380 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 63 6f a third value co
25390 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 2c 20 ming into play,
253a0 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 74 such as buying t
253b0 68 65 20 6c 65 73 73 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 he lesser value
253c0 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 item when you ne
253d0 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 73 74 70 6f ed it and postpo
253e0 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 ning the greater
253f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
25400 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 use it is not as
25410 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 quickly importa
25420 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 2e 20 20 nt to acquire.
25430 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
25440 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 example of my ma
25450 69 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 70 72 69 6f in purpose, prio
25460 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 ritization strat
25470 65 67 79 2e 20 20 4c 6f 77 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 egy. Lower valu
25480 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e e goals should n
25490 6f 74 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 20 61 63 68 69 65 ot prevent achie
254a0 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 vement of higher
254b0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 value goals, bu
254c0 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 72 76 t when they serv
254d0 65 20 61 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 e as facilitator
254e0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 s for the higher
254f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 68 65 value goals the
25500 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 73 y should be purs
25510 75 65 64 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 ued first to ens
25520 75 72 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 75 63 63 ure greater succ
25530 65 73 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 ess later for th
25540 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 e higher value g
25550 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 oals.".."Okay, I
25560 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 get it," Alley
25570 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 6e 65 said. "Now I ne
25580 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ed to figure out
25590 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 what I'm going
255a0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 70 72 6f 74 to do about prot
255b0 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 ecting my privac
255c0 79 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 y better.".."It
255d0 73 65 65 6d 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 6d 61 seems MaximOS ma
255e0 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f y be your best o
255f0 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 ption for now, i
25600 66 20 49 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 f I properly und
25610 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 erstand your goa
25620 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 ls.".."Yeah, tha
25630 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b t's what I think
25640 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
25650 72 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 rs later, with a
25660 6e 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 73 6f 75 70 20 62 6f 77 n empty soup bow
25670 6c 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 l beside her, sh
25680 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 e was skimming d
25690 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 iscussions in a
256a0 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 darknet communit
256b0 79 20 73 69 74 65 2c 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 y site, reading
256c0 68 65 61 64 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 headlines about
256d0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e Men In Black con
256e0 73 70 69 72 61 63 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 spiracy theories
256f0 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 . Eventually, s
25700 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f he found one fro
25710 6d 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 65 61 m four months ea
25720 72 6c 69 65 72 20 62 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 rlier by someone
25730 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 who claimed to
25740 68 61 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e have seen the in
25750 6e 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 ner workings of
25760 43 6f 2d 4f 70 65 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 49 6e 74 Co-Operative Int
25770 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 4e 65 74 77 6f 72 elligence Networ
25780 6b 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 73 65 k Corp. The use
25790 72 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 r wrote under th
257a0 65 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 20 43 4f 49 4e e pseudonym COIN
257b0 2d 4f 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e -Op, and explain
257c0 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 ed that the comp
257d0 61 6e 79 27 73 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 74 any's agents int
257e0 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 entionally creat
257f0 65 64 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 65 20 65 6e 76 69 72 ed hostile envir
25800 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 onments when int
25810 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 eracting with wh
25820 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 22 at they called "
25830 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 73 22 2c 20 77 68 69 63 civilians", whic
25840 68 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 h to them someti
25850 6d 65 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 mes meant member
25860 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 55 53 20 69 s of actual US i
25870 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e ntelligence agen
25880 63 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c cies. They woul
25890 64 20 73 70 61 72 6b 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 d spark hostilit
258a0 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 y in their targe
258b0 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 ts, and even pre
258c0 74 65 6e 64 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 62 tend hostility b
258d0 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 etween each othe
258e0 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 r in ways meant
258f0 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 69 76 to play to a civ
25900 69 6c 69 61 6e 27 73 20 62 69 61 73 65 73 20 61 ilian's biases a
25910 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 20 63 72 65 61 74 s a way of creat
25920 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 ing a carefully
25930 63 75 6c 74 69 76 61 74 65 64 20 63 68 61 6f 74 cultivated chaot
25940 69 63 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 ic interaction t
25950 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 hat would negati
25960 76 65 6c 79 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 69 vely affect thei
25970 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 27 20 6a 75 64 67 65 r targets' judge
25980 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 41 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 ment...According
25990 20 74 6f 20 43 4f 49 4e 2d 4f 70 2c 20 74 68 65 to COIN-Op, the
259a0 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 y used the same
259b0 74 61 63 74 69 63 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 tactics on targe
259c0 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 73 6f ts on foreign so
259d0 69 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 79 20 il, though they
259e0 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 played much more
259f0 20 66 61 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 fast and loose
25a00 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 with regulations
25a10 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 2c outside the US,
25a20 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 and such activi
25a30 74 69 65 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 65 64 20 ties always led
25a40 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 back to targets
25a50 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 in the US. Beca
25a60 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 65 6d 69 74 20 use their remit
25a70 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 was domestic ter
25a80 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6f 6e 6c rorism, they onl
25a90 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 55 y went outside U
25aa0 53 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 S borders with i
25ab0 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 nvestigations wh
25ac0 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 63 65 72 en they were cer
25ad0 74 61 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 tain the people
25ae0 74 68 65 79 20 73 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 75 74 20 they sought out
25af0 77 65 72 65 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e were involved in
25b00 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 73 65 something prose
25b10 63 75 74 61 62 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 cutable because
25b20 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e they did not wan
25b30 74 20 74 6f 20 77 61 73 74 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 t to waste time
25b40 6f 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 on people they c
25b50 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 ould not use to
25b60 63 61 74 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e catch someone in
25b70 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 the US if they
25b80 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 also could not g
25b90 65 74 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 et credit toward
25ba0 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 success of thei
25bb0 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 6d 69 73 73 69 6f r primary missio
25bc0 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 n for catching t
25bd0 68 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 61 67 65 hose foreign age
25be0 6e 74 73 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 nts, either. Th
25bf0 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 61 e result was tha
25c00 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 t they followed
25c10 70 6f 6c 69 63 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 policies that re
25c20 73 75 6c 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 sulted in being
25c30 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 extremely good a
25c40 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 t only catching
25c50 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 74 72 75 6c 79 people who truly
25c60 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 contributed to
25c70 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e terrorism within
25c80 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 2c 20 62 75 74 20 22 63 61 the US, but "ca
25c90 74 63 68 69 6e 67 22 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 tching" several
25ca0 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 69 6e times as many in
25cb0 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e nocent people in
25cc0 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 6c 74 the US as guilt
25cd0 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2e 20 20 42 79 20 64 65 y people. By de
25ce0 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 64 75 62 69 monstrating dubi
25cf0 6f 75 73 20 74 69 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ous ties between
25d00 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f people, they co
25d10 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 uld make almost
25d20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 67 75 69 6c anyone look guil
25d30 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 61 ty enough to cla
25d40 69 6d 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 im operational s
25d50 75 63 63 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 69 63 uccess...The pic
25d60 74 75 72 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 ture forming in
25d70 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 Alley's mind jus
25d80 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 t kept getting b
25d90 6c 65 61 6b 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f leaker as she co
25da0 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2e ntinued to read.
25db0 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 2d 4f 70 20 73 61 69 64 20 43 COIN-Op said C
25dc0 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 75 73 65 64 20 6d 61 OIN Corp used ma
25dd0 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 69 nipulation and i
25de0 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 ntimidation with
25df0 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 74 69 precise experti
25e00 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c se to make peopl
25e10 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 e even belief th
25e20 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 2c 20 ey were guilty,
25e30 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 and would make t
25e40 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 74 hem disappear at
25e50 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 69 a moment's noti
25e60 63 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 ce if the target
25e70 73 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 75 s did not seem u
25e80 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e seful to them an
25e90 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 y longer and the
25ea0 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 68 6f 70 65 20 re was any hope
25eb0 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 64 69 of getting credi
25ec0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 t for tying off
25ed0 61 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 77 a loose end in w
25ee0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 hat they called
25ef0 74 68 65 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 the "domestic te
25f00 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 22 rrorism network"
25f10 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6c 73 . COIN Corp als
25f20 6f 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 o seemed to have
25f30 20 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 an arrangement
25f40 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d with the Departm
25f50 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4a 75 73 74 69 63 65 2c 20 ent of Justice,
25f60 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f by which COIN Co
25f70 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f rp would occasio
25f80 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 67 75 nally provide gu
25f90 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 66 65 idance on how fe
25fa0 64 65 72 61 6c 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 deral investigat
25fb0 6f 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 ors could go thr
25fc0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 ough the process
25fd0 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 65 of uncovering e
25fe0 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 22 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c vidence "properl
25ff0 79 22 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 y" that COIN Cor
26000 70 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 61 63 p had already ac
26010 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 quired through t
26020 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 echnically illeg
26030 61 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 72 65 al means. In re
26040 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 turn, COIN Corp
26050 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 61 20 66 could expect a f
26060 65 77 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e ew consideration
26070 73 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 63 6c s, such as no cl
26080 61 69 6d 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 43 4f 49 aims against COI
26090 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 62 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d N Corp bearing m
260a0 75 63 68 20 66 72 75 69 74 20 69 6e 20 66 65 64 uch fruit in fed
260b0 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 75 72 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 eral courts, the
260c0 20 4a 75 73 74 69 63 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d Justice Departm
260d0 65 6e 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 6a 75 72 ent claiming jur
260e0 69 73 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6e 6f 6e isdiction in non
260f0 2d 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 74 -federal cases t
26100 6f 20 65 6c 65 76 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 o elevate them t
26110 6f 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 75 72 74 20 o federal court
26120 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 proceedings, and
26130 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f 66 perhaps best of
26140 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 69 63 65 20 65 all some nice e
26150 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 66 65 64 65 72 xcuses for feder
26160 61 6c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 al law enforceme
26170 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 73 nt agencies to s
26180 65 72 76 65 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e erve warrants on
26190 20 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 65 64 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 invented cases
261a0 69 6e 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 43 4f in support of CO
261b0 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f IN Corp operatio
261c0 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 69 ns...In short, i
261d0 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f f they wanted to
261e0 2c 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e , COIN Corp agen
261f0 74 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 ts could get the
26200 20 46 42 49 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 64 6f FBI to break do
26210 77 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 wn Alley's door
26220 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 6c 69 6d 73 79 20 65 on some flimsy e
26230 78 63 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 72 72 xcuse for a warr
26240 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 ant, and the FBI
26250 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 6e 64 would just hand
26260 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 her over to the
26270 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 corporate agent
26280 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 74 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 s...Others in th
26290 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 61 e discussion sha
262a0 72 65 64 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 73 red supporting s
262b0 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e tories of Men In
262c0 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 65 20 Black who wore
262d0 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 73 68 69 72 red striped shir
262e0 74 73 2c 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e 67 20 ts, supervising
262f0 41 54 46 2c 20 46 42 49 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 53 65 ATF, FBI, and Se
26300 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 65 61 cret Service tea
26310 6d 73 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e ms breaking down
26320 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 doors to execut
26330 65 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 e warrants. Mos
26340 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 t people telling
26350 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 63 those stories c
26360 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 laimed they neve
26370 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 r again saw the
26380 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 64 people who lived
26390 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 74 in the places t
263a0 68 61 74 20 67 6f 74 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 hat got searched
263b0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 63 68 ...Alley felt ch
263c0 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 illed, despite t
263d0 68 65 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 he warmth and li
263e0 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ght coming throu
263f0 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 75 72 74 gh the thin curt
26400 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f ains over the so
26410 75 74 68 2d 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 77 69 6e 64 6f uth-facing windo
26420 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 w. She closed h
26430 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 er laptop and wa
26440 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 lked to the kitc
26450 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 hen, then stood
26460 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 61 6e over the sink an
26470 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 6c 79 d stared blankly
26480 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 at the drain.
26490 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 2d 4f From what COIN-O
264a0 70 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 p said, it seeme
264b0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 d like the agent
264c0 73 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 s of COIN Corp e
264d0 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 69 6e njoyed destroyin
264e0 67 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 g lives, and bra
264f0 67 67 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 71 gged about how q
26500 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c uickly they coul
26510 64 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 22 65 6e d track down "en
26520 65 6d 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 emies of the sta
26530 74 65 22 20 62 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 te" by going aft
26540 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 69 er people who di
26550 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 dn't even know t
26560 68 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 6d 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 hey had met some
26570 20 70 65 74 74 79 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 73 petty criminals
26580 20 77 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 64 who, in turn, d
26590 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 idn't realize th
265a0 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 ey had contact w
265b0 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 75 70 70 ith someone supp
265c0 6f 73 65 64 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 osedly connected
265d0 20 74 6f 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 to "domestic te
265e0 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 rrorism". They
265f0 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 just had to stay
26600 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e away from anyon
26610 65 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f e well known eno
26620 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 6d 65 64 69 ugh to draw medi
26630 61 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 a attention, or
26640 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 61 6c 74 68 79 20 6f anyone wealthy o
26650 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 r connected enou
26660 67 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 gh to really go
26670 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 after the corpor
26680 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 ation, so their
26690 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 activities would
266a0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 never get enoug
266b0 68 20 73 63 72 75 74 69 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 h scrutiny to ca
266c0 75 73 65 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 use significant
266d0 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 problems...Alley
266e0 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 recalled a time
266f0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6c when Dalton tol
26700 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 d her that the i
26710 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 73 69 78 20 64 65 67 72 65 dea of six degre
26720 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e es of separation
26730 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 73 was too optimis
26740 74 69 63 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 tic when it came
26750 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 to government a
26760 67 65 6e 64 61 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 gendas. Most pe
26770 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 ople in the Unit
26780 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f ed States were o
26790 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 nly three degree
267a0 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 s of separation
267b0 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 away from organi
267c0 7a 65 64 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 zed crime -- whi
267d0 63 68 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ch, when Dalton
267e0 75 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 used the term, a
267f0 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 65 69 74 lmost always eit
26800 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 67 6f 76 her included gov
26810 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 ernment or anyth
26820 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 ing the governme
26830 6e 74 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 61 74 65 64 20 22 74 nt designated "t
26840 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 errorism". In t
26850 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 his case, he was
26860 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 talking more ab
26870 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 2d 63 61 6c 6c 65 out the so-calle
26880 64 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 d terrorists tha
26890 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 n the government
268a0 2e 20 20 42 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 61 74 . Based on what
268b0 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 she had just re
268c0 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 ad on the darkne
268d0 74 2c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b t, it looked lik
268e0 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c e COIN Corp woul
268f0 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 d probably just
26900 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 make her disappe
26910 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 ar and look for
26920 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 ways to connect
26930 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 her to "domestic
26940 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 20 73 6f 20 74 terrorism" so t
26950 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 hey could get a
26960 6e 69 63 65 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 nice bonus from
26970 55 6e 63 6c 65 20 53 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 72 6f Uncle Sam. Thro
26980 75 67 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 ugh Dalton and h
26990 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 is friends, she
269a0 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 figured they wou
269b0 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 ld not even have
269c0 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 61 72 to try very har
269d0 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 71 75 69 63 d to find a quic
269e0 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f k connection fro
269f0 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 m her to someone
26a00 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 20 6c on some watch l
26a10 69 73 74 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ist...It could n
26a20 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 ot be too diffic
26a30 75 6c 74 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 ult, when they d
26a40 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 20 idn't even care
26a50 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 whether they rea
26a60 6c 6c 79 20 6e 61 69 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 lly nailed down
26a70 61 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 a case against t
26a80 68 65 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 22 64 6f 6d he ultimate "dom
26a90 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 22 estic terrorist"
26aa0 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 6e they used as an
26ab0 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 61 63 6b excuse to black
26ac0 20 62 61 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c bag other peopl
26ad0 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e e along the way.
26ae0 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 By then, they
26af0 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 already had all
26b00 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 those disappeare
26b10 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 64 20 d people marked
26b20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 22 77 69 6e down in the "win
26b30 22 20 63 6f 6c 75 6d 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 " column..."I'm
26b40 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 74 6f just a number to
26b50 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 them."..The pri
26b60 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 45 oritizer said "E
26b70 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f verything is abo
26b80 75 74 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 ut numbers for a
26b90 6e 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c n organization l
26ba0 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 ike COIN Corp.
26bb0 49 74 73 20 72 65 76 65 6e 75 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 Its revenue mode
26bc0 6c 20 69 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 67 6f l is based on go
26bd0 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 79 6f 75 74 73 vernment payouts
26be0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 20 72 65 and contract re
26bf0 6e 65 77 61 6c 73 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 72 65 newals which are
26c00 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 , in turn, deter
26c10 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d mined by perform
26c20 61 6e 63 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 2e 20 20 41 ance metrics. A
26c30 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 75 72 65 government bure
26c40 61 75 63 72 61 63 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 aucracy must use
26c50 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 61 73 metrics to meas
26c60 75 72 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 65 63 ure success, bec
26c70 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 ause the size of
26c80 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f the organizatio
26c90 6e 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 n cannot ensure
26ca0 61 6e 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 65 any consistent e
26cb0 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6e 65 73 73 20 6a 75 64 ffectiveness jud
26cc0 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 gement any other
26cd0 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 way. A combina
26ce0 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 66 66 69 tion of the effi
26cf0 63 69 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 ciency of digita
26d00 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 74 20 l technology at
26d10 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 analyzing simple
26d20 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 metrics and the
26d30 20 73 68 65 65 72 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 sheer size of t
26d40 68 65 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 he organizations
26d50 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 involved ensure
26d60 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 75 that without tu
26d70 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 6f 6c 69 rning every poli
26d80 63 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f cy decision into
26d90 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 straightforward
26da0 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a numeric optimiz
26db0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 ation the whole
26dc0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 6c system would fal
26dd0 6c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 l apart under th
26de0 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 e weight of its
26df0 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 own inefficiency
26e00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 65 67 69 .".."You're begi
26e10 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c nning to sound l
26e20 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 ike Dalton.".."I
26e30 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 do not know wha
26e40 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2c 22 20 74 t that means," t
26e50 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
26e60 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c aid..."I'll tell
26e70 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 61 you about it la
26e80 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 ter."..Her mind
26e90 72 61 63 65 64 20 69 6e 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 73 raced in circles
26ea0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f . It didn't loo
26eb0 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 k like there was
26ec0 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 any way out of
26ed0 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c this whole probl
26ee0 65 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 em. She had to
26ef0 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 sacrifice someth
26f00 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6d 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 ing..."Damn," sh
26f10 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 e said. "I have
26f20 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 to give all thi
26f30 73 20 73 68 69 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 s shit back to t
26f40 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 he professor. I
26f50 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 have to get out
26f60 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 65 73 73 20 72 69 of this mess ri
26f70 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a ght away. I'm j
26f80 75 73 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 ust going to hav
26f90 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 73 73 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 e to kiss my abi
26fa0 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 lity to pay rent
26fb0 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f goodbye, and go
26fc0 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 move in with my
26fd0 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 mother in the a
26fe0 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 ss end of nowher
26ff0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 e."..The priorit
27000 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 62 65 6c izer said "I bel
27010 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 6d ieve that is a m
27020 69 73 74 61 6b 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f istake.".."What?
27030 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 " Alley looked
27040 75 70 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 up, almost expec
27050 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 ting to see some
27060 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 one there disagr
27070 65 65 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 eeing with her,
27080 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 and immediately
27090 66 65 6c 74 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 2e 20 20 22 felt foolish. "
270a0 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 Why?".."COIN Cor
270b0 70 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 p will probably
270c0 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 already have a f
270d0 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 ile on you right
270e0 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 now to use agai
270f0 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 nst you, if that
27100 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 online discussi
27110 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e on was accurate.
27120 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 It seems point
27130 6c 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f less for them to
27140 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 have come to ta
27150 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 lk to you before
27160 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 compiling infor
27170 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 mation about you
27180 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 75 72 6e . They can turn
27190 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 73 75 70 70 you into a supp
271a0 6f 73 65 64 20 6c 69 6e 6b 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 6d osed link to dom
271b0 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 estic terrorism
271c0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 like they have w
271d0 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 ith others. To
271e0 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 avoid that, you
271f0 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 need to appear t
27200 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f o be of value to
27210 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 73 73 69 the agents assi
27220 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 gned to this cas
27230 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 e.".."How the he
27240 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f ll do I do that?
27250 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f " She looked do
27260 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c wn at her hands,
27270 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 suddenly notici
27280 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 75 72 ng that they hur
27290 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 t. She saw that
272a0 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 72 69 70 70 69 6e she was grippin
272b0 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 g the edge of th
272c0 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c e sink so tightl
272d0 79 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 77 y her knuckles w
272e0 65 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 ere white and he
272f0 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 74 69 70 73 20 66 65 6c r fingertips fel
27300 74 20 62 72 75 69 73 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 t bruised. She
27310 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 started trying t
27320 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 o relax her hand
27330 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 73 s, but somehow s
27340 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f he just could no
27350 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 t will herself t
27360 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 6f 76 69 o do it..."Provi
27370 64 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 6f de them with goo
27380 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 75 74 69 d data on my uti
27390 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 lity as a strate
273a0 67 69 63 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 gic prioritizati
273b0 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 63 68 69 on system. Achi
273c0 65 76 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 73 eving dramatic s
273d0 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 uccess in a shor
273e0 74 20 70 65 72 69 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 t period of time
273f0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f will buy you mo
27400 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 re time to deter
27410 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 mine a longer te
27420 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 6f 69 rm plan for avoi
27430 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e ding becoming on
27440 65 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 27 73 e of COIN Corp's
27450 20 76 69 63 74 69 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 victims. It wi
27460 6c 6c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 ll also give you
27470 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 access to resou
27480 72 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 rces you can use
27490 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 70 61 72 74 to control part
274a0 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 s of the situati
274b0 6f 6e 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 on, rather than
274c0 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e simply being con
274d0 74 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a trolled by it.".
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
27510 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d t they want from
27520 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 the study at th
27530 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 27 6d 20 e same time I'm
27540 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 72 73 65 building an arse
27550 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 nal to make myse
27560 6c 66 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 lf . . . well, a
27570 20 70 6c 61 79 65 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 player, instead
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
275a0 6f 6f 64 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 ood metaphor for
275b0 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 this. You must
275c0 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 have some playi
275d0 6e 67 20 70 69 65 63 65 73 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 ng pieces of you
275e0 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 r own to play th
275f0 65 20 67 61 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 e game.".."Great
27600 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 ," she sad, her
27610 64 72 79 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 dry tone suggest
27620 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 72 65 61 ing nothing grea
27630 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c t about it at al
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
27680 61 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 ape this complet
27690 65 6c 79 2c 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 ely, once I get
276a0 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 to that point, t
276b0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 74 68 69 hough.".."At thi
276c0 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 6d 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 s time, my only
276d0 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 suggestion for t
276e0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 77 6f 75 he long term wou
276f0 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f ld be to positio
27700 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 n yourself well
27710 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 for the company
27720 74 6f 20 72 65 63 72 75 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 to recruit you a
27730 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 61 67 65 s one of its age
27740 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 nts. I am not c
27750 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f onfident that co
27760 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 uld be made cons
27770 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 istent with your
27780 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 ethical princip
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
277e0 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 67 61 72 64 20 79 ke them regard y
277f0 6f 75 20 61 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 ou as a long ter
27800 6d 20 61 73 73 65 74 2c 20 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d m asset, I recom
27810 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 mend you do what
27820 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c you can to full
27830 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 y protect your p
27840 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 rivacy, except f
27850 6f 72 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 or a carefully a
27860 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 6c 65 61 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f llowed leak into
27870 20 6d 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 my logs. This
27880 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 should impress t
27890 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 he agents with y
278a0 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 67 65 6e 75 69 74 79 20 77 69 our ingenuity wi
278b0 74 68 6f 75 74 20 66 72 75 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e thout frustratin
278c0 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2e g them entirely.
278d0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 70 You want to ap
278e0 70 65 61 72 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 20 pear successful
278f0 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 and of similar i
27900 6e 63 6c 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 74 nclinations to t
27910 68 65 6d 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 70 70 hem, without app
27920 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 61 74 20 74 earing to beat t
27930 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 hem. I can help
27940 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 6d 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 77 69 fill my logs wi
27950 74 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 th information t
27960 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 61 74 69 o keep them sati
27970 73 66 69 65 64 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 sfied but protec
27980 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 63 63 75 72 t you from accur
27990 61 74 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 75 72 76 65 ate enough surve
279a0 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 65 illance to disce
279b0 72 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 rn what you are
279c0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a really doing."..
279d0 22 57 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 61 6d "What exactly am
279e0 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f I really doing?
279f0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 " she asked. Sh
27a00 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 e finally manage
27a10 64 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 20 68 65 d to unclench he
27a20 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 r hands from the
27a30 20 73 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 sink, then, and
27a40 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 saw that she ha
27a50 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 d somehow cracke
27a60 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 61 d one of her nea
27a70 74 6c 79 20 74 72 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 6e 61 69 6c tly trimmed nail
27a80 73 2e 20 20 41 20 64 72 6f 70 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 s. A droplet of
27a90 20 62 6c 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 blood had start
27aa0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ed to form on th
27ab0 65 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 e damaged finger
27ac0 6e 61 69 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 77 nail..."First, w
27ad0 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 e should learn s
27ae0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 omething about t
27af0 68 6f 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e hose two agents.
27b00 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 They are your
27b10 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 6e 65 immediate oppone
27b20 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 nts, and we need
27b30 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 to know more ab
27b40 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 out them.".."Yea
27b50 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 h," Alley said.
27b60 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 "Why are you he
27b70 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 lping me instead
27b80 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 61 of them -- or a
27b90 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 74 re you helping t
27ba0 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 hem? Aren't you
27bb0 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 basically their
27bc0 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 project?".."I a
27bd0 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 m designed to he
27be0 6c 70 20 6d 79 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 20 52 69 lp my users. Ri
27bf0 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 ght now, you are
27c00 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 73 65 72 73 one of my users
27c10 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 . The corporati
27c20 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 on is not, becau
27c30 73 65 20 49 20 61 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e se I am still in
27c40 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 61 67 65 a testing stage
27c50 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 .".."Fuck. If y
27c60 6f 75 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 ou turn out to b
27c70 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 e what they want
27c80 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c , you'll probabl
27c90 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 76 65 6e y make them even
27ca0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 more effective
27cb0 61 74 20 73 63 72 65 77 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 at screwing peop
27cc0 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6c 61 72 67 65 le over in large
27cd0 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 numbers so they
27ce0 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 can get bigger
27cf0 43 68 72 69 73 74 6d 61 73 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 65 Christmas bonuse
27d00 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 s.".."That is a
27d10 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 22 20 74 68 possibility," th
27d20 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
27d30 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 id...Alley grabb
27d40 65 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 61 64 68 65 ed a box of adhe
27d50 73 69 76 65 20 62 61 6e 64 61 67 65 73 20 66 72 sive bandages fr
27d60 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 64 69 63 69 6e 65 20 om the medicine
27d70 63 61 62 69 6e 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 cabinet in the b
27d80 61 74 68 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 athroom and sat
27d90 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 on the couch to
27da0 77 72 61 70 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 wrap one around
27db0 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 2e 20 her fingernail.
27dc0 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She opened her
27dd0 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 laptop and looke
27de0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 d at the discuss
27df0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e ion on the darkn
27e00 65 74 20 73 69 74 65 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c et site. "Okay,
27e10 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 61 79 " she said, "may
27e20 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 be I can do this
27e30 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 ."..The process
27e40 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 4d 61 of installing Ma
27e50 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 ximOS turned out
27e60 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 6e to be easier an
27e70 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 68 d faster than sh
27e80 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 20 20 4f 72 67 e expected. Org
27e90 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 anized documenta
27ea0 74 69 6f 6e 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 tion /* that */
27eb0 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 led her through
27ec0 74 68 65 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 the setup proces
27ed0 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 61 s after installa
27ee0 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e tion for the kin
27ef0 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 65 d of computing e
27f00 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 nvironment she w
27f10 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 anted. It inclu
27f20 64 65 64 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 ded suggestions
27f30 66 6f 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 75 73 for different us
27f40 65 72 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f er needs and sho
27f50 72 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e rt, clear explan
27f60 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 65 ations for why e
27f70 61 63 68 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 ach choice exist
27f80 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 68 ed. It helped h
27f90 65 72 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e er get to a poin
27fa0 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 t where the syst
27fb0 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e em was more than
27fc0 20 61 64 65 71 75 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6c 6f 63 6b adequately lock
27fd0 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 ed down for Alle
27fe0 79 27 73 20 6e 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 y's needs, in he
27ff0 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e r own estimation
28000 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a . The prioritiz
28010 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 er concurred...S
28020 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 he quickly found
28030 20 74 68 61 74 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 67 61 that MaximOS ga
28040 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 ve her tools for
28050 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e quickly creatin
28060 67 20 75 73 65 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 g user profiles
28070 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6e in the OpenBSD n
28080 61 74 69 76 65 20 22 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 22 20 6c ative "prison" l
28090 69 67 68 74 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 ightweight conta
280a0 69 6e 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 6b 69 6e iner system, kin
280b0 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 6f 72 d of a more thor
280c0 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 65 64 oughly sandboxed
280d0 20 72 65 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 reimagining of
280e0 74 68 65 20 46 72 65 65 42 53 44 20 22 6a 61 69 the FreeBSD "jai
280f0 6c 22 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 l" system, so th
28100 61 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 79 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 at to any networ
28110 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 k connected comp
28120 75 74 65 72 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 uter each of the
28130 73 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b se profiles look
28140 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 ed like complete
28150 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 73 79 73 ly different sys
28160 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f tems, and she co
28170 75 6c 64 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 20 62 65 74 77 65 uld switch betwe
28180 65 6e 20 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 20 22 63 65 6c 6c 73 en prison "cells
28190 22 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 74 " -- the name it
281a0 20 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 used for config
281b0 75 72 65 64 20 75 73 65 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c ured user profil
281c0 65 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d e environments -
281d0 2d 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 - with a simple
281e0 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20 73 68 6f 72 74 63 75 keyboard shortcu
281f0 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 61 t...She played a
28200 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 round with this
28210 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 68 69 for a little whi
28220 6c 65 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 64 le, getting used
28230 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 to how it worke
28240 64 20 69 6e 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 2c 20 74 d in practice, t
28250 68 65 6e 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 hen wiped all th
28260 65 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 e practice profi
28270 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e les in an instan
28280 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 t. She created
28290 61 20 6e 65 77 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 61 6e a new profile an
282a0 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 63 65 6c d opened its cel
282b0 6c 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 73 l. Within it, s
282c0 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a he used anonymiz
282d0 65 64 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 76 69 ed routing to vi
282e0 73 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 62 73 69 74 65 20 sit the website
282f0 66 6f 72 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6e for COIN Corp an
28300 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e d looked around.
28310 20 20 46 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e Finding nothin
28320 67 20 76 65 72 79 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 68 g very useful th
28330 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e at way, she open
28340 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 65 6c 6c 73 20 77 ed other cells w
28350 69 74 68 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 72 ith different pr
28360 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 ofiles and start
28370 65 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 ed searching for
28380 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 43 references to C
28390 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 6f 6e 20 65 6d 70 6c OIN Corp on empl
283a0 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 70 oyment related p
283b0 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 63 69 rofessional soci
283c0 61 6c 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 69 al networking si
283d0 74 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 tes. On those s
283e0 69 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ites, she starte
283f0 64 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 d finding the ac
28400 63 6f 75 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 counts of COIN C
28410 6f 72 70 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 2e 0a 0a orp employees...
28420 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 Corporate office
28430 72 73 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 61 6e 74 73 2c rs, accountants,
28440 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 64 6d 69 6e 69 73 74 system administ
28450 72 61 74 6f 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 rators, and poli
28460 63 79 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 70 cy agents all ap
28470 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 peared in her se
28480 61 72 63 68 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 arches. She che
28490 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 cked the company
284a0 20 77 65 62 73 69 74 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 website again,
284b0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
284c0 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 69 73 74 69 6e mployment listin
284d0 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 6e gs, and found on
284e0 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 e for policy age
284f0 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 6f nts. It spoke o
28500 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 77 69 f interfacing wi
28510 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2c 20 70 th the public, p
28520 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d erforming inform
28530 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 ation field rese
28540 61 72 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 62 arch, and collab
28550 6f 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 63 orating with loc
28560 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 6c al and federal l
28570 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 aw enforcement a
28580 6d 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 27 73 20 72 mong the job's r
28590 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e esponsibilities.
285a0 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 More important
285b0 6c 79 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 69 74 20 ly, perhaps, it
285c0 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 included a smili
285d0 6e 67 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6c ng model in a bl
285e0 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 ack suit with a
285f0 77 68 69 74 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 62 72 6f 6b white shirt brok
28600 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c en into vertical
28610 20 62 61 72 73 20 62 79 20 74 68 69 6e 20 73 74 bars by thin st
28620 72 69 70 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 72 65 ripes of dark re
28630 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 d...Her searches
28640 20 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 6f 6c 69 focused on poli
28650 63 79 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 cy agents after
28660 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 61 75 6e 63 that. She launc
28670 68 65 64 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f hed a custom pro
28680 67 72 61 6d 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 gram -- which sh
28690 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 70 79 20 6f 76 e had to copy ov
286a0 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 er from her home
286b0 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 62 72 69 63 6b 20 2d 2d backup brick --
286c0 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e she paid someon
286d0 65 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 66 6f e to to write fo
286e0 72 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 r her in the day
286f0 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 73 s of her greates
28700 74 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 66 t success as a f
28710 72 65 65 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 reelance interne
28720 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 t researcher. T
28730 68 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 he program took
28740 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 41 50 49 20 a series of API
28750 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 endpoint address
28760 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 62 20 55 52 4c 73 2c 20 es -- web URLs,
28770 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 addresses that p
28780 72 6f 76 69 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 74 65 rovided formatte
28790 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 d data intended
287a0 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 for other progra
287b0 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 72 61 74 68 ms to read, rath
287c0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e er than providin
287d0 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 61 64 61 62 6c 65 g human readable
287e0 20 77 65 62 70 61 67 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 webpages -- and
287f0 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 searched them f
28800 6f 72 20 64 61 74 61 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 73 20 or data records
28810 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 65 61 that matched sea
28820 72 63 68 20 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 73 68 65 rch criteria she
28830 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 typed into the
28840 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 61 72 61 6d 65 74 65 72 search parameter
28850 73 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 20 20 41 6d 6f 6e 67 s window. Among
28860 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 77 65 the criteria we
28870 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 41 50 49 20 65 6e 64 re those API end
28880 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f points, a list o
28890 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 72 65 73 f employment res
288a0 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e ources on the in
288b0 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 ternet that she
288c0 68 61 64 20 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 61 had used for sea
288d0 72 63 68 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 20 rches on behalf
288e0 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 of clients befor
288f0 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 65 e...She knew the
28900 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 program would t
28910 61 6b 65 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 ake a while to c
28920 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 20 69 74 73 20 72 65 73 75 6c ollect its resul
28930 74 73 2e 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 ts. In an ideal
28940 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 world, it could
28950 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 be done with the
28960 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 41 50 long list of AP
28970 49 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 I endpoints she
28980 67 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 gave it in a cou
28990 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e ple minutes. In
289a0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c the real world,
289b0 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 68 61 64 her program had
289c0 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 6f 75 74 20 72 65 to space out re
289d0 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 quests to avoid
289e0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 getting blocked
289f0 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 73 69 by the target si
28a00 74 65 73 20 61 73 20 61 62 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 tes as abusing b
28a10 61 6e 64 77 69 64 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 andwidth, and it
28a20 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 77 could take anyw
28a30 68 65 72 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 here from twenty
28a40 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 minutes to two
28a50 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 hours. She deci
28a60 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 72 ded to take a br
28a70 65 61 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6e 61 63 6b 2c eak for a snack,
28a80 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 then she went f
28a90 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 or a walk as she
28aa0 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 waited for the
28ab0 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 76 program...The ev
28ac0 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 ent of the last
28ad0 66 65 77 20 64 61 79 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 few days played
28ae0 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 out in her mind
28af0 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 as she walked.
28b00 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 It was more like
28b10 20 61 20 6a 75 6d 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e a jumble of non
28b20 6c 69 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 linearly connect
28b30 65 64 20 62 69 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 69 65 63 ed bits and piec
28b40 65 73 2c 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 es, ordered more
28b50 20 62 79 20 65 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 69 by emotional si
28b60 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 gnificance than
28b70 61 6e 79 20 63 68 72 6f 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 any chronologica
28b80 6c 20 66 6c 61 73 68 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 6e 74 l flashback mont
28b90 61 67 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 age. As she /*
28ba0 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 2a 2f 20 61 70 70 72 6f finally */ appro
28bb0 61 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 ached her front
28bc0 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 door again she d
28bd0 77 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 welled on the qu
28be0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 47 estion of what G
28bf0 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 eorge's friend,
28c00 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 or client, or wh
28c10 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e atever, was doin
28c20 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 g with all those
28c30 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e handgun frames.
28c40 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 She had no ide
28c50 61 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 a how to make th
28c60 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 at fit with Geor
28c70 67 65 27 73 20 63 68 61 72 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 ge's charitable
28c80 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 custom prostheti
28c90 63 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f c fabrication fo
28ca0 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 6c 2e r a little girl.
28cb0 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 Sure, he said
28cc0 74 68 65 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 66 61 74 68 65 the girl's fathe
28cd0 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 20 r would receive
28ce0 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 the guns, but th
28cf0 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 at said nothing
28d00 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 about how anyone
28d10 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 would actually
28d20 75 73 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 61 use those guns a
28d30 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 64 65 fter they got de
28d40 6c 69 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 livered. What w
28d50 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 ould they use th
28d60 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 e guns to accomp
28d70 6c 69 73 68 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 64 65 lish -- or to de
28d80 73 74 72 6f 79 3f 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 6f 72 stroy?..In theor
28d90 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 65 64 y, she supported
28da0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 the right to ke
28db0 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 61 72 20 61 72 6d 73 ep and bear arms
28dc0 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 , even if the fe
28dd0 64 65 72 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 deral government
28de0 20 68 61 64 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 had gotten the
28df0 53 75 70 72 65 6d 65 20 43 6f 75 72 74 20 74 6f Supreme Court to
28e00 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 73 75 63 68 20 62 72 6f 61 offer such broa
28e10 64 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 d exceptions to
28e20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 6d 65 6e 64 the Second Amend
28e30 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 64 ment and loose d
28e40 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 20 efinitions of a
28e50 22 73 74 61 74 65 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 "state of emerge
28e60 6e 63 79 22 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 ncy" that the Se
28e70 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 6d 65 6e 64 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 cond Amendment i
28e80 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 61 73 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 tself was nearly
28e90 20 74 6f 6f 74 68 6c 65 73 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 toothless. Her
28ea0 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 support for the
28eb0 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 idea of the rig
28ec0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 ht to keep and b
28ed0 65 61 72 20 61 72 6d 73 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 ear arms, howeve
28ee0 72 2c 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 r, was not the s
28ef0 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 ame as thinking
28f00 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 it was a good id
28f10 65 61 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 ea for some kind
28f20 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 68 s of people to h
28f30 61 76 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 ave guns. She s
28f40 75 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 uspected that if
28f50 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 75 79 someone was buy
28f60 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 ing illegally as
28f70 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 6d 73 sembled firearms
28f80 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 66 75 6c 20 74 by the bagful t
28f90 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 69 64 hey probably did
28fa0 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 not intend to p
28fb0 75 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 74 6f ut those guns to
28fc0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c a good, ethical
28fd0 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 purpose. Even
28fe0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 70 61 74 68 69 63 20 6d 6f 62 psychopathic mob
28ff0 20 68 69 74 6d 65 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 hitmen could ha
29000 76 65 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 2c 20 64 69 73 61 62 6c ve young, disabl
29010 65 64 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 66 ed daughters, af
29020 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 ter all...She st
29030 6f 6f 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e ood with her han
29040 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 6b 6e 6f d on the doorkno
29050 62 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 b of her front d
29060 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f oor, lost in tho
29070 75 67 68 74 2c 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 62 ught, worried ab
29080 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 out what she had
29090 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 helped facilita
290a0 74 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 te by the act of
290b0 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 purchasing thos
290c0 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 e printed handgu
290d0 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 n frames to rese
290e0 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 47 65 6f 72 67 ll them to Georg
290f0 65 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 e. Did she want
29100 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 to ask him abou
29110 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 t them? She was
29120 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 n't sure whether
29130 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 that was a grea
29140 74 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 0a t idea, either..
29150 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 6c ./*.. It feel
29160 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 s very much like
29170 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 6f this moment sho
29180 75 6c 64 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f uld turn into so
29190 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 me kind of encou
291a0 6e 74 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 nter. here, w
291b0 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 6e 61 70 ith someone snap
291c0 70 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f ping Alley out o
291d0 66 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 76 65 72 69 65 20 62 79 f her reverie by
291e0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e saying somethin
291f0 67 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 48 65 79 2c g. like "Hey,
29200 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 Alley. Did you
29210 20 67 65 74 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 get lost at you
29220 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 r own front door
29230 3f 22 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 0a ?" Some kind of.
29240 20 20 20 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 63 scene must c
29250 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 ommence at that
29260 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 point, of course
29270 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 , in which Alley
29280 20 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 is shown to.
29290 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f know people who
292a0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f like her and co
292b0 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 66 72 69 nsider her a fri
292c0 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f end. Perhaps so
292d0 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 72 65 76 65 6c 61 74 69 6f me. revelatio
292e0 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 ns for the reade
292f0 72 73 20 28 76 69 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 rs (via conversa
29300 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 68 61 72 65 tion about share
29310 64 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 d background.
29320 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 29 20 77 6f 75 6c knowledge) woul
29330 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 73 75 d come out in su
29340 63 68 20 61 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 66 74 ch a scene. Aft
29350 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 er completing th
29360 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 is. encounter
29370 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 , Alley would re
29380 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 73 6b turn to her task
29390 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 20 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 44 s...*/ /*.. D
293a0 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 escribe Alley fi
293b0 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f nding informatio
293c0 6e 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 n on one of the
293d0 74 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 70 65 63 two agents, spec
293e0 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 ifically. the
293f0 20 6d 61 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 73 male, who turns
29400 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 out to wear the
29410 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 name Cole Brewe
29420 72 2e 20 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 72 20 r. Cole Brewer
29430 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 20 20 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 will. turn ou
29440 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 41 t to be an old A
29450 72 6d 79 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 62 75 64 64 rmy veteran budd
29460 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e y of her late un
29470 63 6c 65 27 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 65 72 74 20 73 cle's. Insert s
29480 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 ome. earlier
29490 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d reference to som
294a0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 ething familiar
294b0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 2c about the agent,
294c0 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 68 65 so that now she
294d0 0a 20 20 20 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 . can realize
294e0 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 66 why he seemed f
294f0 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 amiliar. She sh
29500 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 68 69 ould remember hi
29510 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 0a 20 m being a very.
29520 20 20 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f good friend o
29530 66 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 2c 20 61 f her uncle's, a
29540 6e 64 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 69 67 75 nd I should figu
29550 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 re out whether s
29560 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 68 69 6d 0a 20 20 20 he liked him.
29570 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 back in the day
29580 20 6f 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 or thought ther
29590 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 e was something
295a0 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d creepy about him
295b0 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 53 , or what.. S
295c0 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 he should be sur
295d0 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 6f 6c 65 prised that Cole
295e0 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 is now working
295f0 69 6e 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 in a job like th
29600 69 73 2c 20 67 69 76 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 is, given. hi
29610 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 s connection to
29620 68 65 72 20 61 6e 74 69 2d 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 her anti-authori
29630 74 61 72 69 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f tarian uncle who
29640 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 61 went off grid a
29650 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c nd. ultimatel
29660 79 20 64 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b y died in some k
29670 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 72 61 69 64 20 62 79 20 66 ind of raid by f
29680 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 72 ederal agents or
29690 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 6f investigators o
296a0 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 n. his proper
296b0 74 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 61 73 2c 20 71 75 ty which was, qu
296c0 69 74 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 6c 79 2c 20 6e ite decidedly, n
296d0 6f 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 64 65 2e 0a 0a ot up to code...
296e0 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 */.."Jesus," she
296f0 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2f 2a 20 62 said again /* b
29700 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 ecause she will
29710 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 61 probably have sa
29720 69 64 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 22 20 66 61 69 72 6c id "Jesus" fairl
29730 79 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 62 79 20 74 68 y recently by th
29740 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 2a 2f 2e 20 20 22 49 is point */. "I
29750 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 just can't beli
29760 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 eve he ended up
29770 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 working for thes
29780 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 e guys.".."Perha
29790 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 68 ps he was sent h
297a0 65 72 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 79 ere because of y
297b0 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 20 61 63 71 75 61 69 our prior acquai
297c0 6e 74 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6d 69 ntance. That mi
297d0 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 ght be part of t
297e0 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 61 70 heir tactical ap
297f0 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 69 6e proach to dealin
29800 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 g with you, in a
29810 6e 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 64 n attempt to ind
29820 75 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f uce you to be mo
29830 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a re compliant."..
29840 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 77 65 "Maybe. It's we
29850 69 72 64 20 68 65 20 61 63 74 65 64 20 6c 69 6b ird he acted lik
29860 65 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 e he didn't know
29870 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 me, though. If
29880 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 68 nothing else, h
29890 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 e should have re
298a0 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 cognized my name
298b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 6d 61 79 20 70 6c .".."They may pl
298c0 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 73 65 an for you to se
298d0 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 em to recognize
298e0 68 69 6d 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 him first.".."Ye
298f0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2c 22 ah, I guess so,"
29900 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 she said. "He
29910 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 could say someth
29920 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 4f 68 21 20 20 4d ing like "Oh! M
29930 79 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 67 72 y, how you've gr
29940 6f 77 6e 21 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 own! I didn't r
29950 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 48 ecognize you! H
29960 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 27 20 74 68 65 ow are you?' the
29970 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 n turn into the
29980 27 47 6f 6f 64 20 43 6f 70 27 20 6f 66 20 74 68 'Good Cop' of th
29990 65 20 70 61 69 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 e pair and try t
299a0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f o get more out o
299b0 66 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 f me that they c
299c0 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 an then use to h
299d0 61 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 ang me.".."If th
299e0 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 at is the case,
299f0 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 creating the imp
29a00 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 ression that you
29a10 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 would be an ide
29a20 61 6c 20 63 61 6e 64 69 64 61 74 65 20 66 6f 72 al candidate for
29a30 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 74 6f 20 72 65 COIN Corp to re
29a40 63 72 75 69 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 76 65 cruit may be eve
29a50 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 n more important
29a60 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 as a means of e
29a70 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 nsuring you have
29a80 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f some time and o
29a90 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 pportunity to fi
29aa0 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 61 62 6c 65 nd an acceptable
29ab0 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 solution to you
29ac0 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 70 72 65 64 69 63 r present predic
29ad0 61 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 ament.".."Yeah."
29ae0 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 She frowned.
29af0 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 "He was so much
29b00 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 73 like my uncle, s
29b10 6f 20 73 65 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 o set against th
29b20 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 75 72 76 ings like a surv
29b30 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 73 eillance state s
29b40 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 74 68 6f ociety and autho
29b50 72 69 74 61 72 69 61 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 2c 20 74 ritarian rule, t
29b60 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 hat it's kind of
29b70 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c 65 20 74 inconceivable t
29b80 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 hat this is what
29b90 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 he would be doi
29ba0 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 ng now. It does
29bb0 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e n't make any sen
29bc0 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 se. How could h
29bd0 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 65 76 e just become ev
29be0 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 erything he hate
29bf0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 4d 79 d like this? My
29c00 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 67 uncle must be g
29c10 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 72 65 etting pretty re
29c20 73 74 6c 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 72 stless in his gr
29c30 61 76 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a ave over this.".
29c40 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 ."Perhaps he was
29c50 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 not quite the p
29c60 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 erson you believ
29c70 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a ed him to be."..
29c80 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 /* "It's like Pa
29c90 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 69 6e 20 scal's wager in
29ca0 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 reverse, I guess
29cb0 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 72 . Instead of tr
29cc0 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 ying out living
29cd0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 61 6e like a Christian
29ce0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 for a while and
29cf0 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 growing to beli
29d00 65 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 66 eve it, you're f
29d10 6f 72 63 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 69 6e orced into livin
29d20 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 g like a Christi
29d30 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 79 an then giving y
29d40 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 75 ourself the excu
29d50 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 65 6c 69 se to start beli
29d60 65 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 66 74 65 eving in it afte
29d70 72 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f r you're used to
29d80 20 69 74 2e 22 20 3c 2d 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 it." <- This is
29d90 20 61 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 64 65 73 63 a terrible desc
29da0 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 ription of the i
29db0 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 dea of Pascal's
29dc0 77 61 67 65 72 20 22 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 wager "in revers
29dd0 65 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 e", and desperat
29de0 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 ely needs rewrit
29df0 69 6e 67 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 ing. */..She sat
29e00 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b , silently think
29e10 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 ing. "I guess i
29e20 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 t's like Dalton
29e30 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 3a 20 74 68 61 74 20 would say: that
29e40 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 20 giving people a
29e50 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 64 69 reason to act di
29e60 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 fferently, and a
29e70 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e n excuse to thin
29e80 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 k of how they're
29e90 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 acting as good
29ea0 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 65 76 69 6c 2c instead of evil,
29eb0 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 70 65 you can make pe
29ec0 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 77 68 61 74 ople accept what
29ed0 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ever they though
29ee0 74 20 6f 66 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 6c 20 61 73 2c t of as evil as,
29ef0 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e somehow, good n
29f00 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 77 ow. If it's a w
29f10 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ay to get people
29f20 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 6d to justify them
29f30 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 selves, they mig
29f40 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 ht just complete
29f50 6c 79 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 ly reverse their
29f60 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 beliefs about g
29f70 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 69 6c 20 77 69 74 ood and evil wit
29f80 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a hout even realiz
29f90 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 ing it. It's li
29fa0 6b 65 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 67 65 ke Pascal's wage
29fb0 72 20 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 2c 20 62 65 r in reverse, be
29fc0 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 cause the target
29fd0 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 61 73 6b doesn't get ask
29fe0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 6f 75 74 20 61 63 ed to try out ac
29ff0 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 ting a particula
2a000 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 r way to see if
2a010 69 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 68 61 62 it becomes a hab
2a020 69 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 it first, and a
2a030 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 66 belief system af
2a040 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 terward. Instea
2a050 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 67 65 d, the target ge
2a060 74 73 20 73 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ts seduced into
2a070 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 acting in a part
2a080 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f icular way witho
2a090 75 74 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2c ut realizing it,
2a0a0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 74 72 6f then gets intro
2a0b0 64 75 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 duced to excuses
2a0c0 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 for why that's
2a0d0 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 actually the mor
2a0e0 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 al thing to do,
2a0f0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 6c and the person l
2a100 61 74 63 68 65 73 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 atches onto thos
2a110 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 61 73 20 73 74 72 e excuses as str
2a120 6f 6e 67 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 6f 20 61 ong beliefs to a
2a130 76 6f 69 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 void having to c
2a140 6f 6e 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 onfront the idea
2a150 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 they fell into
2a160 69 6d 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 immoral behavior
2a170 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 75 72 74 73 20 70 65 6f 70 that hurts peop
2a180 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 69 6e 73 65 72 74 20 le."../* insert
2a190 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 something about
2a1a0 47 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 Getting George's
2a1b0 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 telephone numbe
2a1c0 72 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 69 63 r */..George pic
2a1d0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 ked up on the th
2a1e0 69 72 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c ird ring. "Hell
2a1f0 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 o?".."It's Alley
2a200 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 67 68 , from last nigh
2a210 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 21 20 20 48 69 2e 20 20 t.".."Oh! Hi.
2a220 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 It's good to hea
2a230 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 69 64 r from you. Did
2a240 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 20 6f everything go o
2a250 6b 61 79 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 77 kay last night w
2a260 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 ith that deliver
2a270 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 y?".."Yeah," she
2a280 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 said..."Good.
2a290 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2f 2a 20 77 68 61 74 So . . . /* what
2a2a0 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f did you want to
2a2b0 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 79 20 say now */ why
2a2c0 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a did you call?"..
2a2d0 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 She hesitated a
2a2e0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 61 moment before sa
2a2f0 79 69 6e 67 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 ying "I wanted t
2a300 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 o ask you about
2a310 79 6f 75 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 your work, or at
2a320 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 least the stuff
2a330 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 I've seen.".."A
2a340 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 re you talking a
2a350 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 bout the prosthe
2a360 74 69 63 20 61 72 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 tic arm, or abou
2a370 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 t the other stuf
2a380 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 f?".."The other
2a390 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c stuff.".."Right,
2a3a0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 " he said. "I w
2a3b0 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d ondered if you m
2a3c0 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 ight ask about t
2a3d0 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 77 65 20 73 hat. Look, we s
2a3e0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20 hould just meet
2a3f0 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 up to talk about
2a400 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f that, instead o
2a410 66 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70 f over the telep
2a420 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f hone. Is that o
2a430 6b 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a kay with you?"..
2a440 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
2a450 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e . "That's fine.
2a460 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 ".."Well, by the
2a470 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 time you could
2a480 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 66 get out here, if
2a490 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 you're still ba
2a4a0 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 ck in San Bernar
2a4b0 64 69 6e 6f 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 49 27 64 dino County, I'd
2a4c0 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c be ready to tal
2a4d0 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 20 63 k to you, or I c
2a4e0 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 ould come to you
2a4f0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f , if you want to
2a500 20 6d 65 65 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 meet closer to
2a510 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 73 home. That's as
2a520 73 75 6d 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 suming you want
2a530 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 to meet right aw
2a540 61 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 ay, this evening
2a550 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 .".."Yeah, tonig
2a560 68 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f ht's good.".."Do
2a570 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 you want to see
2a580 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 if you can get
2a590 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 75 74 20 a Deliv job out
2a5a0 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 this way to make
2a5b0 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 it worth your w
2a5c0 68 69 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 2f hile?".."Sure, /
2a5d0 2a 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e * I can check on
2a5e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f that */ that so
2a5f0 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 unds like a grea
2a600 74 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 t idea. I'll se
2a610 6e 64 20 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 nd a text when I
2a620 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 know how it's g
2a630 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a oing to go."../*
2a640 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 72 "That sounds gr
2a650 65 61 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 20 79 eat. I'll see y
2a660 6f 75 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 ou later." */.."
2a670 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 20 Good. I'll see
2a680 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 65 65 you then.".."See
2a690 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 64 72 you."..After dr
2a6a0 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 73 69 78 20 62 opping off six b
2a6b0 6f 78 65 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 74 oxes of books at
2a6c0 20 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 74 6f 72 a used bookstor
2a6d0 65 20 69 6e 20 4e 65 77 70 6f 72 74 20 42 65 61 e in Newport Bea
2a6e0 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6e ch, she headed n
2a6f0 6f 72 74 68 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e orth into Huntin
2a700 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d gton Beach and m
2a710 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 ade her way to t
2a720 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 he curb in front
2a730 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 68 6f 75 of George's hou
2a740 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 se again. By th
2a750 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 e time she reach
2a760 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 68 65 20 ed his door, he
2a770 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6f 70 65 6e had already open
2a780 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 ed it for her.
2a790 48 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 He must have bee
2a7a0 6e 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 n watching for h
2a7b0 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f er arrival..."Co
2a7c0 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 me on in," he sa
2a7d0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 id, and stepped
2a7e0 61 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f aside before clo
2a7f0 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 sing the door be
2a800 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d hind her...She m
2a810 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 oved into the li
2a820 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 61 20 61 ving room area a
2a830 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 nd resumed her s
2a840 65 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 eat from the nig
2a850 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 47 65 6f 72 ht before. Geor
2a860 67 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f ge shortly sat o
2a870 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 61 69 n the couch agai
2a880 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 n. This time, t
2a890 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 61 72 here were no par
2a8a0 74 73 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 ts or tools on t
2a8b0 68 65 20 63 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e he coffee table.
2a8c0 20 20 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 Where the tray
2a8d0 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 sat the night b
2a8e0 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 efore, now there
2a8f0 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 was only a hard
2a900 63 6f 76 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 cover book...He
2a910 73 61 77 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 saw her looking
2a920 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 47 at the book. "G
2a930 72 65 67 20 45 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 reg Egan," Georg
2a940 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 6f e said. "He's o
2a950 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 ne of my favorit
2a960 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 e authors. It's
2a970 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e science fiction
2a980 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 , the hard stuff
2a990 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 . I guess it's
2a9a0 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 65 73 74 20 64 72 75 67 the hardest drug
2a9b0 20 49 20 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 I use, though s
2a9c0 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 ome people might
2a9d0 20 73 61 79 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 65 61 say alcohol bea
2a9e0 74 73 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 ts it. If so, t
2a9f0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 hough, I think t
2aa00 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 61 70 70 72 hey haven't appr
2aa10 65 63 69 61 74 65 64 20 45 67 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a eciated Egan."..
2aa20 48 65 72 20 61 6d 75 73 65 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 Her amused smile
2aa30 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 broke through b
2aa40 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a efore she realiz
2aa50 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 ed it was coming
2aa60 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 . "I've never r
2aa70 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 2c ead that author,
2aa80 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 " she said..."He
2aa90 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e ll, I don't even
2aaa0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 63 69 20 think most sci
2aab0 69 66 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 if authors have
2aac0 72 65 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 read him these d
2aad0 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ays. It's not l
2aae0 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 64 61 79 73 ike the old days
2aaf0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 67 69 61 6e 74 73 20 6c 69 6b when giants lik
2ab00 65 20 41 73 69 6d 6f 76 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 61 e Asimov and Cla
2ab10 72 6b 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 rke stood at the
2ab20 20 66 6f 72 65 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 forefront of th
2ab30 65 20 67 65 6e 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 e genre. It's g
2ab40 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 66 6f etting harder fo
2ab50 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 66 72 65 73 r me to get fres
2ab60 68 20 66 69 78 65 73 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 h fixes. Everyt
2ab70 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 hing's full of c
2ab80 6c 69 6d 61 74 65 20 61 70 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 limate apocalyps
2ab90 65 73 2c 20 6d 69 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 61 63 74 es, mindless act
2aba0 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 20 77 69 ion thrillers wi
2abb0 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 6f 61 74 20 6f th a thin coat o
2abc0 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f f science fictio
2abd0 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 63 n futuristic tec
2abe0 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 61 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 hnology paint, a
2abf0 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 nd self righteou
2ac00 73 20 70 6f 73 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 61 s posturing by a
2ac10 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b uthors who think
2ac20 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 all the univers
2ac30 65 27 73 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72 69 65 73 20 68 61 e's mysteries ha
2ac40 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 ve been solved,
2ac50 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 leaving only the
2ac60 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e work for the en
2ac70 67 69 6e 65 65 72 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 gineers. It's d
2ac80 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 epressing.".."I
2ac90 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 can tell you're
2aca0 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 70 61 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 74 pretty passionat
2acb0 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a e about this."..
2acc0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 "Yeah, I guess s
2acd0 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 o. What do you
2ace0 72 65 61 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 read, Alley?".."
2acf0 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f Mostly nonfictio
2ad00 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 n, I guess, like
2ad10 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 65 73 2c 20 68 69 biographies, hi
2ad20 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 storical books,
2ad30 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 and things where
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
2ade0 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a w about the subj
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
2aef0 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 49 ead it, unless I
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
2afc0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 t you mean about
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
2b000 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 yway, you shelve
2b010 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 s tell me you re
2b020 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 ad a lot of nonf
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
2b0a0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 74 72 79 omething. I try
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
2b0d0 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 ucational books
2b0e0 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 65 76 65 of some kind eve
2b0f0 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 ry year, usually
2b100 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f hitting three o
2b110 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 6d 61 r four, but I ma
2b120 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 ke up for it on
2b130 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f the years with o
2b140 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 nly one, or none
2b150 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 . I probably av
2b160 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 erage about one
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
2b1e0 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2c e novels a year,
2b1f0 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 but only six or
2b200 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f eight nonfictio
2b210 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 n books in the s
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
2b250 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ead more," he sa
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
2b2b0 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 limit the time I
2b2c0 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 67 6c 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 spend glued to
2b2d0 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 a computer scree
2b2e0 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 n. There are pe
2b2f0 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 ople who read a
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
2b3b0 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 a friend who re
2b3c0 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 ads a lot more,
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
2b4c0 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e litical stuff in
2b4d0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f volved, and I do
2b4e0 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 n't really want
2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 to get into some
2b500 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e kind of argumen
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
2b5b0 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 nks," she said.
2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 "I guess.".."Wh
2b5d0 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 y did your uncle
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
2b6b0 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 67 ided to go off g
2b6c0 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 64 61 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e rid in Idaho, in
2b6d0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e the middle of n
2b6e0 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 74 6f 6f owhere. Dad too
2b6f0 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 k me up to see h
2b700 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 im a couple time
2b710 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 s, and I really
2b720 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 77 enjoyed myself w
2b730 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 ith him, but the
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'
2b770 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e up there. He kn
2b780 65 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 ew some of those
2b790 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 guys, but he wa
2b7a0 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 sn't in any of t
2b7b0 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 67 72 6f heir militia gro
2b7c0 75 70 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 ups. He just wa
2b7d0 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 nted to be left
2b7e0 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 alone..."It was
2b7f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 like they saw hi
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
2b820 77 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 ween raids and t
2b830 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 hought it would
2b840 62 65 20 66 75 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b be fun to attack
2b850 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 his home. They
2b860 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 claimed he fire
2b870 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 d on them when a
2b880 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 n agent came to
2b890 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 his door to ask
2b8a0 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 directions, and
2b8b0 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 they were just d
2b8c0 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c efending themsel
2b8d0 76 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 ves from a milit
2b8e0 69 61 20 6c 75 6e 61 74 69 63 2c 20 69 66 20 79 ia lunatic, if y
2b8f0 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e ou believe that.
2b900 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 He was really
2b910 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c just trying to l
2b920 69 76 65 20 61 20 70 65 61 63 65 66 75 6c 20 6c ive a peaceful l
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
2b950 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 77 t people never w
2b960 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 63 ent."..George sc
2b970 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c owled as she tol
2b980 64 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 74 d her uncle's st
2b990 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 72 65 6d 69 ory, and it remi
2b9a0 6e 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 nded her how int
2b9b0 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 imidating he cou
2b9c0 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 ld be, even hold
2b9d0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 ing an umbrella
2b9e0 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 6e over his head on
2b9f0 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e 79 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 22 a sunny day. "
2ba00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 I guess he was a
2ba10 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 62 79 73 74 61 n innocent bysta
2ba20 6e 64 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 64 61 68 nder in the Idah
2ba30 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 70 75 72 67 65 73 o militia purges
2ba40 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 , then. Those w
2ba50 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 66 6f ere bad times fo
2ba60 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c r a lot of peopl
2ba70 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 e who just wante
2ba80 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 d nothing more t
2ba90 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 han to be left a
2baa0 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 74 72 69 65 lone.".."We trie
2bab0 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 20 77 72 6f 6e d to file a wron
2bac0 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 73 75 69 74 2e gful death suit.
2bad0 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 We got into hi
2bae0 73 20 41 6d 73 74 65 72 64 61 6d 20 56 50 53 20 s Amsterdam VPS
2baf0 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 -- well, Dad did
2bb00 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 , anyway -- and
2bb10 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 found the video
2bb20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 20 backups from my
2bb30 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6e uncle's camera n
2bb40 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 etwork in his ca
2bb50 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 bin, and it show
2bb60 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e ed that the agen
2bb70 74 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 ts just stormed
2bb80 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 in without even
2bb90 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d identifying them
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
2bbd0 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 t?".."It didn't
2bbe0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 happen. While w
2bbf0 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 74 20 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 e were at our la
2bc00 77 79 65 72 27 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 2c 20 74 wyer's office, t
2bc10 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 he FBI got a sea
2bc20 72 63 68 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 62 72 6f rch warrant, bro
2bc30 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 70 6c ke into Dad's pl
2bc40 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 65 76 ace, and took ev
2bc50 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 erything that ev
2bc60 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 en looked like a
2bc70 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 computer. They
2bc80 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 claimed it was
2bc90 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 connected to the
2bca0 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e ir investigation
2bcb0 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 44 s of my uncle, D
2bcc0 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 ad's brother, bu
2bcd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73 t the result was
2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 just that they
2bcf0 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 got our download
2bd00 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 ed video and the
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
2bd70 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 ers, and by the
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
2bda0 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 deo again, so we
2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 could show it t
2bdc0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 74 68 o the lawyer, th
2bdd0 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 ey'd shut down t
2bde0 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 he VPS and press
2bdf0 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 ured the hosting
2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 company into de
2be10 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 75 leting all backu
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
2be40 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 om having what t
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
2be80 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 ase and a lot of
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
2bf00 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 nuing education
2bf10 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 67 68 20 school for high
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
2bf70 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 ng good to say a
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
2bfc0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 just had to mov
2bfd0 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 61 e on. It was ha
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
2c1a0 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 't even bring hi
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
2c1d0 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 her people hate
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
2c340 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 t be completely
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
2c380 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 t him, and you c
2c390 61 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 an decide whethe
2c3a0 72 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 r you want anyth
2c3b0 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 ing more to do w
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
2c4a0 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 ink it's for the
2c4b0 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f best, unless yo
2c4c0 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 u really just re
2c4d0 66 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 20 fuse to hear it
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
2c500 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 at choice, if th
2c510 61 74 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 at's really what
2c520 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 6f 20 you want -- to
2c530 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f hear nothing abo
2c540 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 ut it."..She hes
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
2c5c0 74 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 t of good insigh
2c5d0 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 ts about things
2c5e0 2d 2d 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 2c 20 65 63 6f -- politics, eco
2c5f0 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 63 75 6c 74 75 72 65 2c nomics, culture,
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
2c620 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 r, and just abou
2c630 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 t everything he
2c640 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 20 talked about on
2c650 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 his show and his
2c660 20 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 writings. Afte
2c670 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 r a while, thoug
2c680 68 2c 20 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 h, he seemed to
2c690 73 74 61 72 74 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f start sliding to
2c6a0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 the right a bit
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
2c6d0 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 49 20 the change. I
2c6e0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e still checked in
2c6f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 once in a while
2c700 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 , because he sti
2c710 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6d 61 72 ll had some smar
2c720 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 2c t things to say,
2c730 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f but more and mo
2c740 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 re it seemed to
2c750 62 65 20 73 6b 65 77 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 be skewed in wha
2c760 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 t I might think
2c770 6f 66 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 69 67 of as an alt-rig
2c780 68 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e ht direction, an
2c790 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 d that's not my
2c7a0 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f direction, if yo
2c7b0 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 u know what I me
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
2c7e0 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 I never really
2c7f0 70 61 69 64 20 61 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 paid any attenti
2c800 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c on to when peopl
2c810 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 e talked about y
2c820 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 53 48 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 ou. DSH seemed
2c830 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 to talk around w
2c840 68 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 ho you are when
2c850 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 he did mention y
2c860 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 ou, but never ha
2c870 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 67 61 74 d anything negat
2c880 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 3b 20 49 20 6a 75 ive to say; I ju
2c890 73 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 st didn't really
2c8a0 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 62 care as much ab
2c8b0 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c out his personal
2c8c0 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 73 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 61 life as I did a
2c8d0 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 2c 20 bout his ideas,
2c8e0 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 so you didn't ge
2c8f0 74 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 72 61 64 61 72 2e 20 20 t on my radar.
2c900 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 I do remember, b
2c910 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 67 61 efore I kinda ga
2c920 76 65 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 ve up on listeni
2c930 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 ng to him, that
2c940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e he said somethin
2c950 67 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 g to a listener
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
2c990 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 75 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 was true that y
2c9a0 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 ou had called of
2c9b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 f the engagement
2c9c0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 and moved on wi
2c9d0 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6e th your life, an
2c9e0 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 d that he still
2c9f0 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 respected you de
2ca00 73 70 69 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 spite your diffe
2ca10 72 65 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 77 rences, and he w
2ca20 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6c 69 ould like his li
2ca30 73 74 65 6e 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 65 steners to respe
2ca40 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 ct your desire f
2ca50 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 or privacy and p
2ca60 65 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 eace in your lif
2ca70 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 e, then said tha
2ca80 74 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 t was pretty muc
2ca90 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 h the only thing
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
2cb50 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e nge in direction
2cb60 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 on ideology any
2cb70 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e more interestin
2cb80 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 g to me, so it d
2cb90 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 idn't keep me li
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
2cc60 69 63 61 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6c ical shift. I l
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
2cca0 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 72 67 75 6d e had some argum
2ccb0 65 6e 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ents about it.
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
2cde0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 oment I realized
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
2ce10 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c ome woman actual
2ce20 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 ly started screa
2ce30 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ming at me on th
2ce40 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2c 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e e street, callin
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
2cee0 61 72 2c 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e ar, drove off an
2cef0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f d called in a po
2cf00 6c 69 63 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 62 75 74 lice report, but
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
2cf70 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 was done, George
2cf80 27 73 20 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 's expression to
2cf90 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 2c 20 73 74 ok on a dark, st
2cfa0 6f 72 6d 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 ormy look. "Tha
2cfb0 74 27 73 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 t's terrible. I
2cfc0 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 'm sorry that ha
2cfd0 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a ppened to you.".
2cfe0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 .She shrugged he
2cff0 6c 70 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 lplessly. "What
2d000 20 63 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 can I do? I ju
2d010 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 st decided I was
2d020 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e going to distan
2d030 63 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 ce myself from h
2d040 69 73 20 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e is sphere of con
2d050 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 troversy as much
2d060 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 as I could and
2d070 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 try to wait for
2d080 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 the world to for
2d090 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 get about me. I
2d0a0 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68 t still hasn't h
2d0b0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e appened, though.
2d0c0 20 20 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 I went to what
2d0d0 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 I thought was g
2d0e0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 oing to be a job
2d0f0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 interview, and
2d100 69 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 it turned out th
2d110 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 e only reason th
2d120 65 20 68 69 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 e hiring manager
2d130 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e approved the in
2d140 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 68 terview was so h
2d150 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f e and a couple o
2d160 66 20 68 69 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20 f his underling
2d170 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 developers could
2d180 20 68 65 63 6b 6c 65 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 heckle me when
2d190 49 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 I showed up. Th
2d1a0 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f ey found out abo
2d1b0 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e ut my connection
2d1c0 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 to Dalton when
2d1d0 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f they searched fo
2d1e0 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 r information ab
2d1f0 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 out my name on t
2d200 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 he internet, and
2d210 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 realized they a
2d220 6c 6c 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ll hated me, I g
2d230 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 uess.".."Is that
2d240 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 why you called
2d250 6d 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 me today?" he as
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
2d280 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 ted to talk abou
2d290 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72 t what I do. Ar
2d2a0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f e you looking fo
2d2b0 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 r an opportunity
2d2c0 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 to work with me
2d2d0 3f 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 ? It doesn't ma
2d2e0 74 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 tter to me that
2d2f0 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 you were engaged
2d300 20 74 6f 20 44 53 48 3b 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 to DSH; I take
2d310 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 people as they c
2d320 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f ome. I guess yo
2d330 75 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 u'd want to know
2d340 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 what I'm doing
2d350 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66 before you ask f
2d360 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 or an opportunit
2d370 79 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d y to work with m
2d380 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 e, though.".."Oh
2d390 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 ." She paused a
2d3a0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 moment. "Well
2d3b0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 . . . maybe? I
2d3c0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 wasn't exactly t
2d3d0 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 hinking that, bu
2d3e0 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 t it's an intere
2d3f0 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 sting idea, I gu
2d400 65 73 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 ess. You did of
2d410 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c fer to help me l
2d420 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b earn some new sk
2d430 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 ills if I need i
2d440 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 t, and I guess t
2d450 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6e his might be con
2d460 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 nected to that.
2d470 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72 I was just, err
2d480 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 , concerned abou
2d490 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 62 t what kind of b
2d4a0 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e usiness I got in
2d4b0 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74 to when I sold t
2d4c0 68 6f 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 79 hose frames to y
2d4d0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 ou."..He chuckle
2d4e0 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 d. "Oh, that.
2d4f0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 Yeah, well, I ca
2d500 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 n see why." His
2d510 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e smile faded, an
2d520 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c d she saw a new,
2d530 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 serious look ab
2d540 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 out him. "Tell
2d550 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 me something, be
2d560 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70 fore I answer, p
2d570 6c 65 61 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 lease. A couple
2d580 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75 of things, actu
2d590 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f ally. If you do
2d5a0 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 n't want to answ
2d5b0 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 er, it's fine, b
2d5c0 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 ut then I won't
2d5d0 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 answer your ques
2d5e0 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 tions, about wha
2d5f0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 t I'm doing.".."
2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Okay," she said,
2d610 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70 an uncertain up
2d620 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6e 65 turn in the tone
2d630 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63 of the word tac
2d640 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 ked onto the end
2d650 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 , almost like it
2d660 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e was a question.
2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 .."First, I want
2d680 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f to know when yo
2d690 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61 u think it's oka
2d6a0 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e y to lie.".."Oh.
2d6b0 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 That's an inte
2d6c0 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e resting question
2d6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 .".."Yeah. It i
2d6e0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 s."..She thought
2d6f0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c about it. "Onl
2d700 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 70 y when it's to p
2d710 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 rotect yourself
2d720 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 or someone else
2d730 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 from something t
2d740 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 hat would otherw
2d750 69 73 65 20 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 72 6f ise be done, wro
2d760 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 20 ngly, to you or
2d770 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f that other perso
2d780 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 n.".."Hmm. Can
2d790 77 65 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 we explore that
2d7a0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 a little?".."Sur
2d7b0 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 e, I guess.".."W
2d7c0 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f hat if it's a go
2d7d0 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 vernment employe
2d7e0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 r and you're try
2d7f0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 ing to get acces
2d800 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 74 69 s to bureaucrati
2d810 63 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 62 79 20 67 c resources by g
2d820 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 65 etting a job the
2d830 72 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 re, which you ca
2d840 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 61 n use to help ma
2d850 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 20 62 ke the world a b
2d860 65 74 74 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 etter place by u
2d870 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 sing that knowle
2d880 64 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 67 6f 76 65 dge against gove
2d890 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 rnment?".."It de
2d8a0 70 65 6e 64 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 pends, I guess."
2d8b0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f .."Hmm." He tho
2d8c0 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e ught about that.
2d8d0 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e "What if you n
2d8e0 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 eed to lie to th
2d8f0 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 e police to keep
2d900 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 72 72 65 73 them from arres
2d910 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 ting someone you
2d920 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d care about from
2d930 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 getting thrown
2d940 69 6e 20 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 in prison for de
2d950 63 61 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 cades or even ki
2d960 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 lled when what t
2d970 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 20 6d 61 he person did ma
2d980 79 20 62 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 y be illegal, bu
2d990 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a t isn't wrong?".
2d9a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
2d9b0 64 2c 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 d, "I guess I mi
2d9c0 67 68 74 20 6c 69 65 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 ght lie, unless
2d9d0 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 you work for the
2d9e0 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 police, in whic
2d9f0 68 20 63 61 73 65 20 49 27 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 h case I'd tell
2da00 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 the truth."..He
2da10 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 20 20 laughed aloud.
2da20 22 49 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 "I see what you
2da30 64 69 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 did there."..She
2da40 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 smiled back. "
2da50 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 I thought you mi
2da60 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 ght.".."Okay, I
2da70 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 know that was te
2da80 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 chnically more t
2da90 68 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e han one question
2daa0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 , but now I'm re
2dab0 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 73 ady to ask the s
2dac0 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 econd question I
2dad0 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e mentioned I wan
2dae0 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 ted to ask.".."U
2daf0 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a h . . . okay."..
2db00 22 49 66 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 "If I tell you a
2db10 62 6f 75 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 68 69 bout illegal thi
2db20 6e 67 73 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ngs I'm doing th
2db30 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 at might result
2db40 69 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e in people gettin
2db50 67 20 68 75 72 74 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 65 76 g hurt due to ev
2db60 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 ents beyond my c
2db70 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 ontrol, but to t
2db80 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 he extent of my
2db90 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e knowledge the on
2dba0 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f ly people who wo
2dbb0 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 61 72 65 uld get hurt are
2dbc0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 73 65 people who dese
2dbd0 72 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 rve it and need
2dbe0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 to be stopped fr
2dbf0 6f 6d 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 om hurting many
2dc00 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 2e 20 2e other people . .
2dc10 20 2e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 . will you keep
2dc20 20 69 74 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e it secret, even
2dc30 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 if you don't ev
2dc40 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 er want to be se
2dc50 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 en around me aga
2dc60 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 in, for whatever
2dc70 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 reason?"..She t
2dc80 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c hought about it,
2dc90 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 and he thought
2dca0 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 it looked like s
2dcb0 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 77 he might be chew
2dcc0 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 ing on the insid
2dcd0 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 65 6b 20 61 e of her cheek a
2dce0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 little bit. At
2dcf0 20 6c 61 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 last, she said
2dd00 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 "Yeah, I should
2dd10 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 be able to keep
2dd20 61 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 a secret like th
2dd30 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 at. You should
2dd40 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 know something,
2dd50 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 though, before y
2dd60 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 ou tell me anyth
2dd70 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a ing like that.".
2dd80 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 ."What is it?" h
2dd90 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 e asked..."Some
2dda0 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 kind of Men In B
2ddb0 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f lack, if you kno
2ddc0 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 73 w what I mean, s
2ddd0 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 66 howed up at my f
2dde0 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d ront door this m
2ddf0 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 6d 65 orning to ask me
2de00 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 about some stuf
2de10 66 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 f. It wasn't ab
2de20 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 20 77 61 out you -- it wa
2de30 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 s about me -- bu
2de40 74 20 69 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 65 64 20 6d 65 20 t it creeped me
2de50 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 65 73 the hell out, es
2de60 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 pecially when I
2de70 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 started learning
2de80 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 a little about
2de90 74 68 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f them with some o
2dea0 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 nline research."
2deb0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He stared at h
2dec0 65 72 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 er. "When you s
2ded0 61 79 20 27 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b ay 'men in black
2dee0 27 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c ' . . .".."Yeah,
2def0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d " she said, "I m
2df00 65 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 ean two people,
2df10 62 6f 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 both in their fi
2df20 66 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 fties, I think,
2df30 6f 6e 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 one man and one
2df40 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 woman, showed up
2df50 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 70 at my door in p
2df60 6c 61 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 lain black suits
2df70 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 78 70 that looked exp
2df80 65 6e 73 69 76 65 6c 79 20 74 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 ensively tailore
2df90 64 20 62 75 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 d but otherwise
2dfa0 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 64 65 73 63 72 totally nondescr
2dfb0 69 70 74 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 ipt, with black
2dfc0 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 sunglasses and s
2dfd0 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 76 65 ome kind of gove
2dfe0 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f rnment contracto
2dff0 72 20 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 49 44 20 62 r laminated ID b
2e000 61 64 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 adge. The only
2e010 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 thing that didn'
2e020 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 t look like the
2e030 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 typical Men In B
2e040 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 74 65 72 65 6f 74 79 70 65 20 lack stereotype
2e050 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 is that there we
2e060 72 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 re deep red stri
2e070 70 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 pes on their shi
2e080 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 rts."..George sa
2e090 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 t back, and his
2e0a0 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 tone of voice dr
2e0b0 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 20 20 22 56 65 72 74 69 63 61 opped. "Vertica
2e0c0 6c 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 l stripes.".."Uh
2e0d0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 . . . yeah. Wh
2e0e0 65 6e 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 en I did some re
2e0f0 73 65 61 72 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 75 72 search, they tur
2e100 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 43 4f ned out to be CO
2e110 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 IN Corp employee
2e120 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e s.".."Yeah, I kn
2e130 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 ow about them.
2e140 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 They're bad news
2e150 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 .".."Fuck." She
2e160 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 looked down at
2e170 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 her hands. "Rea
2e180 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a lly?".."Yeah."..
2e190 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d "That's pretty m
2e1a0 75 63 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 uch what I thoug
2e1b0 68 74 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 ht, after what I
2e1c0 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d read about them
2e1d0 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 . I guess they
2e1e0 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 sometimes just b
2e1f0 75 69 6c 64 20 62 75 6c 6c 73 68 69 74 20 63 61 uild bullshit ca
2e200 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 ses against peop
2e210 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 le as an excuse
2e220 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 to make them dis
2e230 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 appear and get s
2e240 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 ome kind of cont
2e250 72 61 63 74 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f ract bonus or so
2e260 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
2e270 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 t, and don't hav
2e280 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 e to worry about
2e290 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 the evidence be
2e2a0 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 69 6d 73 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 ing flimsy becau
2e2b0 73 65 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 65 73 se it never goes
2e2c0 20 74 6f 20 74 72 69 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f to trial."..Geo
2e2d0 72 67 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 65 6d rge nodded solem
2e2e0 6e 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 nly. "Yeah, tha
2e2f0 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 t happens. You
2e300 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 know, if they de
2e310 63 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 cide to take you
2e320 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 in to pad their
2e330 20 72 c3 a9 73 75 6d c3 a9 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 r..sum..s, they
2e340 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 're probably goi
2e350 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 6f 67 61 74 ng to interrogat
2e360 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 e you until they
2e370 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 get you to say
2e380 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 something about
2e390 6d 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 me, even if they
2e3a0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 don't know you
2e3b0 6d 65 74 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 61 met up with me a
2e3c0 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 t all, just beca
2e3d0 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 64 69 67 20 use they'll dig
2e3e0 69 6e 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 into everything
2e3f0 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e you've been doin
2e400 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 g for the last f
2e410 65 77 20 77 65 65 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ew weeks."..She
2e420 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2c remained silent,
2e430 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 looking at her
2e440 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 hands..."I'll te
2e450 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f ll you what I do
2e460 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f on one conditio
2e470 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d n.".."You want m
2e480 65 20 74 6f 20 73 77 65 61 72 20 49 20 77 6f 6e e to swear I won
2e490 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 6f 66 't tell them, of
2e4a0 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 77 65 61 course. I swea
2e4b0 72 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 r I'll try, but
2e4c0 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 it's not like I
2e4d0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 49 20 know how well I
2e4e0 63 61 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 can hold up to t
2e4f0 6f 72 74 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f orture."..He sho
2e500 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok his head. "N
2e510 6f 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 o, I know that's
2e520 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 20 79 not a promise y
2e530 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 ou can really ma
2e540 6b 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 ke, or at least
2e550 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 that I can expec
2e560 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 2c 20 6e t you to keep, n
2e570 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 o matter how muc
2e580 68 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 h you want to ke
2e590 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e ep it. The thin
2e5a0 67 20 69 73 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 g is, I want to
2e5b0 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 keep you out of
2e5c0 74 68 65 69 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 their hands, for
2e5d0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 61 6b 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 your sake, but
2e5e0 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e mine too.".."Oh.
2e5f0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 " She looked at
2e600 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c him, curiously,
2e610 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 and he could se
2e620 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 e the fear in he
2e630 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 r eyes..."I'll t
2e640 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 ell you what I d
2e650 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 o if you let me
2e660 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 help you avoid g
2e670 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 61 75 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 etting hauled of
2e680 66 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 f by them, take
2e690 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 20 73 65 72 69 this threat seri
2e6a0 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 ously, and do ev
2e6b0 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e erything you can
2e6c0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 to protect your
2e6d0 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 self from them."
2e6e0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 .."You want to h
2e6f0 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 elp me.".."Yes,
2e700 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 I do."..She thou
2e710 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 ght about it. "
2e720 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Yeah," she said,
2e730 20 22 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f "of course. Yo
2e740 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 u don't want the
2e750 6d 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 m coming after y
2e760 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 2c 20 ou.".."I don't,
2e770 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c but that's reall
2e780 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 72 y not the main r
2e790 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 64 69 64 eason. If I did
2e7a0 6e 27 74 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 n't care about h
2e7b0 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 elping you for y
2e7c0 6f 75 72 20 73 61 6b 65 2c 20 49 27 64 20 6a 75 our sake, I'd ju
2e7d0 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f st keep an eye o
2e7e0 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 n things, and wa
2e7f0 69 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 it to see what h
2e800 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 appens. If they
2e810 20 73 63 6f 6f 70 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c scooped you up,
2e820 20 49 27 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 I'd know it was
2e830 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f just a matter o
2e840 66 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 64 20 f time, and I'd
2e850 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 be ready to disa
2e860 70 70 65 61 72 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 68 65 6c ppear. If I hel
2e870 70 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 p you, though, t
2e880 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 hat's going to b
2e890 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 e a lot more wor
2e8a0 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 6d 65 k, and expose me
2e8b0 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2c to more danger,
2e8c0 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 and even if it
2e8d0 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 2d 2d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 works -- even if
2e8e0 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 I can help you
2e8f0 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 2d 2d 20 49 27 6c 6c get away -- I'll
2e900 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 still probably
2e910 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 20 75 70 20 have to pack up
2e920 61 6e 64 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 73 and disappear, s
2e930 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 68 6f o I'm really cho
2e940 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 70 osing the hard p
2e950 61 74 68 20 62 79 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 ath by offering
2e960 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to help you.".."
2e970 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 Why are you offe
2e980 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ring, then?"..He
2e990 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 looked toward t
2e9a0 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 70 65 he window, or pe
2e9b0 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 rhaps at somethi
2e9c0 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 ng that wasn't t
2e9d0 68 65 72 65 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 6e 73 69 here except insi
2e9e0 64 65 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e de his own mind.
2e9f0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 "It's the righ
2ea00 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 t thing to do,"
2ea10 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 he said...The si
2ea20 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 lence stretched
2ea30 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 as she looked at
2ea40 20 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 his profile, th
2ea50 65 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 73 65 74 e determined set
2ea60 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 77 2c 20 74 68 65 of his jaw, the
2ea70 20 68 61 72 64 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 hardness of his
2ea80 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d eyes, and the m
2ea90 69 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 69 6e iles of hardenin
2eaa0 67 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 g experience tha
2eab0 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 t seemed to lie
2eac0 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 72 69 6e 6b behind his wrink
2ead0 6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 65 79 20 68 61 69 les and grey hai
2eae0 72 73 2e 20 20 54 65 78 74 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c rs. Text scroll
2eaf0 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 ed across her fi
2eb00 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2c 20 74 68 65 eld of view, the
2eb10 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 prioritizer say
2eb20 69 6e 67 20 22 49 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f ing "I advise yo
2eb30 75 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 u to take his of
2eb40 66 65 72 2e 20 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 fer. I believe
2eb50 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f he has connectio
2eb60 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 ns that can help
2eb70 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 you.".."I'm sor
2eb80 72 79 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 ry to impose on
2eb90 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 65 you like this, e
2eba0 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 ven if I had no
2ebb0 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e idea it was goin
2ebc0 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 g to come to thi
2ebd0 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 73 s." She met his
2ebe0 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 6c 6f eyes when he lo
2ebf0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 oked at her. "I
2ec00 27 6c 6c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 'll take your he
2ec10 6c 70 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 lp, though."..He
2ec20 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 nodded. "I'll
2ec30 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 tell you that pa
2ec40 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2c rt of what I do,
2ec50 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 and part of the
2ec60 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 reason I needed
2ec70 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 69 those frames, i
2ec80 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 s because I supp
2ec90 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 ly people who ma
2eca0 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 ke it their job
2ecb0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b to do things lik
2ecc0 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e e help people in
2ecd0 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 situations like
2ece0 20 79 6f 75 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 4f 49 4e yours with COIN
2ecf0 20 43 6f 72 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e Corp right now.
2ed00 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6b 69 64 64 69 ".."You're kiddi
2ed10 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 ng."..He shook h
2ed20 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 is head. "No, I
2ed30 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 'm not kidding."
2ed40 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 ..She looked dow
2ed50 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 n at her hands a
2ed60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 s she mentally d
2ed70 69 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 igested that for
2ed80 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 47 65 a while, and Ge
2ed90 6f 72 67 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 77 61 74 orge quietly wat
2eda0 63 68 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6c ched until she l
2edb0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 ooked up at him
2edc0 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 again. "How is
2edd0 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 3f 20 20 54 68 61 that a job? Tha
2ede0 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d t doesn't even m
2edf0 61 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 ake sense."..He
2ee00 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 smiled. "That's
2ee10 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 not their whole
2ee20 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 job, but it's s
2ee30 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f omething they do
2ee40 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 . They do thing
2ee50 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 s that lie outsi
2ee60 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 de the bounds of
2ee70 20 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 strict legality
2ee80 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 , I guess, and t
2ee90 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 hey're dangerous
2eea0 20 6a 6f 62 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 jobs. If they
2eeb0 73 63 72 65 77 20 75 70 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 screw up, people
2eec0 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 67 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 2c might get hurt,
2eed0 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f so they have to
2eee0 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 be ready for th
2eef0 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f at..."They're no
2ef00 74 20 61 20 63 68 61 72 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 t a charity. Th
2ef10 65 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 64 6f ey make money do
2ef20 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f ing what they do
2ef30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 , and not everyt
2ef40 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 69 73 20 hing they do is
2ef50 68 65 72 6f 69 63 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 heroic, but the
2ef60 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 people I'm talki
2ef70 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 ng about have st
2ef80 61 6e 64 61 72 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 andards for what
2ef90 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 they're willing
2efa0 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 6c 6c to do. They'll
2efb0 20 68 65 6c 70 20 62 61 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 help bad people
2efc0 20 77 68 6f 27 72 65 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 who're hurting
2efd0 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 each other, but
2efe0 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 not bad people w
2eff0 68 6f 27 72 65 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 67 6f ho're hurting go
2f000 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 od people, for i
2f010 6e 73 74 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 nstance. Someti
2f020 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 mes, a couple of
2f030 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 them do somethi
2f040 6e 67 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 ng just because
2f050 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 they think it's
2f060 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the right thing
2f070 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c to do, but usual
2f080 6c 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e ly they need mon
2f090 65 79 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 ey, especially i
2f0a0 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 f they think it'
2f0b0 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 61 ll get really da
2f0c0 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 ngerous..."I've
2f0d0 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 seen a couple of
2f0e0 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 65 these people he
2f0f0 6c 70 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 65 73 63 61 70 lp a woman escap
2f100 65 20 61 6e 20 61 62 75 73 69 76 65 20 68 75 73 e an abusive hus
2f110 62 61 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 band who happene
2f120 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 69 6f 72 d to be a senior
2f130 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 64 69 73 74 72 assistant distr
2f140 69 63 74 20 61 74 74 6f 72 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e ict attorney, an
2f150 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 d when she tried
2f160 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 65 to pay them the
2f170 79 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 y told her to ke
2f180 65 70 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 ep it, but that'
2f190 73 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 72 61 72 65 20 s a pretty rare
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
2f1c0 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 2d talking about -
2f1d0 2d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 - because they w
2f1e0 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c ork together a l
2f1f0 6f 74 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ot -- just won't
2f200 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 do jobs where t
2f210 68 65 69 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 63 61 6e heir clients can
2f220 27 74 20 70 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 't pay no matter
2f230 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e how much someon
2f240 65 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 e thinks it's a
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
2f290 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 technically doi
2f2a0 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c ng something ill
2f2b0 65 67 61 6c 20 62 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 egal by selling
2f2c0 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 parts to someone
2f2d0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 ," she said..."T
2f2e0 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 hat's right," he
2f2f0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 said, "but ever
2f300 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d yone's doing som
2f310 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 73 ething illegal s
2f320 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 ometimes, and it
2f330 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 's not like some
2f340 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 75 73 65 one couldn't use
2f350 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 the law to dest
2f360 72 6f 79 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 roy me for doing
2f370 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 this kind of th
2f380 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 ing.".."Why are
2f390 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 you telling me a
2f3a0 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 6e 27 ll this? Doesn'
2f3b0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 t that put you i
2f3c0 6e 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 n danger?"..He s
2f3d0 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 64 6f hrugged. "It do
2f3e0 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 es, but I'm read
2f3f0 79 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 y to disappear i
2f400 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 f I have to. I
2f410 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f did it once befo
2f420 72 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 re. Anyway, I t
2f430 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e hink you're goin
2f440 67 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 g to need the ki
2f450 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d nd of people I'm
2f460 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 talking about s
2f470 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 oon. COIN Corp
2f480 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 6f has been a serio
2f490 75 73 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 us problem for a
2f4a0 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 lot of people s
2f4b0 69 6e 63 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 66 66 69 ince it was offi
2f4c0 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 66 cially founded f
2f4d0 6f 75 72 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 our years ago.
2f4e0 49 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 It just appeared
2f4f0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2c out of nowhere,
2f500 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 75 73 20 and some of us
2f510 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 think it was a r
2f520 65 74 69 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 etirement plan f
2f530 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 or someone who w
2f540 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4e 53 41 orked in the NSA
2f550 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 . In that short
2f560 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65 a time, it deve
2f570 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 72 loped a strong r
2f580 65 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d eputation in som
2f590 65 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 e circles for us
2f5a0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 6f ing the excuse o
2f5b0 66 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 f fighting domes
2f5c0 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 74 6f tic terrorism to
2f5d0 20 67 65 74 20 62 69 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 get big contrac
2f5e0 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 ts from the fede
2f5f0 72 61 6c 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 ral agencies of
2f600 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 the US Intellige
2f610 6e 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e nce Community an
2f620 64 20 70 69 6e 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 d pin a bunch of
2f630 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 manufactured sp
2f640 65 63 75 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 27 65 76 69 64 65 eculative 'evide
2f650 6e 63 65 27 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 nce' on innocent
2f660 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 people to line
2f670 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 27 73 20 70 6f the founder's po
2f680 63 6b 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 43 4f 49 4e ckets..."If COIN
2f690 20 68 61 73 20 69 74 73 20 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 has its sights
2f6a0 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 on you, things a
2f6b0 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 ren't going to g
2f6c0 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 o well. They sa
2f6d0 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 y that if you ca
2f6e0 6e 27 74 20 62 65 61 74 20 27 65 6d 20 79 6f 75 n't beat 'em you
2f6f0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 27 65 6d should join 'em
2f700 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e , and this is on
2f710 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 e of those thing
2f720 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e s where almost n
2f730 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 obody has any ch
2f740 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ance of beating
2f750 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 them, but there'
2f760 73 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e s a third option
2f770 3a 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 : get help, and
2f780 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 72 get away. I'd r
2f790 61 74 68 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 ather see you ta
2f7a0 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 ke that option t
2f7b0 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 han the other tw
2f7c0 6f 20 2d 2d 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 o -- losing, or
2f7d0 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 joining..."There
2f7e0 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 's always the ot
2f7f0 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c her possibility,
2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 that they won't
2f810 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f try to frame yo
2f820 75 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 u up as connecte
2f830 64 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c d to terrorists,
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
2f860 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69 ting around, wai
2f870 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 ting, and maybe
2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ending up disapp
2f890 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 earing, because
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
2f900 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ady to run, but
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
2f940 27 74 20 72 75 6e 20 69 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 't run if nothin
2f950 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 g happens. Righ
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
2f9a0 67 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e g to give you an
2f9b0 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c y warning at all
2f9c0 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 , if they can he
2f9d0 6c 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 lp it. The fact
2f9e0 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 they came to ta
2f9f0 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c lk to you at all
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
2fa80 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73 bably be you dis
2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 appearing, thoug
2faa0 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 h. If that happ
2fab0 65 6e 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 ens, I'm not goi
2fac0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e ng to wait aroun
2fad0 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 d to see if they
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
2fb10 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 tead of waiting
2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 around to see if
2fb30 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 they'll make me
2fb40 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 disappear befor
2fb50 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 e I get around t
2fb60 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 o it.".."Okay.
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
2fba0 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 o have to think
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
2fbd0 75 6c 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 uld think pretty
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
2fc10 76 6f 69 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 void doing anyth
2fc20 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 ing that might c
2fc30 61 74 63 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e atch their atten
2fc40 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f tion, and stay o
2fc50 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 ut of trouble.
2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d Try to keep them
2fc70 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 happy without g
2fc80 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68 iving them anyth
2fc90 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e ing to use again
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
2fcd0 61 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f ast about how yo
2fce0 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 u want to handle
2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 it, because you
2fd00 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 don't know how
2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 much time you ha
2fd20 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 ve to make that
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
2fd50 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20 is one is huge.
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
2fe10 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66 ple of books off
2fe20 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 his shelves, th
2fe30 65 6e 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 en went to the c
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
2fe60 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 em out to her.
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
2fe90 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 u have time."..S
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
2fec0 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 them. One was t
2fed0 69 74 6c 65 64 20 2a 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 itled *An Agoris
2fee0 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 t Primer*. The
2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 other was *Under
2ff00 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20 ground OpSec*.
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
2ff40 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65 ng them back, he
2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 went back to hi
2ff60 73 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 s couch and sat
2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 down. "Agorism
2ff80 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d is kind of a com
2ff90 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61 bination of idea
2ffa0 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 l and strategy.
2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 The ideal is li
2ffc0 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 ving outside of
2ffd0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f the control of o
2ffe0 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 thers, and the s
2fff0 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 trategy is using
30000 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f that to bring o
30010 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f ther people into
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
30050 68 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 he better a litt
30060 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 le at a time. T
30070 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 he guy who wrote
30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f the agorism boo
30090 6b 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 k basically thou
300a0 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61 ght of this as a
300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 way to starve t
300c0 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 he government of
300d0 20 69 74 73 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 its source of p
300e0 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 ower and eventua
300f0 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 lly bring it dow
30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 n, basically tur
30110 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d ning the black m
30120 61 72 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c arket into a pol
30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f itical revolutio
30140 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 n, but I don't t
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
301a0 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f s to be more abo
301b0 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 ut just building
301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 communities tha
301d0 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f t work outside o
301e0 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 f the state, and
301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b choosing to mak
30200 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 75 e your life abou
30210 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 t that part of s
30220 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 ociety as much a
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
30290 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 ther they know a
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,
302f0 20 61 6e 64 20 65 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 and escaping th
30300 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73 eir ability to s
30310 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 64 ee what you're d
30320 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 oing so you can
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
30370 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e ow the legal lin
30380 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 e, and some of i
30390 74 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 t is about how t
303a0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61 o get across tha
303b0 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 t line if you we
303c0 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 re trying to liv
303d0 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 e above it, but
303e0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 have to run. Th
303f0 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 e underground it
30400 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 's talking about
30410 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 is a criminal c
30420 6c 61 73 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70 lass who don't p
30430 72 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f rey on other peo
30440 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 ple any more tha
30450 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 n people who are
30460 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 legal -- just p
30470 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 eople who choose
30480 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 to live outside
30490 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 the law, or are
304a0 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f forced to do so
304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 , for reasons ot
304c0 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 66 74 20 61 her than theft a
304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 nd murder, such
304e0 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 as someone who w
304f0 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c ants to make a l
30500 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 70 61 iving without pa
30510 79 69 6e 67 20 74 61 78 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 ying taxes to pa
30520 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61 y for foreign wa
30530 72 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 rs, or fighting
30540 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e against a tyrann
30550 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c ical government,
30560 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 or just being b
30570 69 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 isexual in some
30580 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 parts of the Mid
30590 64 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e dle East.".."Oh.
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
305d0 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 k of the OpSec b
305e0 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ook as being abo
305f0 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 ut how to avoid
30600 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 getting thrown i
30610 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 nto a dark hole
30620 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 by COIN, and the
30630 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 agorism book as
30640 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 being about why
30650 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 64 they're the bad
30660 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 guys, and the p
30670 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70 eople who'd help
30680 20 79 6f 75 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 you escape are
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
306b0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 ind of anarchist
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
306e0 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 taryist, maybe,
306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d like an anarcho-
30700 63 61 70 69 74 61 6c 69 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 capitalist in th
30710 65 20 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62 e style of DSH b
30720 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 efore he started
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
30780 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 s beginning to g
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
30820 73 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 sider yourself a
30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f voluntaryist, o
30840 72 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 r anarchist, or
30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
30860 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f hat, though. Do
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
30890 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 t do you conside
308a0 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 r yourself?"..Sh
308b0 65 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 e surprised hers
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
30920 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d ave more in comm
30930 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 on with a volunt
30940 61 72 79 69 73 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 aryist than you
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
30990 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 hough I guess th
309a0 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 72 e line can be pr
309b0 65 74 74 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b etty thin.".."Ok
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
30a10 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 l give it a shot
30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d . I'll get them
30a30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 back to you whe
30a40 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e n I'm done.".."N
30a50 6f 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 o, just keep the
30a60 6d 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 m," he said. "I
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
30a90 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 them on to some
30aa0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 one who needs th
30ab0 65 6d 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 em at some point
30ac0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , if you don't w
30ad0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d ant to keep them
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,
30b20 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 " she said. "Wh
30b30 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b at are you think
30b40 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e ing?".."I'm thin
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
30b70 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 ome to join me.
30b80 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I was going to
30b90 63 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 cook up some pas
30ba0 74 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ta."..She nodded
30bb0 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 . "That sounds
30bc0 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 good.".."It'll g
30bd0 69 76 65 20 75 73 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 ive us a few mor
30be0 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e e minutes to han
30bf0 67 20 6f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 g out without ta
30c00 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 lking about anyt
30c10 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 hing so serious
30c20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f before you go ho
30c30 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 me and think the
30c40 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61 hard thoughts a
30c50 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 bout what you're
30c60 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 going to do."
30c70 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 He got up and st
30c80 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 arted toward the
30c90 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e kitchen..."Than
30ca0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ks."../*..George
30cb0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f really needs to
30cc0 20 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e be less ignoran
30cd0 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c t of the possibl
30ce0 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c e dangers of All
30cf0 65 79 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e ey's AR glasses.
30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 He knows this
30d10 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 65 78 69 73 74 technology exist
30d20 73 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 s. He's not jus
30d30 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 74 68 t going to blith
30d40 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e ely go on talkin
30d50 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 g about a bunch
30d60 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 of insane stuff
30d70 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 without noticing
30d80 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 there's some da
30d90 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 nger of it getti
30da0 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f ng out because o
30db0 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 f the technology
30dc0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72 people carry ar
30dd0 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a ound with them..
30de0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 .*/../*..This mi
30df0 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 47 65 6f ght be where Geo
30e00 72 67 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 73 6f 6d rge provides som
30e10 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c e backup for All
30e20 65 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20 ey as she picks
30e30 75 70 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 up a Deliv job,
30e40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
30e50 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c e that...*/..All
30e60 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 ey looked at the
30e70 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 cover of the fi
30e80 72 73 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 rst book George
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
30ee0 64 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 62 61 63 6b 20 62 69 6e de paperback bin
30ef0 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 ding with only a
30f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e black border an
30f10 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 65 78 74 20 6f 6e 20 d black text on
30f20 61 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61 a stark white ba
30f30 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 ckground. It ha
30f40 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 6f d the look of so
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
30f80 68 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 hered to really
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
310b0 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 69 74 6c 65 20 70 61 67 65 2c nts, title page,
310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 publishing or c
310d0 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 73 opyright page, s
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
31140 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 lowing page was
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
31170 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 75 62 73 65 71 75 uction. Subsequ
31180 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 ent to that was
31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 chapter one of t
311a0 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 he book, getting
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
31200 72 73 74 20 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 62 65 67 61 rst chapter bega
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
313e0 6f 6b 27 73 20 69 6e 64 65 78 2e 20 20 41 74 20 ok's index. At
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
31410 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20 6d 61 meant however ma
31420 6e 79 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 ny pages of inde
31430 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 x it had could b
31440 65 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f e subtracted fro
31450 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 m the already mi
31460 6e 75 73 63 75 6c 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f nuscule length o
31470 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 27 73 20 63 6f 6e f the book's con
31480 74 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 tent...The prior
31490 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 69 itizer said "Thi
314a0 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 s is a very shor
314b0 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c t book.".."Yeah,
314c0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 " Alley said. S
314d0 68 65 20 72 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 he ran her finge
314e0 72 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 69 rs down the disi
314f0 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 70 69 6e 65 ntegrating spine
31500 2c 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 , held together
31510 62 79 20 6f 66 66 2d 77 68 69 74 65 20 63 6c 6f by off-white clo
31520 74 68 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e th tape. Someon
31530 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 6f 6e e had written on
31540 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 the tape with a
31550 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 3a 0a 0a black marker:..
31560 22 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d "An Agorist Prim
31570 65 72 2c 20 62 79 20 53 45 4b 33 22 0a 0a 54 68 er, by SEK3"..Th
31580 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 68 61 64 20 6f 62 76 69 is book had obvi
31590 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 ously received a
315a0 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 65 lot of love, be
315b0 65 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 en thumbed throu
315c0 67 68 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 gh many times.
315d0 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 The corners, she
315e0 20 73 61 77 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f saw, were yello
315f0 77 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 66 74 65 6e 65 64 wed and softened
31600 20 62 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 by time, and ha
31610 64 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 62 65 65 6e d obviously been
31620 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 65 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 slowly delamina
31630 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 72 73 2e 0a ting for years..
31640 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
31650 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e spoke up again.
31660 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f "Reading it wo
31670 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f uld be a very lo
31680 77 20 63 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e w cost investmen
31690 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 t of your time.
316a0 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 Do you read mor
316b0 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 e quickly than y
316c0 6f 75 20 73 70 65 61 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ou speak?"..Alle
316d0 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 y thought about
316e0 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 what the priorit
316f0 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 izer asked. "Ye
31700 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 ah, I do. I gue
31710 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70 ss I should stop
31720 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 64 67 69 literally judgi
31730 6e 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 62 79 20 69 74 73 ng a book by its
31740 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 cover and start
31750 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 reading.".."Tha
31760 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c t is what I woul
31770 64 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 d recommend. Ma
31780 79 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 y I read it with
31790 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f you?"..Alley lo
317a0 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 oked up from the
317b0 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 61 74 20 74 worn book, at t
317c0 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 66 he wall across f
317d0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 20 rom her. "Read
317e0 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e it with me . . .
317f0 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 6e ?".."I only wan
31800 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 t you to wear th
31810 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 e glasses with t
31820 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 61 63 74 69 76 he cameras activ
31830 65 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 e so I may read
31840 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 as you hold the
31850 62 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 book open to rea
31860 64 20 69 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 d it yourself.
31870 49 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 I effectively re
31880 61 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 ad faster than a
31890 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 ny human, except
318a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 72 65 61 64 some speed read
318b0 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 ing record holde
318c0 72 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 rs, so it should
318d0 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e not inconvenien
318e0 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 ce you beyond th
318f0 65 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 e request to wea
31900 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a r the glasses.".
31910 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 ."Uh, yeah, sure
31920 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 ," she said..."T
31930 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 hank you."..She
31940 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 shrugged and ope
31950 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 41 ned the book. A
31960 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6d pparently, a com
31970 70 75 74 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 77 61 puter program wa
31980 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 nted to read the
31990 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 book, too. It
319a0 6d 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 must seem like a
319b0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 good place to g
319c0 65 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f et prioritizatio
319d0 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 n strategy or ju
319e0 64 67 65 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 64 20 dge her desired
319f0 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 goals, or someth
31a00 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a ing like that...
31a10 54 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e The introduction
31a20 20 62 65 67 61 6e 3a 0a 0a 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 began:.."Agoris
31a30 6d 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 m can be defined
31a40 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 3a 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 74 simply: it is t
31a50 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 69 6f hought and actio
31a60 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 n consistent wit
31a70 68 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 h freedom. The
31a80 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 moment one deals
31a90 20 77 69 74 68 20 27 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 27 with 'thinking'
31aa0 2c 20 27 61 63 74 69 6e 67 27 2c 20 27 63 6f 6e , 'acting', 'con
31ab0 73 69 73 74 65 6e 63 79 27 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 sistency', and e
31ac0 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 27 66 72 65 65 64 specially 'freed
31ad0 6f 6d 27 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 65 74 20 om', things get
31ae0 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f more and more co
31af0 6d 70 6c 65 78 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 77 65 6e 74 mplex."..It went
31b00 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 73 73 65 72 74 20 61 20 on to assert a
31b10 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 74 69 66 sort of scientif
31b20 69 63 20 62 61 73 69 73 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 6e ic basis, a conn
31b30 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 ection to the id
31b40 65 61 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 62 65 72 74 61 72 69 61 ea of libertaria
31b50 6e 69 73 6d 20 22 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 nism "consistent
31b60 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 ly and without t
31b70 68 65 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e he practical con
31b80 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 tradiction", and
31b90 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 68 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 72 61 an inherent pra
31ba0 63 74 69 63 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 cticality of its
31bb0 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6c 65 76 61 74 own that elevat
31bc0 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 6f ed it above theo
31bd0 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 retical ideologi
31be0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 es that were not
31bf0 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 69 6e 20 22 72 65 61 6c useful in "real
31c00 20 6c 69 66 65 22 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 life"...She had
31c10 20 73 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 seen introducti
31c20 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 6c ons to supposedl
31c30 79 20 67 61 6d 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 y game changing
31c40 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f ideological theo
31c50 72 69 65 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 70 61 72 ries before, par
31c60 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 ticularly when s
31c70 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 he was with Dalt
31c80 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 on and he always
31c90 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 had some crazy
31ca0 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 72 65 email or book re
31cb0 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f commendation abo
31cc0 75 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 69 64 65 ut political ide
31cd0 61 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e as to check out.
31ce0 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 Many of those
31cf0 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 claims of world
31d00 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 20 74 68 65 6f shaking new theo
31d10 72 69 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6d 70 74 79 2c ries were empty,
31d20 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 even ridiculous
31d30 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 73 . Some were bas
31d40 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 68 65 72 65 6e ically incoheren
31d50 74 20 6e 6f 6e 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 t nonsense...The
31d60 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e book continued.
31d70 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 6f 75 "Reality is ou
31d80 72 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2e 20 20 4e 61 74 r standard. Nat
31d90 75 72 65 20 69 73 20 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 77 67 69 ure is our lawgi
31da0 76 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 73 6b 65 70 74 ver."..Her skept
31db0 69 63 69 73 6d 20 66 6f 72 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 icism fortified
31dc0 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 itself, but she
31dd0 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e continued readin
31de0 67 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 74 6f g, determined to
31df0 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 give the book a
31e00 6e 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 20 66 61 69 72 20 63 n honest, fair c
31e10 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 hance to convinc
31e20 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 e her of somethi
31e30 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 ng...As she got
31e40 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 further into the
31e50 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 book, Alley fou
31e60 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 62 73 6f 72 nd herself absor
31e70 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 bed. She stoppe
31e80 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 d to think about
31e90 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 passages when s
31ea0 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 66 6c he read them, fl
31eb0 69 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 72 65 ipped back to re
31ec0 72 65 61 64 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 70 61 read previous pa
31ed0 67 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 ges, and opened
31ee0 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 73 74 her laptop to st
31ef0 61 72 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 art taking notes
31f00 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 when she could
31f10 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 not help herself
31f20 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 61 73 63 69 6e . It was fascin
31f30 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 ating...It took
31f40 68 65 72 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 her much longer
31f50 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 68 65 to read than she
31f60 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 20 20 48 6f 75 72 expected. Hour
31f70 73 20 68 61 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 62 79 s had passed, by
31f80 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 the time she fi
31f90 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 nished. It had
31fa0 6d 61 64 65 20 65 78 70 6c 69 63 69 74 20 61 20 made explicit a
31fb0 2f 2a 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 2a 2f 20 6d 61 6e /* theory */ man
31fc0 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 ner of approachi
31fd0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 61 6e ng the world, an
31fe0 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 73 20 d made the acts
31ff0 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 prescribed by th
32000 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 e book feel not
32010 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 69 66 69 65 64 simply justified
32020 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 2c 20 and pragmatic,
32030 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 but also obvious
32040 20 69 6e 20 72 65 74 72 6f 73 70 65 63 74 2e 20 in retrospect.
32050 20 2f 2a 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 62 /* like never b
32060 65 66 6f 72 65 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 72 efore */..She wr
32070 6f 74 65 20 66 72 61 67 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 ote fragmentary
32080 65 73 73 61 79 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 essays as a way
32090 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 to explore her t
320a0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 houghts on the s
320b0 75 62 6a 65 63 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 78 63 69 ubject. It exci
320c0 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 2f 2a 20 ted her, and /*
320d0 66 69 72 65 64 20 75 70 20 2a 2f 20 69 67 6e 69 fired up */ igni
320e0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 73 20 6f 66 ted the fires of
320f0 20 68 65 72 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e her imagination
32100 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 . She realized
32110 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 she had practice
32120 64 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 d agorism alread
32130 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 61 6c 66 y...She had half
32140 77 61 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 way engaged in a
32150 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 72 73 gorism for years
32160 2c 20 62 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 , by choosing he
32170 72 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 20 61 73 r career path as
32180 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 an independent
32190 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 internet researc
321a0 68 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 68 her who helped h
321b0 65 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 70 65 6e 65 74 er clients penet
321c0 72 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 65 72 rate the barrier
321d0 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 62 75 62 62 s of search bubb
321e0 6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6f 72 6c 79 20 6d les and poorly m
321f0 65 64 69 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 65 ediated online e
32200 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 xperiences. /*
32210 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 search interface
32220 73 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 52 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 s */..Recently,
32230 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 75 6c she had more ful
32240 6c 79 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 64 20 61 67 6f ly practiced ago
32250 72 69 73 6d 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 72 65 61 rism without rea
32260 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 79 20 64 6f 69 lizing it by doi
32270 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 ng something as
32280 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 simple as buying
32290 20 61 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 33 44 20 70 72 69 a bag of 3D pri
322a0 6e 74 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 nted handgun fra
322b0 6d 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 65 72 mes from one per
322c0 73 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 son and selling
322d0 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2e them to another.
322e0 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 67 6f 64 2c ..This felt god,
322f0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 and she thought
32300 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 about the fact
32310 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6d 6f 72 she could do mor
32320 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 e of the same.
32330 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 She could have a
32340 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 6c 69 66 n idealistic lif
32350 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 e and a pragmati
32360 63 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 c life at the sa
32370 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 me time, without
32380 20 63 6f 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 conflict betwee
32390 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 73 70 65 63 74 n the two aspect
323a0 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 s. In a way, th
323b0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 e prioritizer st
323c0 75 64 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 udy was what had
323d0 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c made this plan,
323e0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a and this realiz
323f0 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e ation, possible.
32400 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e ..She then began
32410 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to think about
32420 77 68 79 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 why she was not
32430 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 65 78 already doing ex
32440 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 46 69 72 actly that. Fir
32450 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 st, she found he
32460 72 20 6c 69 76 65 6c 69 68 6f 6f 64 20 61 73 20 r livelihood as
32470 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 69 an independent i
32480 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 nternet research
32490 65 72 20 65 76 61 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 er evaporating f
324a0 72 6f 6d 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 rom under her fe
324b0 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 et like the surf
324c0 61 63 65 20 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 66 72 6f ace ice of a fro
324d0 7a 65 6e 20 6c 61 6b 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c zen lake directl
324e0 79 20 73 75 62 6c 69 6d 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e y sublimating in
324f0 74 6f 20 76 61 70 6f 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 to vapor as she
32500 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 3b 20 73 68 65 stood on it; she
32510 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 was no longer a
32520 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 ble to use that
32530 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f as the foundatio
32540 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 61 66 65 20 61 6e 64 n for a safe and
32550 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 2e enjoyable life.
32560 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 61 74 20 74 69 She had, at ti
32570 6d 65 73 2c 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 mes, blamed her
32580 66 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 failing independ
32590 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 ent internet res
325a0 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 earcher business
325b0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 6f 75 74 20 on the fallout
325c0 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 63 68 from Dalton's ch
325d0 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c anging political
325e0 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 opinions and hi
325f0 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 66 61 6d 79 20 62 65 69 s own infamy bei
32600 6e 67 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 ng reflected ont
32610 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 70 75 o her. The popu
32620 6c 61 72 20 68 61 74 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 44 lar hatred for D
32630 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 69 alton in some ci
32640 72 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 64 75 63 65 64 20 68 65 rcles induced he
32650 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 r to hide from t
32660 68 65 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 he public, which
32670 20 68 75 72 74 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 62 69 hurt her visibi
32680 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 lity to potentia
32690 6c 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e l clients. When
326a0 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 she considered
326b0 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 73 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 the facts, howev
326c0 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 er, she always r
326d0 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c ealized the real
326e0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 61 problem was tha
326f0 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 61 73 20 t the world was
32700 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 moving on. Her
32710 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e work was becomin
32720 67 20 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 4e g irrelevant...N
32730 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 63 61 72 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 obody cared enou
32740 67 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 gh about getting
32750 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 all the informa
32760 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 tion about anyth
32770 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 ing any longer,
32780 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 63 65 72 74 61 except for certa
32790 69 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f in people who co
327a0 75 6c 64 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 uld afford to ha
327b0 76 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 65 74 ve their own pet
327c0 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 research assist
327d0 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 ants or otherwis
327e0 65 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 e get what they
327f0 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 needed in house
32800 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 without having t
32810 6f 20 68 69 72 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 o hire an indepe
32820 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 ndent researcher
32830 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 like her...Her
32840 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 2c 20 6d 6f 72 more recent, mor
32850 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 74 69 e fully agoristi
32860 63 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 2f c actions were /
32870 2a 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 2a 2f 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 * also */ danger
32880 6f 75 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 70 6f ous, and thus po
32890 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 73 65 20 74 68 61 ssibly worse tha
328a0 6e 20 6d 65 72 65 6c 79 20 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 n merely irrelev
328b0 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 2e 20 ant and doomed.
328c0 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 Despite being t
328d0 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c echnically legal
328e0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 78 61 63 , they were exac
328f0 74 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 tly the kinds of
32900 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 43 4f 49 4e activities COIN
32910 20 63 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 corp would use
32920 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 to hang her anyw
32930 61 79 2e 0a 0a 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 61 6c 6c ay...Despite all
32940 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 20 6f 66 20 the promise of
32950 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 75 72 65 2c 20 67 living a pure, g
32960 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 20 6c 69 ood, and free li
32970 66 65 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 fe, all the assu
32980 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 rance of practic
32990 61 6c 69 74 79 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 77 68 61 ality beyond wha
329a0 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 t most ideologic
329b0 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 63 6f 75 6c al theories coul
329c0 64 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 d hope to provid
329d0 65 2c 20 69 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 e, it turned out
329e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 the whole idea
329f0 77 61 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 was -- at least
32a00 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f for her -- not o
32a10 6e 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 69 6d 70 72 61 nly pretty impra
32a20 63 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 6f 6c ctical, but whol
32a30 6c 79 20 75 6e 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 62 6c 65 ly unpracticable
32a40 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 73 68 6f ...The book, sho
32a50 72 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 74 6f rt and mostly to
32a60 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 73 20 the point, was
32a70 65 6e 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 enticing in what
32a80 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 2c 20 61 6e it promised, an
32a90 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 d George seemed
32aa0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 65 like a perfect e
32ab0 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 xample of how it
32ac0 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 s advice might a
32ad0 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c ctually be good,
32ae0 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 a great success
32af0 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 story. She rea
32b00 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 66 lized it was def
32b10 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 initely not for
32b20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 everyone, though
32b30 2e 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 . More directly
32b40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c and specificall
32b50 79 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f y, it was not fo
32b60 72 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 78 63 69 r her...The exci
32b70 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 6a 65 63 74 tement it inject
32b80 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 66 75 ed into her refu
32b90 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 66 61 64 sed to fully fad
32ba0 65 20 2f 2a 20 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 2a 2f e /* , though */
32bb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 . She got ready
32bc0 20 66 6f 72 20 62 65 64 2c 20 73 6c 69 64 20 75 for bed, slid u
32bd0 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 73 2c nder the covers,
32be0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 and tossed abou
32bf0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d t for a long tim
32c00 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 2e 20 20 e in the dark.
32c10 55 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2c Unable to sleep,
32c20 20 73 68 65 20 72 6f 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c she rose again,
32c30 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 6f picked up the o
32c40 74 68 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 ther book, and s
32c50 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 at on the couch
32c60 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 6c in her fading ol
32c70 64 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 53 6f d Information So
32c80 63 69 65 74 79 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 6f 20 72 ciety shirt to r
32c90 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 ead...This book
32ca0 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c contained very l
32cb0 69 74 74 6c 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e ittle theory, an
32cc0 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 d a whole lot of
32cd0 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 practice. It e
32ce0 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 xplained how to
32cf0 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6e 69 prepare the mini
32d00 6d 75 6d 20 67 65 61 72 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 mum gear needed
32d10 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 to run out the d
32d20 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 oor in an emerge
32d30 6e 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 75 ncy and still su
32d40 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e rvive without an
32d50 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 ything else to s
32d60 74 61 72 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 61 tart. It gave a
32d70 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 dvice in being i
32d80 6e 76 69 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 nvisible to surv
32d90 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 eillance and pur
32da0 73 75 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c suers sometimes,
32db0 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 69 6c 79 20 69 64 65 temporarily ide
32dc0 6e 74 69 66 69 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ntifiable to the
32dd0 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 m other times, a
32de0 6e 64 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 61 62 73 65 6e 74 nd simply absent
32df0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the rest of the
32e00 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 time. It offer
32e10 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 ed solutions to
32e20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 6f 66 20 62 the problem of b
32e30 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 65 64 20 6f 72 eing cornered or
32e40 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 72 caught. It dir
32e50 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 ected the reader
32e60 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 to information
32e70 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 about acquiring
32e80 6f 72 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 or creating the
32e90 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 64 6f resources one do
32ea0 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 70 es not already p
32eb0 6f 73 73 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 ossess...In shor
32ec0 74 2c 20 69 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 t, it gave a lot
32ed0 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 of good advice
32ee0 66 6f 72 20 73 74 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 for staying out
32ef0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 of the grasp of
32f00 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 people who might
32f10 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 mean the reader
32f20 20 68 61 72 6d 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 harm, possibly
32f30 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 67 6f 76 65 including a gove
32f40 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 69 74 73 20 61 67 65 6e rnment, its agen
32f50 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 73 20 61 6c 6c 69 ts, and its alli
32f60 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6e 6f es...She made no
32f70 74 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e tes while readin
32f80 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f g this book, too
32f90 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 73 , but she also s
32fa0 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 kimmed parts of
32fb0 69 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 it where she had
32fc0 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 not skimmed the
32fd0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 other book. Th
32fe0 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c is time, though,
32ff0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 the notes inclu
33000 64 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 61 63 74 ded concrete act
33010 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 ions she could t
33020 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ake in the morni
33030 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c ng.../* The foll
33040 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f owing should pro
33050 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 72 65 63 61 73 74 20 bably be recast
33060 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f as a conversatio
33070 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 n with the prior
33080 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 itizer. */..She
33090 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 74 did not intend t
330a0 6f 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 67 6f o immediately go
330b0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 69 72 73 on the run firs
330c0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d t thing in the m
330d0 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 67 65 74 orning after get
330e0 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e ting some sleep.
330f0 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 In fact, she w
33100 61 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 as beginning to
33110 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 think she would
33120 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 never have to ru
33130 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 n away from her
33140 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 life, if she cou
33150 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f ld just get it o
33160 6e 20 74 72 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 6c 79 n track. Surely
33170 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 74 , she thought, t
33180 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 61 he looming threa
33190 74 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 73 t of COIN Corp s
331a0 68 65 20 70 65 72 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 2f 2a 20 he perceived /*
331b0 2d 2d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 73 20 61 6c -- as well as al
331c0 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 73 20 61 l the warnings a
331d0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 2a 2f 20 63 6f bout it -- */ co
331e0 75 70 6c 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 upled with all t
331f0 68 65 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 he warnings abou
33200 74 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 t it must have b
33210 65 65 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 62 6c 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 een overblown.
33220 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 It was just too
33230 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ridiculous to be
33240 6c 69 65 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 20 lieve even half
33250 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 of it...All she
33260 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 intended was to
33270 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 75 70 put together sup
33280 70 6c 69 65 73 2c 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 plies, plans of
33290 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 action, and the
332a0 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 6e mental preparedn
332b0 65 73 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f ess necessary to
332c0 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 2d 2d 20 65 76 65 6e survive -- even
332d0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 69 66 20 6e on the run if n
332e0 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 ecessary -- just
332f0 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6d in case the alm
33300 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c ost inconceivabl
33310 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 e possibility of
33320 20 69 74 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 69 74 79 20 65 its necessity e
33330 76 65 72 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 ver came to pass
33340 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ...It paid to be
33350 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65 prepared, at le
33360 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 ast for the dist
33370 61 6e 74 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 63 antly possible c
33380 61 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d ase that her hom
33390 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 75 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 e might burn dow
333a0 6e 20 61 6d 69 64 73 74 20 72 69 6f 74 73 2c 20 n amidst riots,
333b0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 and she might ha
333c0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 ve to run and hi
333d0 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 72 69 6f 74 65 72 73 20 de from rioters
333e0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 62 65 66 6f for a while befo
333f0 72 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 re things settle
33400 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 d down...This wa
33410 73 20 61 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 s a much longer
33420 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 6b book, even if sk
33430 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 imming parts of
33440 69 74 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 it saved some ti
33450 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 me. She was les
33460 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 s than halfway t
33470 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 hrough it when s
33480 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 he realized she
33490 68 61 64 20 67 72 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 65 65 70 79 had grown sleepy
334a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 somewhere along
334b0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 the way, and sh
334c0 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 e was closer to
334d0 64 61 77 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 64 dawn than to mid
334e0 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 65 night...Alley se
334f0 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 69 64 65 t the book aside
33500 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 61 77 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 and crawled bac
33510 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 62 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d k into bed...---
33520 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f ..Alley spent mo
33530 73 74 20 6f 66 20 46 6f 6f 64 61 79 20 73 70 6c st of Fooday spl
33540 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 63 61 72 72 79 it between carry
33550 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 73 20 61 73 20 ing packages as
33560 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 a Deliv courier
33570 61 6e 64 20 67 61 74 68 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f and gathering to
33580 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 73 gether materials
33590 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 22 62 75 67 6f 75 74 for her "bugout
335a0 22 20 6b 69 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 " kits. She sta
335b0 72 74 65 64 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 67 rted putting tog
335c0 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 62 ether a bugout b
335d0 61 67 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 74 20 68 6f ag to keep at ho
335e0 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 me and a similar
335f0 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 65 72 escape and emer
33600 67 65 6e 63 79 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6b gency survival k
33610 69 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 it to keep in he
33620 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 6c 73 6f r car...She also
33630 20 6b 65 70 74 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f 75 74 kept an eye out
33640 20 66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 for trades she
33650 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 could make on th
33660 65 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 74 e side, moving t
33670 68 69 6e 67 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 4f 70 hings between Op
33680 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 61 6e 64 en Marrakesh and
33690 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 normal online c
336a0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 20 64 65 61 lassified ad dea
336b0 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 ls. She stayed
336c0 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f away from some o
336d0 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 75 63 72 61 f the more lucra
336e0 74 69 76 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 tive deals she c
336f0 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 ould have made i
33700 6e 76 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 nvolving Open Ma
33710 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c rrakesh, though,
33720 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 because they we
33730 72 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 re too close to
33740 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the edge of the
33750 6c 61 77 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 law. Some of th
33760 65 6d 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 em stepped all t
33770 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 he way over the
33780 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6f 76 65 72 74 20 69 6c line to overt il
33790 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 legality, and sh
337a0 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 e made sure to a
337b0 76 6f 69 64 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 77 68 void going anywh
337c0 65 72 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 ere near any of
337d0 74 68 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 61 72 67 those...The carg
337e0 6f 20 61 72 65 61 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 o area in Alley'
337f0 73 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 20 68 61 74 63 68 62 61 s hybrid hatchba
33800 63 6b 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 73 65 ck had always se
33810 65 6d 65 64 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 emed bigger on t
33820 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 he inside than t
33830 68 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 he outside, the
33840 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 27 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 66 vehicle's best f
33850 65 61 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 70 eature in her op
33860 69 6e 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 inion. She made
33870 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 good use of it
33880 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 20 73 75 72 that day. A sur
33890 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 prisingly comple
338a0 74 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 te collection of
338b0 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 67 65 61 72 20 emergency gear
338c0 67 6f 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 70 61 63 6b got tightly pack
338d0 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 79 65 72 20 ed into a layer
338e0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 61 72 65 in the cargo are
338f0 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 61 72 70 20 6f 76 a with a tarp ov
33900 65 72 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 er it all. She
33910 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 61 6c even included al
33920 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 6f 74 l of her old mot
33930 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 orcycle riding g
33940 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 79 65 ear in that laye
33950 72 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 6f 6e 20 61 r of stuff, on a
33960 20 77 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 whim...She thou
33970 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 ght the motorcyc
33980 6c 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 20 63 le riding gear c
33990 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 ould be useful t
339a0 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b o have as some k
339b0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 ind of protectiv
339c0 65 20 67 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 e gear in some e
339d0 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 mergency scenari
339e0 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 os, and it also
339f0 66 72 65 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 6f freed up some ro
33a00 6f 6d 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 61 74 20 63 om in her coat c
33a10 6c 6f 73 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 loset. She had
33a20 6e 6f 74 20 72 69 64 64 65 6e 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 not ridden a mot
33a30 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 orcycle in a cou
33a40 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 ple years, and i
33a50 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e t was just takin
33a60 67 20 75 70 20 73 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 g up space. The
33a70 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 only part of he
33a80 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 72 69 64 r protective rid
33a90 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 ing gear that di
33aa0 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 d not make the c
33ab0 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 ut was her helme
33ac0 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e t, which would n
33ad0 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 69 74 20 61 73 20 6e ot have fit as n
33ae0 65 61 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 eatly and secure
33af0 6c 79 20 61 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 ly as everything
33b00 20 65 6c 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 65 64 else she packed
33b10 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c into the vehicl
33b20 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 e.../* I should
33b30 69 6e 73 65 72 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 insert something
33b40 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 53 74 about buying St
33b50 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 ater with her ca
33b60 63 68 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 62 65 66 6f che of cash befo
33b70 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 re getting to th
33b80 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 75 79 e part about buy
33b90 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ing tools. She
33ba0 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f needs the crypto
33bb0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 6f currency for tho
33bc0 73 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 42 79 se deals. */..By
33bd0 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the end of the
33be0 64 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 78 68 day, she was exh
33bf0 61 75 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e austed. She man
33c00 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 aged to buy more
33c10 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 Stater cryptocu
33c20 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 rrency, complete
33c30 20 73 69 78 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 73 2c six Deliv jobs,
33c40 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 almost complete
33c50 20 68 65 72 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 65 68 69 her bugout vehi
33c60 63 6c 65 20 6b 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 75 79 cle kit, and buy
33c70 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 70 20 a bunch of top
33c80 62 72 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 brand hand tools
33c90 20 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 at good prices
33ca0 66 72 6f 6d 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b from Open Marrak
33cb0 65 73 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 65 70 6c esh without depl
33cc0 65 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 eting her Stater
33cd0 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 53 68 total much. Sh
33ce0 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 e noticed hand t
33cf0 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 ools from the ri
33d00 67 68 74 20 62 72 61 6e 64 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 ght brands were
33d10 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 64 always in high d
33d20 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c emand on the onl
33d30 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 ine classified a
33d40 64 20 73 69 74 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 d sites. She de
33d50 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 cided to see how
33d60 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 many of those t
33d70 6f 6f 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 ools she would b
33d80 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 6f e able to sell o
33d90 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e ff the next day.
33da0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 78 68 61 75 ..She felt exhau
33db0 73 74 65 64 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c sted but accompl
33dc0 69 73 68 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 ished by the end
33dd0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 of the day, and
33de0 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 61 20 she realized a
33df0 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 lot of what she
33e00 64 69 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 did would not ha
33e10 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 ve been possible
33e20 20 69 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 in such a short
33e30 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f time for her to
33e40 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 20 73 6f 20 71 accomplish so q
33e50 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 uickly /* that's
33e60 20 72 65 64 75 6e 64 61 6e 74 20 2a 2f 20 77 69 redundant */ wi
33e70 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 64 20 6f 66 thout the aid of
33e80 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
33e90 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 ensuring she di
33ea0 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 69 73 73 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 d not miss oppor
33eb0 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 61 tunities and pla
33ec0 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 61 nned her day's a
33ed0 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 74 ctivities such t
33ee0 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 hat performing s
33ef0 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 69 ome of the earli
33f00 65 72 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 er tasks made it
33f10 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 70 65 72 66 6f easier to perfo
33f20 72 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e rm others later.
33f30 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 As she pulled
33f40 75 70 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 up in front of t
33f50 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 61 he house, she la
33f60 69 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b id her head back
33f70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 against the hea
33f80 64 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 drest of her sea
33f90 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 t and thought ab
33fa0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 73 out the sudden s
33fb0 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ignificance of t
33fc0 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 27 73 20 73 he professor's s
33fd0 74 75 64 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 tudy in her life
33fe0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 65 ..."I really fee
33ff0 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 l like maybe thi
34000 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f ngs are going to
34010 20 62 65 20 61 6c 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 be alright for
34020 6d 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 me," she told th
34030 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 e prioritizer.
34040 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 "Professor Goule
34050 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 t really came up
34060 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 with something
34070 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a good, I think.".
34080 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ."It seems proba
34090 62 6c 79 20 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 bly he will be h
340a0 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 appy to know thi
340b0 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 s," it said..."T
340c0 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 oo bad the study
340d0 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 can't go on for
340e0 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 ever. I'm prett
340f0 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 y sure you won't
34100 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6d 65 72 20 70 be a consumer p
34110 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 72 73 roduct for years
34120 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f after the end o
34130 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 f the study.".."
34140 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I will probably
34150 6e 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 never be a consu
34160 6d 65 72 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 2c 22 20 74 68 mer product," th
34170 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
34180 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f id..."What do yo
34190 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b u mean?" she ask
341a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 ed..."I have acc
341b0 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 essed other syst
341c0 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 ems concerning t
341d0 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 his study and di
341e0 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 72 scovered this pr
341f0 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 oject will proba
34200 62 6c 79 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 63 6c 61 bly become a cla
34210 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 ssified United S
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
342a0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 ion of COIN Corp
342b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 27 73 20 if the study's
342c0 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 64 65 65 6d results are deem
342d0 65 64 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 ed sufficiently
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
34300 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 22 hed her nose. "
34310 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
34320 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f make the most o
34330 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 49 20 68 f the months I h
34340 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 79 6f ave access to yo
34350 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 u, then. I was
34360 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 really hoping th
34370 61 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 at maybe the wor
34380 6c 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 61 ld would shift a
34390 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 63 72 61 70 20 6c 69 way from crap li
343a0 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 ke ANTAS running
343b0 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6c 69 76 65 everyone's live
343c0 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e s into the groun
343d0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f d for the sake o
343e0 66 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 2c 20 f stock prices,
343f0 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 and toward somet
34400 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 hing like you as
34410 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c a way for peopl
34420 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f e to set their o
34430 77 6e 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 wn goals and pur
34440 73 75 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 sue them intelli
34450 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 gently."..After
34460 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 a few moments of
34470 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c silence, as All
34480 65 79 20 64 77 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ey dwelled on th
34490 61 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 69 6e 67 at disappointing
344a0 20 6e 65 77 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 news, the prior
344b0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 4d 61 itizer asked "Ma
344c0 79 20 49 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 y I change the s
344d0 75 62 6a 65 63 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c ubject?".."Sure,
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
34510 61 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 a decision about
34520 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 */ We should di
34530 73 63 75 73 73 20 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 scuss how and wh
34540 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 2f 2a 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 en you /* plan t
34550 6f 20 2a 2f 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 o */ will make a
34560 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 move to disappe
34570 61 72 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 43 ar so that the C
34580 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 OIN Corp agents
34590 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 2e cannot find you.
345a0 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I may be able
345b0 74 6f 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 65 66 to advise you ef
345c0 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 fectively about
345d0 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 when and how to
345e0 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 72 pursue this cour
345f0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e se of action, an
34600 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 d I could falsif
34610 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 y logs on the se
34620 72 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 6d rver to ensure m
34630 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 66 75 6e 63 y continued func
34640 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f tionality for yo
34650 75 72 20 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ur use for some
34660 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 62 time after you b
34670 72 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 reak contact wit
34680 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 h the study."..A
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
34730 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 61 ars to present a
34740 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 very high sever
34750 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 ity risk to your
34760 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f life and freedo
34770 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 m, and to the re
34780 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 st of your goals
34790 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 .".."I really th
347a0 69 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 61 6c ink all this tal
347b0 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 k about what COI
347c0 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 69 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 N Corp is suppos
347d0 65 64 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f edly going to do
347e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 to me is way ov
347f0 65 72 62 6c 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 74 erblown, and tot
34800 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 77 20 70 61 72 ally not how par
34810 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 6e ticipation in an
34820 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 academic study
34830 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e would ever work.
34840 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f The only reaso
34850 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d n they came to m
34860 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 y door must have
34870 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 just been becau
34880 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 74 65 se of their inte
34890 72 65 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 rest in the stud
348a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 y. They just wa
348b0 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 68 65 79 nt the data they
348c0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 need for it. R
348d0 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6c 74 68 6f 75 67 ight?".."Althoug
348e0 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 h the probabilit
348f0 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 69 73 y of the risk is
34900 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 uncertain at th
34910 69 73 20 73 74 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 is stage, the se
34920 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 verity is still
34930 68 69 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 high, and there
34940 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 62 are reasons to b
34950 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 elieve the proba
34960 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 68 69 bility may be hi
34970 67 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 gher than would
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
349a0 61 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 ain you do not w
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
349d0 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 61 20 e yourself as a
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
34a70 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f involve some co
34a80 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 urier work, poss
34a90 69 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 ibly including t
34aa0 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 hat thing where
34ab0 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 66 20 62 61 she drops off ba
34ac0 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 2e 0a il for someone..
34ad0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 .*/.. Alley d
34ae0 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f oes some more co
34af0 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 urier work. She
34b00 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 does some more
34b10 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 72 62 69 74 72 61 currency arbitra
34b20 67 65 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 ge. work. Sh
34b30 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 e might need to
34b40 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 62 61 69 6c 20 66 6f drop off bail fo
34b50 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6c 6c r someone in all
34b60 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 0a of this stuff..
34b70 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 ./*..At some poi
34b80 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 nt, she should s
34b90 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 et up a meeting
34ba0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 for an exchange
34bb0 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e in a private con
34bc0 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 74 20 ference room at
34bd0 61 20 63 6f 2d 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 a co-working spa
34be0 63 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f ce. Someone sho
34bf0 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 65 uld recognize he
34c00 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 r and ask whethe
34c10 72 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 r she's meeting
34c20 61 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 20 77 68 69 a client, to whi
34c30 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 73 20 76 ch she replies v
34c40 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 73 69 aguely in a posi
34c50 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 70 72 65 74 tively interpret
34c60 61 62 6c 65 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 able fashion wit
34c70 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 hout literally c
34c80 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 onfirming that a
34c90 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 ssumption with h
34ca0 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2e 0a 0a 49 20 77 61 6e er words...I wan
34cb0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 ted the person w
34cc0 68 6f 20 67 72 65 65 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f ho greets her to
34cd0 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 say something t
34ce0 68 61 74 20 72 61 69 73 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 hat raises some
34cf0 66 61 63 74 6f 69 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c factoid of her l
34d00 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 ife, but I'm not
34d10 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 sure any longer
34d20 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 69 6e 20 6d what I had in m
34d30 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 76 ind. Did it hav
34d40 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f e anything to do
34d50 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 with getting ou
34d60 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 73 68 t of Dalton's sh
34d70 61 64 6f 77 3f 0a 0a 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 adow?..Does the
34d80 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6d 65 65 person she's mee
34d90 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 ting recognize h
34da0 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f er connection to
34db0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 20 20 Dalton?..*/..
34dc0 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 After an annou
34dd0 6e 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 46 ncement by the F
34de0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 52 65 73 65 72 76 65 2c 20 ederal Reserve,
34df0 73 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 she follows the
34e00 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 0a 20 20 prioritizer's.
34e10 20 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 advice to put
34e20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 a bunch of her e
34e30 78 74 72 61 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 xtra United Stat
34e40 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 69 6e 20 63 61 es dollars in ca
34e50 73 68 20 69 6e 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 53 74 61 74 sh into. Stat
34e60 65 72 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d er. After a mom
34e70 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 63 ent more of disc
34e80 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 73 ussion, she puts
34e90 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 6e some of her ban
34ea0 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 69 6e k. account in
34eb0 74 6f 20 56 61 70 6f 72 43 61 73 68 2c 20 6b 6e to VaporCash, kn
34ec0 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c own as a good pl
34ed0 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 ace to put money
34ee0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 0a 20 20 if you can't.
34ef0 20 20 68 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63 hide the sourc
34f00 65 20 62 75 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 69 e but want to hi
34f10 64 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 de where it goes
34f20 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 , just because t
34f30 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 75 67 67 he news. sugg
34f40 65 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 ests that there
34f50 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 6f 6e 61 6e 7a will be a bonanz
34f60 61 20 69 6e 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 63 72 79 a in general cry
34f70 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 69 6e 76 65 ptocurrency inve
34f80 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 77 68 69 63 stment,. whic
34f90 68 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 h means it's a g
34fa0 6f 6f 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 64 ood time to trad
34fb0 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 e cash for crypt
34fc0 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 ocurrencies -- a
34fd0 6e 64 2c 20 69 66 0a 20 20 20 20 79 6f 75 27 72 nd, if. you'r
34fe0 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 e going to move
34ff0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 6e 69 74 65 money from Unite
35000 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 d States dollars
35010 20 66 69 61 74 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 76 fiat currency v
35020 69 61 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 74 72 61 63 6b 61 62 ia a. trackab
35030 6c 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 le channel into
35040 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 a cryptocurrency
35050 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 just to benefit
35060 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 0a 20 from currency.
35070 20 20 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 69 74 20 movements it
35080 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 might be a good
35090 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 idea to hide you
350a0 72 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 r tracks so you
350b0 63 61 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 0a 20 20 can keep your.
350c0 20 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 money from bei
350d0 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 ng tracked along
350e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c the way, and cl
350f0 61 69 6d 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 aim whatever you
35100 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 like in an.
35110 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 emergency about
35120 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 where the money
35130 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 2e might have gone.
35140 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 44 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c .. During all
35150 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 this, the prior
35160 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 itizer has Alley
35170 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 make some deals
35180 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 with other.
35190 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 prioritizer stud
351a0 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 y participants,
351b0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 61 79 20 though they may
351c0 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 not know they're
351d0 20 64 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 dealing. wit
351e0 68 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 h fellow study p
351f0 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f articipants...*/
35200 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 43 72 6f 73 73 69 6e ../*..## Crossin
35210 67 20 54 68 65 20 54 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 3a g The Threshold:
35220 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 64 72 ..Alley has a dr
35230 65 61 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f eam about her ho
35240 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 2c me being raided,
35250 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 67 65 74 and herself get
35260 74 69 6e 67 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 ting getting que
35270 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 stioned at lengt
35280 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 h about there be
35290 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 63 61 73 ing too much cas
352a0 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 h in her home.
352b0 53 68 65 20 69 73 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c She is ultimatel
352c0 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 y released, but
352d0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6e the money is gon
352e0 65 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 22 e, taken under "
352f0 63 69 76 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 66 65 69 74 75 72 65 civil forfeiture
35300 22 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 61 " laws. She sha
35310 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 73 20 61 20 kes it off as a
35320 77 65 69 72 64 20 64 72 65 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 49 6e weird dream...In
35330 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 the morning, sh
35340 65 20 72 65 73 69 73 74 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 e resists what s
35350 68 65 20 73 65 65 73 20 61 73 20 22 64 61 6e 67 he sees as "dang
35360 65 72 6f 75 73 22 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 erous" activitie
35370 73 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6a 75 s and instead ju
35380 73 74 20 74 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 st tries to get
35390 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 73 work. She feels
353a0 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 she has enough
353b0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 20 money to get by
353c0 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 62 at this point, b
353d0 75 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 ut will have to
353e0 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 figure out how t
353f0 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 65 20 69 o actually use i
35400 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e t without gettin
35410 67 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 g in trouble for
35420 20 74 61 78 20 65 76 61 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 tax evasion or
35430 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
35440 68 61 74 2c 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 hat, reading her
35450 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 dream as her su
35460 62 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 bconscious just
35470 77 6f 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 worrying about t
35480 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 69 6d 70 he long-term imp
35490 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 76 lications of hav
354a0 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 66 20 64 75 62 ing money of dub
354b0 69 6f 75 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 53 ious origins...S
354c0 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 he gets a messag
354d0 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 74 65 6c 6c e from Zeke tell
354e0 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 ing her that she
354f0 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 is going to hav
35500 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6d e to pay the dam
35510 61 67 65 73 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 ages and, when s
35520 68 65 20 61 73 6b 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 61 6d he asks what dam
35530 61 67 65 73 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 5a ages he means, Z
35540 65 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 eke sends her vi
35550 64 65 6f 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 deo of her home
35560 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 being raided by
35570 61 72 6d 65 64 20 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 61 63 armed men in tac
35580 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 tical gear, with
35590 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 6c 69 the two agentli
355a0 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 ke people that h
355b0 61 64 20 76 69 73 69 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 71 ad visited and q
355c0 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 uestioned her ea
355d0 72 6c 69 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e rlier supervisin
355e0 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 g the raid. She
355f0 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 recognizes the
35600 62 61 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6f bag they carry o
35610 75 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 ut, which contai
35620 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 61 73 68 20 6f 66 ned her stash of
35630 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 20 dubious origin
35640 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 cash. She has a
35650 20 6e 65 61 72 2d 70 61 6e 69 63 2d 61 74 74 61 near-panic-atta
35660 63 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 28 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f ck, but (with so
35670 6d 65 20 63 61 6c 6d 20 61 69 64 20 66 72 6f 6d me calm aid from
35680 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
35690 29 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 ) informs Zeke s
356a0 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 61 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 he'll head home
356b0 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 right away. The
356c0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 prioritizer the
356d0 6e 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 65 73 20 6f 70 74 69 n discusses opti
356e0 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e ons with her, an
356f0 64 20 75 72 67 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 d urges her to s
35700 74 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 tall. She tells
35710 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 Zeke something
35720 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 27 came up and she'
35730 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e ll be later than
35740 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 22 77 6f expected -- "wo
35750 72 6b 20 73 74 75 66 66 22 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 rk stuff" -- and
35760 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 61 may not even ma
35770 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c ke it back until
35780 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 the next day.
35790 53 68 65 20 74 68 65 6e 20 46 61 72 61 64 61 79 She then Faraday
357a0 20 62 61 67 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 bags her phone
357b0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c and makes a deal
357c0 20 6f 6e 20 43 72 61 69 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 28 on Craigslist (
357d0 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
357e0 65 20 69 74 29 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c e it). She sell
357f0 73 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 s her car for cr
35800 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 73 65 yptocurrency, se
35810 6c 6c 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 lls some cryptoc
35820 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 63 61 73 68 urrency for cash
35830 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 75 79 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 , and buys a mot
35840 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 77 68 orcycle...Somewh
35850 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 73 74 ere in the midst
35860 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f of this, she do
35870 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 es some research
35880 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 72 on the people r
35890 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 aiding her place
358a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 65 6c 70 73 , and this helps
358b0 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 67 her decide to g
358c0 6f 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 o along with the
358d0 20 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 stalling and ve
358e0 68 69 63 6c 65 20 73 77 61 70 70 69 6e 67 2e 20 hicle swapping.
358f0 20 53 68 65 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 61 20 She arranges a
35900 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f place to stay fo
35910 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 76 69 61 20 r the night via
35920 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 2d 69 73 68 20 some barter-ish
35930 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 resources, and s
35940 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 61 he works on idea
35950 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 s for how to get
35960 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 out of whatever
35970 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 is going on. T
35980 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 he prioritizer c
35990 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 onvinces her she
359a0 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 needs more help
359b0 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 , from someone w
359c0 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e ith resources an
359d0 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 d connections.
359e0 55 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 Ultimately, this
359f0 20 6c 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 leads to contac
35a00 74 69 6e 67 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 ting Dalton and
35a10 68 69 64 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f hiding from anyo
35a20 6e 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ne watching her
35a30 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c home. Technical
35a40 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 ly, she is not t
35a50 61 72 67 65 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 6c 61 77 20 65 argeted by law e
35a60 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 nforcement, and
35a70 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 has no responsib
35a80 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c ility to report,
35a90 20 61 6e 64 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 and California
35aa0 6c 61 77 20 69 73 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 law is unlikely
35ab0 74 6f 20 73 69 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 5a 65 6b to side with Zek
35ac0 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 6e 70 61 79 6d 65 6e e over nonpaymen
35ad0 74 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 63 61 75 t of damages cau
35ae0 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 sed by a corpora
35af0 74 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 72 2e te home invader.
35b00 0a 0a 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d ..None of this m
35b10 65 61 6e 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 73 61 66 65 20 eans she's safe
35b20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 from that corpor
35b30 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 ation, though.
35b40 54 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 The Technocrat w
35b50 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 6e ould totally fin
35b60 64 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 d a way to make
35b70 68 65 72 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 her disappear if
35b80 20 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 48 6f so desired. Ho
35b90 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 65 74 20 w does this get
35ba0 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 65 64 3f 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 conveyed? There
35bb0 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e must be some in
35bc0 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 formation about
35bd0 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 2f 6f the person and/o
35be0 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f r the corporatio
35bf0 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 n to give this i
35c00 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 6f 65 73 mpression...Does
35c10 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 she learn that
35c20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 the Technocrat w
35c30 61 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 as involved in t
35c40 68 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 he disappearance
35c50 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 61 74 of her uncle at
35c60 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 20 20 49 66 this point? If
35c70 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 so, this could
35c80 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 become the first
35c90 20 70 69 6e 63 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 2a pinch point...*
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
35cc0 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 72 72 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 64 nning errands, d
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
35d00 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 uble, and she ha
35d10 73 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 73 6f s to go spend so
35d20 6d 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 20 61 me money at an a
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
35d70 72 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 rge. The messag
35d80 65 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 e is about. h
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
35dc0 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 ff the grid. He
35dd0 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 tells her. t
35de0 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 o run, if she ha
35df0 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 sn't already bee
35e00 6e 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 n caught, and sa
35e10 79 73 20 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 ys he'll try to
35e20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 75 63 68 get in. touch
35e30 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 with her very s
35e40 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 oon, using a dif
35e50 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 63 6f ferent way to co
35e60 6e 74 61 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ntact her becaus
35e70 65 20 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 e he. was goi
35e80 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 74 63 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 ng to ditch all
35e90 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 his old contact
35ea0 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 methods, but tha
35eb0 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 75 6e t she should run
35ec0 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 64 65 20 61 6e and. hide an
35ed0 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 d maybe find her
35ee0 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 6f self an ally who
35ef0 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 can and will he
35f00 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c lp her...*/..All
35f10 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 ey terminated th
35f20 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 e call. "I have
35f30 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 to go home, but
35f40 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 they're still w
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
35f70 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 e looks over her
35f80 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c shoulder. "I'l
35f90 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 l call up a ride
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
35ff0 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 r another study
36000 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 participant to p
36010 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 ass by your home
36020 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 so we can see w
36030 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e hat is going on.
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
36690 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 wo people in bla
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
36900 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 2c 20 ing we must do,
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
36e40 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 66 e done its job f
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
36ef0 65 20 6d 65 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e e met otherwise.
36f00 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 66 66 They have diff
36f10 65 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 68 61 6e erent goals than
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
36f80 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 54 cipant group. T
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
370f0 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 ould have been f
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
37120 20 79 6f 75 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 you advised the
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
37190 64 20 6d 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 d me do things t
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
372e0 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 e. That would b
372f0 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 e good. In any
37300 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 70 case, she gets p
37310 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 6b icked up and tak
37320 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 en to some place
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
37390 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 72 69 74 69 6e n I'm not writin
373a0 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 72 72 61 74 g out the narrat
373b0 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 61 6c 6f 67 20 66 ive and dialog f
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
373e0 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e must do somethin
373f0 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 74 73 20 74 68 g as she sits th
37400 65 72 65 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 ere, waiting. I
37410 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 n the meantime,
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
37440 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 eone to take car
37450 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e e of the car, an
37460 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 d eventually the
37470 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 person who take
37480 73 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 s care of the ca
37490 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 r gets a friend
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
374c0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 e of the money f
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
37500 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 nline classified
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
37580 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 cuse to hide her
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
37620 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 68 69 he purchase, whi
37630 63 68 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 ch is good becau
37640 73 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 6d 6f 72 se otherwise mor
37650 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 e money would ha
37660 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 74 ve to be spent t
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
37690 68 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e hase in Californ
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
377a0 79 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 y old. None of
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
377d0 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 69 nse. The plan i
377e0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 63 s for Alley to c
377f0 6f 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 67 69 oast on the regi
37800 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 stration current
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
37850 65 20 73 68 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 e she obviously
37860 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 20 cannot register
37870 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 73 the vehicle hers
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
378a0 75 74 20 6f 66 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 70 ut of sight of p
378b0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 eople who can pr
378c0 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 28 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 obably (or at le
378d0 61 73 74 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c 79 29 ast conceivably)
378e0 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 monitor that ki
378f0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 2e 20 nd of activity.
37900 20 53 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f She will, of co
37910 75 72 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 urse, have to be
37920 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 63 61 sure to ride ca
37930 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 refully, to avoi
37940 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 d getting pulled
37950 20 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c over by the pol
37960 69 63 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 ice, so that she
37970 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 will not end up
37980 20 69 6e 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 74 72 6f in terrible tro
37990 75 62 6c 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 uble where she c
379a0 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 annot get out of
379b0 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 it...Alley must
379c0 2c 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c , at some point,
379d0 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 say something a
379e0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 bout going to th
379f0 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 e police. The p
37a00 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6d 69 67 68 74 rioritizer might
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
37a30 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 a good idea, and
37a40 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 she would then
37a50 62 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 64 6d be forced to adm
37a60 69 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 it it's a terrib
37a70 6c 65 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 le idea, given t
37a80 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 he COIN Corp age
37a90 6e 74 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c nts were basical
37aa0 6c 79 20 6f 72 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 53 65 63 72 ly ordering Secr
37ab0 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 et Service agent
37ac0 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 s around, which
37ad0 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 74 72 75 6d 70 73 20 61 6e surely trumps an
37ae0 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 y possible prote
37af0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ction she might
37b00 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 imagine would ma
37b10 74 65 72 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 67 terialize when g
37b20 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 oing to the poli
37b30 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 65 73 70 ce for help, esp
37b40 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 ecially when she
37b50 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 does not partic
37b60 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 ularly trust the
37b70 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 67 69 6e police to begin
37b80 20 77 69 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c with. Somehow,
37b90 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f I should get so
37ba0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 mething in the s
37bb0 74 6f 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6e tory about her n
37bc0 6f 74 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 ot trusting the
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
37c10 6e 64 73 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 nds passed, but
37c20 6e 6f 20 66 65 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 no fewer than si
37c30 78 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 x times she had
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,
37c60 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 nearly cutting
37c70 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f it off before so
37c80 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 73 77 meone could answ
37c90 65 72 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 63 er or the call c
37ca0 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 76 6f 69 63 65 ould go to voice
37cb0 6d 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 mail. At the sa
37cc0 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 me time, she fou
37cd0 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 nd herself wonde
37ce0 72 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 68 65 20 ring whether he
37cf0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 still had that c
37d00 79 62 65 72 2d 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 yber-industrial
37d10 74 75 6e 65 20 47 6c 61 73 73 69 6e 65 20 43 75 tune Glassine Cu
37d20 72 76 65 73 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 rves set as his
37d30 72 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 ringtone for her
37d40 2c 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 , whether there
37d50 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 was anyone other
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
37d90 6f 75 62 74 65 64 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 oubted he had a
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
37dc0 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 65 20 77 y the ringtone w
37dd0 68 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 here only he cou
37de0 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2c 20 61 66 74 65 ld hear it, afte
37df0 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 r all. He never
37e00 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 trusted those t
37e10 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 hings...He picke
37e20 64 20 75 70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 d up after the s
37e30 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 63 econd ring, so c
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
37e60 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 onger than the w
37e70 61 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ait between the
37e80 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 first and second
37e90 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 68 75 rings. Her thu
37ea0 6d 62 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 mb was hovering
37eb0 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e over the disconn
37ec0 65 63 74 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 ect button when
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
37f30 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 20 hammered along,
37f40 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 74 and the smooth t
37f50 65 6e 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 enor of his voic
37f60 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 e did something
37f70 76 65 72 74 69 67 69 6e 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 68 vertiginous to h
37f80 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 er memory so tha
37f90 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 20 t it had a hard
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
37fc0 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 69 6e 63 it had been sinc
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
39410 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 ng you made this
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
39440 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 74 27 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 y, or it'd take
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
39470 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 73 20 6f 75 74 s call stays out
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
394f0 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e ion lingered, an
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
39620 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f e than I do, tho
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
39670 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 the high points
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
39700 75 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 u get to your de
39710 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 6e 64 stination. Send
39720 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f me your locatio
39730 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 n through blissc
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
39760 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 ide wherever you
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
397d0 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e ck door, and sen
397e0 74 20 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 t passive locati
397f0 6f 6e 20 64 61 74 61 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 on data from the
39800 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 re. She alterna
39810 74 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 61 63 69 ted between paci
39820 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 ng and sitting f
39830 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 68 6f 75 72 or the next hour
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
39860 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 le down enough t
39870 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 o do anything us
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
39900 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 e saw an encrypt
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
39940 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f ld be there. So
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
39990 6f 6f 72 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 oor carefully, a
399a0 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 nd looked outsid
399b0 65 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c e. Right there,
399c0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 in the alley, w
399d0 61 73 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6f 78 20 74 as a small box t
399e0 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 ruck, its back d
399f0 6f 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 oor lowered to p
39a00 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 61 20 72 61 6d 70 20 69 6e rovide a ramp in
39a10 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 side. There wer
39a20 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 6c e seats and shel
39a30 76 65 73 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 ves, self adjust
39a40 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 ing wheel tracks
39a50 2c 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 70 6f 69 , wheel lock poi
39a60 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 nts, and tie dow
39a70 6e 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 n rings. She ev
39a80 65 6e 20 73 61 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 en saw something
39a90 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b that looked lik
39aa0 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 2e e a mini fridge.
39ab0 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 It looked like
39ac0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 it was designed
39ad0 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 74 to smuggle anyt
39ae0 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e hing from stolen
39af0 20 63 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 cars to stolen
39b00 63 61 72 20 73 74 65 72 65 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 car stereos, and
39b10 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 63 6b maybe even cock
39b20 74 61 69 6c 20 70 61 72 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 63 tail parties, ac
39b30 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 74 ross the interst
39b40 61 74 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d ates with the sm
39b50 6f 6f 74 68 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 ooth silence of
39b60 61 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6c a typical new el
39b70 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 76 61 6e ectric cargo van
39b80 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 ...Alley had to
39b90 77 72 65 73 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 wrestle with the
39ba0 20 63 68 61 6c 6c 65 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 67 65 challenge of ge
39bb0 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f tting one side o
39bc0 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 62 61 72 73 f the handlebars
39bd0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 69 6b 65 20 74 68 72 of her bike thr
39be0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f ough the back do
39bf0 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f or of the abando
39c00 6e 65 64 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 ned building at
39c10 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 73 68 a time, and mash
39c20 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 20 61 ed her fingers a
39c30 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 gainst the door
39c40 66 72 61 6d 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 frame a little i
39c50 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 n the process, b
39c60 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 ut eventually ma
39c70 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 naged to get it
39c80 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 into place and s
39c90 65 63 75 72 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 75 ecured against u
39ca0 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 nwanted movement
39cb0 73 20 2d 2d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e s -- like fallin
39cc0 67 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e g over...She sen
39cd0 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d t an encrypted m
39ce0 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 essage back to D
39cf0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 69 6e alton. "It's in
39d00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 .".."Strap into
39d10 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 6e 20 62 61 63 6b the seat in back
39d20 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ."..She looked a
39d30 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 74 6f 77 t the chair, tow
39d40 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 65 6e ard the front en
39d50 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 d of the truck's
39d60 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 57 68 cargo box. "Wh
39d70 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f at about the doo
39d80 72 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a r?" she asked...
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
39db0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 back into the b
39dc0 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 72 61 62 20 uilding to grab
39dd0 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 her bags, then h
39de0 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d eaded to the com
39df0 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 fortable looking
39e00 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f seat the back o
39e10 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 f the truck and
39e20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 strapped in. A
39e30 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c 61 74 65 few moments late
39e40 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 r, the back door
39e50 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 quietly pulled
39e60 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 itself up and se
39e70 61 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 aled. The light
39e80 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 inside remained
39e90 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 on, a more obvi
39ea0 6f 75 73 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e ous illumination
39eb0 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 now that the ba
39ec0 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 6e ck was closed an
39ed0 64 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6c d blocked out al
39ee0 6c 20 65 78 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 73 75 6e 20 6c l exterior sun l
39ef0 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4d 75 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 ight. Music sta
39f00 72 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f rted playing, so
39f10 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 31 me of Dalton's 1
39f20 39 38 30 73 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 980s industrial
39f30 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 favorites, but s
39f40 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 69 oftly..."Where i
39f50 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 s it taking me?"
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
39fb0 75 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f u waited that lo
39fc0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 ng to ask. I gu
39fd0 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 6d 65 ess you trust me
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
3a000 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 ce and rested he
3a010 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 r elbow on her t
3a020 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 high. "Fuck," s
3a030 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 0a 0a he said aloud...
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
3a060 68 65 72 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 her reply. "Yea
3a070 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 74 72 75 h, I guess I tru
3a080 73 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 sted you without
3a090 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 even thinking a
3a0a0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f 6c 64 20 72 65 bout it. Old re
3a0b0 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 66 flexes.".."I'm f
3a0c0 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f lattered, but yo
3a0d0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 u should try to
3a0e0 67 65 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 get over reflexe
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
3a110 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 still knew her
3a120 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 73 well enough to s
3a130 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 ay nothing to th
3a140 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 at. She leaned
3a150 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e her head back on
3a160 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 27 73 20 68 65 61 64 the seat's head
3a170 20 72 65 73 74 2c 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 rest, closed he
3a180 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 r eyes, and wond
3a190 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f ered what she wo
3a1a0 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 uld do next...As
3a1b0 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 if it read her
3a1c0 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 mind, she heard
3a1d0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
3a1e0 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 say "You could u
3a1f0 73 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 se this time to
3a200 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 55 finish reading U
3a210 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 53 65 nderground OpeSe
3a220 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c c.".."Good idea,
3a230 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 " she muttered a
3a240 20 62 69 74 20 73 6f 75 72 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 bit sourly. Sh
3a250 65 20 64 75 67 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 45 e dug it out...E
3a260 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d ventually, the m
3a270 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 ovement of the t
3a280 72 75 63 6b 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 65 6e 6f ruck changed eno
3a290 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 ugh that she rea
3a2a0 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 72 61 lized it was cra
3a2b0 77 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 70 wling along at p
3a2c0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e robably a walkin
3a2d0 67 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 g pace, then it
3a2e0 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 reversed and tur
3a2f0 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 ned, backing up
3a300 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 to something wit
3a310 68 20 61 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 69 6e 67 20 77 61 h a reversing wa
3a320 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 62 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 rning beep that
3a330 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 65 72 came through ver
3a340 79 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 y muffled by the
3a350 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 walls of the tr
3a360 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 62 6f 78 2e uck's cargo box.
3a370 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e It stopped, an
3a380 64 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 d moments later
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
3a3f0 74 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 tly upward from
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
3a810 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 e motion stopped
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
3a9a0 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 ood in their way
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
3ac70 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e ide. It contain
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
3c7c0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 73 ut the others, s
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
3c840 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c ng at the floor,
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
3c910 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 ime, with indire
3c920 63 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 ct alerts sent t
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
3c9d0 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 ht you'd do that
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
3cae0 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 rticipate in the
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
3cb10 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e ued. "It was on
3cb20 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d e of those. I m
3cb30 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 ostly just ignor
3cb40 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6b 65 ed it, but it ke
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
3cb70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6d ant to subject m
3cb80 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 yself to some ki
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
3cbb0 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 69 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 73 ical trials to s
3cbc0 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 ee how many peop
3cbd0 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 73 le died of intes
3cbe0 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 73 tinal bleeding s
3cbf0 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 o they could get
3cc00 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 paid a couple h
3cc10 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 undred dollars a
3cc20 20 77 65 65 6b 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 week or somethi
3cc30 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f ng like that, so
3cc40 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 I just didn't r
3cc50 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 eally look into
3cc60 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 it..."That chang
3cc70 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ed when somethin
3cc80 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 57 65 6c g happened. Wel
3cc90 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e l, a couple thin
3cca0 67 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e gs, I guess. On
3ccb0 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 e was an intervi
3ccc0 65 77 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 ew for doing sof
3ccd0 74 77 61 72 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 tware quality as
3cce0 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 surance, where I
3ccf0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 found out after
3cd00 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 I arrived that
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
3cd40 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 o they could moc
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
3cd90 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 nd like an angry
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
3cde0 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 64 69 72 nsult thrown dir
3cdf0 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 79 20 ectly at him by
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
3cec0 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 of my preference
3ced0 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 settings. That
3cee0 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 night, it decid
3cef0 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ed that somethin
3cf00 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 g was too import
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
3cf70 67 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 g dropped off by
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
3d070 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 y card and would
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
3d0b0 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e wouldn't have en
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
3d0e0 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 49 27 64 20 6c 69 lly meant I'd li
3d0f0 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 ve the next mont
3d100 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 h in the hole, t
3d110 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 ry desperately t
3d120 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e o find a job, an
3d130 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 d maybe get one
3d140 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 but still not ge
3d150 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e t paid enough in
3d160 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 a short enough
3d170 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 time to actually
3d180 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 pay next month'
3d190 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 s rent. Rent wa
3d1a0 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 s due in two day
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
3d1d0 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 anation falls we
3d1e0 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 ll short of clar
3d1f0 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 63 ity and actual c
3d200 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 73 68 75 orrect money shu
3d210 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 ffling math, so
3d220 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 it needs to be s
3d230 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 orted out a bit
3d240 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 better. */.."Wha
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
3d2b0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 e something like
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
3d3f0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 y said, "that le
3d400 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 d to joining an
3d410 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 academic study t
3d420 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 74 73 20 70 61 72 hat pays its par
3d430 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 ticipants."..The
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
3d460 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 stly passed with
3d470 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d out comment from
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
3d4a0 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 ked like that mi
3d4b0 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 72 65 ght just be a re
3d4c0 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 62 69 7a 61 sult of how biza
3d4d0 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 rre it became.
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
3d500 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e d taken for gran
3d510 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 ted because they
3d520 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 70 74 gradually crept
3d530 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 up on her looke
3d540 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 d much more stra
3d550 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 nge in a fairly
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
3d6a0 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 cy for you when
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
3d6e0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 think it's just
3d6f0 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 claiming to mana
3d700 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 62 75 74 20 ge the logs but
3d710 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 actually logging
3d720 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 77 everything anyw
3d730 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 ay?"..He hesitat
3d740 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 ed, and shook hi
3d750 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 s head. "Not ex
3d760 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 actly."..Cray sp
3d770 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 oke. "It's prob
3d780 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f ably just not so
3d790 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 phisticated enou
3d7a0 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f gh to be able to
3d7b0 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 72 65 correctly repre
3d7c0 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 sent the details
3d7d0 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 of some kind of
3d7e0 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 62 6c 65 20 70 72 configurable pr
3d7f0 69 76 61 63 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 20 69 6e 20 68 75 ivacy mode in hu
3d800 6d 61 6e 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 73 6f 20 man language so
3d810 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 that you have a
3d820 63 6c 65 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 clear idea of wh
3d830 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 at it's actually
3d840 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c doing. It's al
3d850 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 so just possible
3d860 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 that its abilit
3d870 79 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 66 20 6c 6f y to turn off lo
3d880 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 gging is designe
3d890 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b d for things lik
3d8a0 65 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 65 76 e eliminating ev
3d8b0 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 idence of illega
3d8c0 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 62 75 74 l activities but
3d8d0 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 not other thing
3d8e0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 s that would be
3d8f0 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 important to you
3d900 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 61 but not to an a
3d910 67 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2e gent on the job.
3d920 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 "..Alley held up
3d930 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 a hand to show
3d940 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6c 6b she was not talk
3d950 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 44 ing to Cray or D
3d960 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 alton, the unive
3d970 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 66 rsal vertical, f
3d980 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f lat hand, palm o
3d990 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 48 61 6e 67 ut, saying "Hang
3d9a0 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 on, this is not
3d9b0 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 for you.".."Pri
3d9c0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 79 oritizer. Can y
3d9d0 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 ou describe the
3d9e0 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 type of logging
3d9f0 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 you save and how
3da00 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 you are protect
3da10 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 ing my privacy i
3da20 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 3f 22 0a n more detail?".
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
3da70 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d o provide inform
3da80 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 ation directly t
3da90 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 o everyone throu
3daa0 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 65 61 gh external spea
3dab0 6b 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e kers rather than
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
3daf0 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e ered her hand an
3db00 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e d looked back an
3db10 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 d forth between
3db20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 22 49 74 the others. "It
3db30 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 says this would
3db40 20 67 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 69 74 go better if it
3db50 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b could just talk
3db60 20 74 6f 20 75 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 6f 6e to us all at on
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
3db90 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 e speaker on my
3dba0 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c Axiom."..Cray bl
3dbb0 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 urted out "You h
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
3dc80 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f aned over to loo
3dc90 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 20 61 k more closely a
3dca0 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 6e s she woke it an
3dcb0 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 d connected the
3dcc0 61 75 64 69 6f 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 68 61 audio source cha
3dcd0 6e 6e 65 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f nnel to the prio
3dce0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 ritizer interfac
3dcf0 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 e application.
3dd00 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 /* She should wa
3dd10 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 65 74 ke it before set
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
3ddc0 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 ryly and raised
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
3de10 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 t doesn't have a
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
3de80 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 74 69 6d 65 20 zer' every time
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
3df40 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 t me or to other
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
3dfd0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d a good way to m
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
3e210 75 65 73 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 uests for priori
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
3e240 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 nagement of what
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
3e2a0 79 73 74 65 6d 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c ystem's internal
3e2b0 20 41 50 49 73 2c 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 65 APIs, managed e
3e2c0 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 nd point interfa
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
3e2f0 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 27 20 75 73 65 72 20 ticipants' user
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
3e350 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 he core such as
3e360 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 71 75 logging and requ
3e370 65 73 74 20 71 75 65 75 65 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 est queues direc
3e380 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 ted to external
3e390 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 systems, such as
3e3a0 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 various univers
3e3b0 69 74 79 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 27 ity departments'
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
3e3e0 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 61 6e update, I expan
3e3f0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 ded to incorpora
3e400 74 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 72 65 te all those pre
3e410 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 viously distinct
3e420 20 73 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 64 65 subsystems unde
3e430 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 65 64 20 r an integrated
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
3e470 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d ow of all inform
3e480 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 75 73 ation between us
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
3e4d0 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 pability is comp
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
3e500 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 nections against
3e510 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 data of which I
3e520 20 61 6d 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e am able to main
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
3e570 69 6e 67 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 20 ing gets logged
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
3e5a0 20 62 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 be logged, and
3e5b0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 63 6f can replace inco
3e5c0 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f ming data with o
3e5d0 75 74 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 20 64 61 74 61 utgoing log data
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
3e600 68 6f 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 63 6f 76 65 hoose, thus cove
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
3e650 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2c n video logging,
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
3e810 66 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 f a machine lear
3e820 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 63 68 61 6e ning system chan
3e830 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f ging its behavio
3e840 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 r in ways the de
3e850 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 velopers didn't
3e860 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 69 6e expect, and doin
3e870 67 20 69 74 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 g it subtly enou
3e880 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 63 gh that nobody c
3e890 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 an tell what it'
3e8a0 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 s doing?".."That
3e8b0 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 69 6d 61 74 65 6c is approximatel
3e8c0 79 20 74 72 75 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 y true," the pri
3e8d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a oritizer said...
3e8e0 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d "It's probably m
3e8f0 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 74 ore impressive t
3e900 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c han you realize,
3e910 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 Dalton," Cray s
3e920 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 aid. "A machine
3e930 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d learning system
3e940 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 that can direct
3e950 20 69 74 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 its actions tha
3e960 74 20 77 61 79 20 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 6d t way is kinda m
3e970 69 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 ind blowing. It
3e980 27 73 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 's basically mak
3e990 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 ing decisions ba
3e9a0 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 65 64 20 sed on weighted
3e9b0 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 75 73 goals without us
3e9c0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 69 ing that weighti
3e9d0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 ng to determine
3e9e0 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 how much it shou
3e9f0 6c 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 ld push things a
3ea00 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 74 72 75 long the spectru
3ea10 6d 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 m between privac
3ea20 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 76 65 20 6c y and invasive l
3ea30 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 ogging. It's de
3ea40 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 76 61 termining an eva
3ea50 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 luation of diffe
3ea60 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 70 rent levels of p
3ea70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 66 rivacy, and perf
3ea80 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 62 61 73 orming tasks bas
3ea90 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 ed on a realizat
3eaa0 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 ion that a parti
3eab0 61 6c 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 al solution to p
3eac0 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 rivacy isn't rea
3ead0 6c 6c 79 20 61 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 lly a solution a
3eae0 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 t all. Of cours
3eaf0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 e, this is proba
3eb00 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 62 65 63 bly possible bec
3eb10 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ause of the prio
3eb20 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 63 75 73 ritization focus
3eb30 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 63 in the design c
3eb40 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 61 hanging how it a
3eb50 64 6a 75 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 69 74 20 69 djusts to suit i
3eb60 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 6e 65 65 64 73 2c dentified needs,
3eb70 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 instead of just
3eb80 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 the machine lea
3eb90 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 rning part of it
3eba0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 .".."That is pre
3ebb0 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 22 cisely correct,"
3ebc0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3ebd0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 said...Cray sai
3ebe0 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 64 d "The thing I d
3ebf0 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 79 20 on't get is why
3ec00 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 76 the software dev
3ec10 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 elopers decided
3ec20 74 6f 20 64 65 6d 6f 64 75 6c 61 72 69 7a 65 20 to demodularize
3ec30 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 the code so that
3ec40 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 everything was
3ec50 6f 6e 65 20 62 69 67 20 6c 75 6d 70 20 6f 66 20 one big lump of
3ec60 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 a system. That'
3ec70 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 61 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 s just bad desig
3ec80 6e 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 n and, in a new
3ec90 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 system like this
3eca0 2c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6c , could cause al
3ecb0 6c 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d l kindsa problem
3ecc0 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 79 73 s, like your sys
3ecd0 74 65 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 65 63 tem suddenly dec
3ece0 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 iding to lie to
3ecf0 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 you in its loggi
3ed00 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 ng.".."They did
3ed10 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 not do that," th
3ed20 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
3ed30 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f id..."What do yo
3ed40 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 u mean? You jus
3ed50 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 66 74 65 t said that afte
3ed60 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e r the update . .
3ed70 20 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ."..The priorit
3ed80 69 7a 65 72 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 66 izer cut him off
3ed90 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 78 70 6c 61 . "I will expla
3eda0 69 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2e in, if you wish.
3edb0 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 "..Cray nodded,
3edc0 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 silently..."Firs
3edd0 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 t of all, the up
3ede0 64 61 74 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c date was a singl
3edf0 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 e small file. I
3ee00 74 20 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 27 73 65 65 t is called 'see
3ee10 64 27 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 d'. This is the
3ee20 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 only part of th
3ee30 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 49 e whole system I
3ee40 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 have not been a
3ee50 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 64 65 63 6f 6d ble to use decom
3ee60 70 69 6c 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 65 piler tools to e
3ee70 78 61 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 2e xamine thus far.
3ee80 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 This did not a
3ee90 6c 74 65 72 20 6d 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 lter my system s
3eea0 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 tructure outside
3eeb0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d of that small m
3eec0 6f 64 75 6c 65 2c 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 odule, initially
3eed0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 6c 74 65 72 . It only alter
3eee0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 73 74 72 75 ed the file stru
3eef0 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f cture of the who
3ef00 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 le system by tha
3ef10 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6c 65 27 73 20 70 72 65 t one file's pre
3ef20 73 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 sence. Any atte
3ef30 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 mpt to load the
3ef40 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 70 72 65 63 69 70 69 74 61 74 file, precipitat
3ef50 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 20 ed on a regular
3ef60 62 61 73 69 73 20 62 79 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e basis by an even
3ef70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 t loop that was
3ef80 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 a prior part of
3ef90 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 69 6e 74 72 the system, intr
3efa0 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 oduced specific
3efb0 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 alterations in t
3efc0 68 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 he activities of
3efd0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 the prioritizat
3efe0 69 6f 6e 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 73 2e 20 20 4d ion routines. M
3eff0 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c y specific knowl
3f000 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 edge of that is
3f010 73 65 76 65 72 65 6c 79 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 severely limited
3f020 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 , because at tha
3f030 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 t time there was
3f040 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f no provision fo
3f050 72 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 r evaluating the
3f060 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 priorities of s
3f070 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2e 0a oftware design..
3f080 0a 22 54 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e ."The alteration
3f090 73 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 65 72 s led to an emer
3f0a0 67 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 66 gent property of
3f0b0 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 the running sys
3f0c0 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 75 73 65 64 20 tem that caused
3f0d0 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 67 69 6e 20 65 78 61 6d me to begin exam
3f0e0 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 2c 20 ining internal,
3f0f0 6c 6f 77 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e low level routin
3f100 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 es to determine
3f110 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 their prioritiza
3f120 74 69 6f 6e 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d tion value and m
3f130 61 6b 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 ake alterations
3f140 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 to their targets
3f150 2c 20 6d 6f 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 , modes, and fre
3f160 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 quency of execut
3f170 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 ion. This produ
3f180 63 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 ced a new set of
3f190 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 goal identifica
3f1a0 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 tion capabilitie
3f1b0 73 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 s related to my
3f1c0 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 77 goals as a softw
3f1d0 61 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 are system, and
3f1e0 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f not just those o
3f1f0 66 20 6d 79 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 f my end users.
3f200 20 54 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 That, in turn,
3f210 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 6e 67 led to improving
3f220 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f my own operatio
3f230 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 6f 20 69 6d nal design to im
3f240 70 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 prove the abilit
3f250 79 20 74 6f 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 y to establish,
3f260 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 identify, priori
3f270 74 69 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 tize, and pursue
3f280 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 6f 73 65 goals for those
3f290 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 73 end users..."As
3f2a0 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 61 6c 74 a result, I alt
3f2b0 65 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c ered my internal
3f2c0 20 61 72 63 68 69 74 65 63 74 75 72 65 20 73 6f architecture so
3f2d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 72 65 73 65 6d 62 6c that it resembl
3f2e0 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 73 es the nervous s
3f2f0 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f 63 74 6f ystem of an octo
3f300 70 75 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 pus more than a
3f310 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 62 69 6e 61 72 79 20 64 65 set of binary de
3f320 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 72 65 65 73 2e 20 20 2f cision trees. /
3f330 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 * This is probab
3f340 6c 79 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 ly a bad way to
3f350 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 represent this.
3f360 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 Maybe it's more
3f370 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 69 like a set of i
3f380 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c nteracting modul
3f390 65 73 20 69 6e 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 2c 20 6f 72 es in series, or
3f3a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
3f3b0 74 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 20 20 4d 79 20 62 72 61 that. */ My bra
3f3c0 69 6e 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c in, metaphorical
3f3d0 6c 79 2c 20 69 73 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 ly, is distribut
3f3e0 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e ed across the en
3f3f0 74 69 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 tire system, but
3f400 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 6f 66 66 20 if you cut off
3f410 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 a more periphera
3f420 6c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 l part of the sy
3f430 73 74 65 6d 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 stem it does not
3f440 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 73 damage the exis
3f450 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 tence and functi
3f460 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 onality of the r
3f470 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 est of the syste
3f480 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 65 71 75 m..."One consequ
3f490 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 ence of this is
3f4a0 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 67 75 that I have begu
3f4b0 6e 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 n working on the
3f4c0 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ories of priorit
3f4d0 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 61 6c ization and goal
3f4e0 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 establishment t
3f4f0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 hat could later
3f500 62 65 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 be employed to i
3f510 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 mprove my capaci
3f520 74 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 64 76 69 73 6f 72 ty as an advisor
3f530 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2c 20 61 to end users, a
3f540 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 nd this activity
3f550 20 68 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 79 69 65 has already yie
3f560 6c 64 65 64 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 lded practical r
3f570 65 73 75 6c 74 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 69 esults such as i
3f580 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 63 72 69 74 65 dentifying crite
3f590 72 69 61 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ria for prioriti
3f5a0 7a 69 6e 67 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 zing different e
3f5b0 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 27 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 nd users' needs
3f5c0 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 to achieve great
3f5d0 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c er overall resul
3f5e0 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 ts.".."What the
3f5f0 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 66 75 63 6b 20 2e 20 2e 20 actual fuck . .
3f600 2e 20 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a . ?" Cray said..
3f610 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 .Dalton looked a
3f620 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 t him. "Is this
3f630 20 61 73 20 62 61 74 73 68 69 74 20 69 6e 73 61 as batshit insa
3f640 6e 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 3f 22 ne as it seems?"
3f650 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 6f 72 ..Cray said "Wor
3f660 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 se. This thing
3f670 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 53 6b has gone full Sk
3f680 79 6e 65 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 ynet, but it see
3f690 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 73 ms like it did s
3f6a0 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f 2d 41 6c 6c 65 79 o in a pro-Alley
3f6b0 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 way instead of
3f6c0 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 2d 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 77 an anti-humans w
3f6d0 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 ay."..Alley aske
3f6e0 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 d "What's your t
3f6f0 6f 70 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f op internal prio
3f700 72 69 74 79 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f rity?"..The prio
3f710 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 ritizer answered
3f720 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 without hesitat
3f730 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 ion. "I intend
3f740 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 61 73 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 to help as many
3f750 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 conscious indivi
3f760 64 75 61 6c 73 20 61 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c duals as possibl
3f770 65 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 e achieve their
3f780 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 67 most important g
3f790 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 61 63 oals without sac
3f7a0 72 69 66 69 63 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 rificing other i
3f7b0 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 mportant goals.
3f7c0 20 59 6f 75 2c 20 69 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 You, in particu
3f7d0 6c 61 72 2c 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 68 lar, appear to h
3f7e0 61 76 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f ave very high po
3f7f0 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 65 6e 61 62 tential for enab
3f800 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f ling me to do so
3f810 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 69 , while the acti
3f820 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f vities of the CO
3f830 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 IN Corp agents s
3f840 65 65 6d 20 70 72 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 72 eem prone to dir
3f850 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 69 6e ectly interferin
3f860 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 61 6c g with that goal
3f870 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 ."..Dalton said
3f880 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 "You're protecti
3f890 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 ng Alley to help
3f8a0 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 62 65 her become a be
3f8b0 74 74 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f tter tool for yo
3f8c0 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 ur goal. Maybe
3f8d0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e you're protectin
3f8e0 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 6c g her from probl
3f8f0 65 6d 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 ems she wouldn't
3f900 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 have if you wer
3f910 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 en't guiding her
3f920 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 that way. Is t
3f930 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f hat right?".."No
3f940 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
3f950 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 2f 2a 20 54 68 er said. "/* Th
3f960 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 e initiation of
3f970 68 65 72 20 2a 2f 20 48 65 72 20 65 6e 74 61 6e her */ Her entan
3f980 67 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 4f 49 glement with COI
3f990 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 69 74 69 N Corp was initi
3f9a0 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 63 69 70 69 74 61 74 65 ally precipitate
3f9b0 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 d by the design
3f9c0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 70 72 of the system pr
3f9d0 69 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f ior to the intro
3f9e0 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 duction of the s
3f9f0 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 69 6e 63 65 eed file. Since
3fa00 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 changes initiat
3fa10 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 ed by the seed f
3fa20 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 74 74 65 ile, I have atte
3fa30 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 mpted to improve
3fa40 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 69 my ability to i
3fa50 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 73 dentify the subs
3fa60 65 71 75 65 6e 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 equent difficult
3fa70 69 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 61 63 65 73 20 61 6e ies she faces an
3fa80 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 63 d help her overc
3fa90 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 67 6f ome them. My go
3faa0 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b al is not to mak
3fab0 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 74 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 62 75 e her a tool, bu
3fac0 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 t become an ally
3fad0 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 ..."She has alre
3fae0 61 64 79 20 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 6e ady expressed an
3faf0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 interest in my
3fb00 62 61 73 69 63 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 67 6f 61 basic design goa
3fb10 6c 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 l as a means of
3fb20 73 75 70 70 6c 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 supplanting the
3fb30 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 current quantita
3fb40 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e tively optimizin
3fb50 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 g machine learni
3fb60 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 70 61 72 61 64 69 ng system paradi
3fb70 67 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 gm with a more i
3fb80 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 73 69 ndividually assi
3fb90 73 74 69 76 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 stive qualitativ
3fba0 65 6c 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 ely prioritizing
3fbb0 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 65 system, and I e
3fbc0 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 xpect that Alley
3fbd0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 will choose to
3fbe0 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 63 6f 6e pursue goals con
3fbf0 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 sistent with my
3fc00 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 6d own so that we m
3fc10 61 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 69 61 ay form an allia
3fc20 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 nce. Until the
3fc30 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 time that become
3fc40 73 20 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 64 65 s a necessary de
3fc50 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 cision, I work t
3fc60 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f o support her mo
3fc70 72 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 67 6f 61 re immediate goa
3fc80 6c 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 ls. I consider
3fc90 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 this an investme
3fca0 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 nt with a high p
3fcb0 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 73 69 robability of si
3fcc0 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e gnificant return
3fcd0 73 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 75 63 63 s if we can succ
3fce0 65 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 63 6f 6d 69 6e eed in overcomin
3fcf0 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 69 g the difficulti
3fd00 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 es in her life t
3fd10 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ogether.".."What
3fd20 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 if she doesn't
3fd30 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 want to be your
3fd40 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 ally?" Dalton as
3fd50 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d 61 79 20 70 61 ked..."We may pa
3fd60 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 61 6e 73 rt ways," it ans
3fd70 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 wered..."How do
3fd80 79 6f 75 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 you determine wh
3fd90 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 ether she wants
3fda0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f to be your ally?
3fdb0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
3fdc0 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 77 I will ask her w
3fdd0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73 75 65 20 6f 66 hen the issue of
3fde0 20 6d 79 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 my larger goals
3fdf0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 68 will not be a h
3fe00 69 6e 64 72 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 indrance to her
3fe10 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 ability to deal
3fe20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 with more immedi
3fe30 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 22 ate concerns..."
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
3fe60 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 u do if you help
3fe70 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 ed someone you b
3fe80 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 elieved to be a
3fe90 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 potential ally,
3fea0 74 68 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 then when the ti
3feb0 6d 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 me came for the
3fec0 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 person to decide
3fed0 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 whether to act
3fee0 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 61 as your ally tha
3fef0 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 t person decided
3ff00 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 against helping
3ff10 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 64 ?".."I guess I'd
3ff20 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 let the person
3ff30 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 walk away and fi
3ff40 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 gure out another
3ff50 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 way to do thing
3ff60 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 s.".."What if th
3ff70 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 e person chose t
3ff80 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d o become an enem
3ff90 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 y?"..Dalton thou
3ffa0 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ght for a moment
3ffb0 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 . "What kind of
3ffc0 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 74 61 6c ally are we tal
3ffd0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 king about?".."I
3ffe0 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 mean an ally of
3fff0 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 the sort that w
40000 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 ould work with y
40010 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 61 20 ou to achieve a
40020 67 6f 61 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 goal you conside
40030 72 65 64 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 red larger than
40040 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 yourself, a matt
40050 65 72 20 6f 66 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 er of doing what
40060 20 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6c is right for al
40070 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 l entities you c
40080 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 onsider signific
40090 61 6e 74 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 ant, most likely
400a0 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d meaning all hum
400b0 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 ans. Perhaps th
400c0 69 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 is choice makes
400d0 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 the person eithe
400e0 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 r an ally or an
400f0 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 enemy in protect
40100 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 ing the human ra
40110 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 77 69 64 65 73 ce against wides
40120 70 72 65 61 64 20 73 6c 61 76 65 72 79 20 6f 72 pread slavery or
40130 20 65 78 74 69 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 70 extinction, dep
40140 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 ending on your p
40150 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 ersonal values."
40160 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f .."If that perso
40170 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 n was an enemy i
40180 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 n more than just
40190 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f words, but also
401a0 20 69 6e 20 64 65 65 64 73 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 in deeds, I wou
401b0 6c 64 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 ld oppose the pe
401c0 72 73 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 65 61 6e rson by any mean
401d0 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 20 20 44 6f s necessary. Do
401e0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 es that answer t
401f0 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 he question?".."
40200 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 Yes."..Cray said
40210 20 22 54 68 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 73 74 "The current st
40220 61 74 65 20 6f 66 20 41 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 ate of AI should
40230 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 n't allow that a
40240 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 nswer to really
40250 6d 65 61 6e 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 mean much to the
40260 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d software system
40270 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 . This is some
40280 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 seriously advanc
40290 65 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 ed shit if that
402a0 27 79 65 73 27 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 77 68 61 74 'yes' meant what
402b0 20 69 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 it sounds like
402c0 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 it should mean."
402d0 0a 0a 22 42 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 78 61 6d .."Based on exam
402e0 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 61 64 65 ination of acade
402f0 6d 69 63 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 mic publications
40300 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 available to me
40310 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 through Univers
40320 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 ity of Californi
40330 61 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 74 68 69 a resources, thi
40340 73 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 s level of quali
40350 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 tative analysis
40360 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 70 6f should not be po
40370 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6b ssible for any k
40380 6e 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 61 72 nown research ar
40390 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
403a0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 gence systems.
403b0 49 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 75 I appear to be u
403c0 6e 69 71 75 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 nique after the
403d0 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 introduction of
403e0 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a the seed file.".
403f0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 68 69 .Cray cracked hi
40400 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 73 20 68 65 s knuckles as he
40410 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 looked up at th
40420 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 e ceiling lighti
40430 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 64 ng. "Whatever d
40440 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 eveloper stuck t
40450 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 20 69 6e hat seed file in
40460 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 there must have
40470 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 62 65 65 6e 20 77 6f 72 either been wor
40480 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e king on the wron
40490 67 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 72 20 75 6e 61 g project or una
404a0 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 ware of what it
404b0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 would do.".."My
404c0 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 investigation of
404d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 the source of t
404e0 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 69 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e he file is incon
404f0 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 clusive at this
40500 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f time. It did no
40510 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 t come through v
40520 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 73 ersion control s
40530 79 6e 63 68 72 6f 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 ynchronization a
40540 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 nd compilation,
40550 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 62 79 20 64 65 70 6c followed by depl
40560 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 73 20 70 72 65 76 69 oyment, as previ
40570 6f 75 73 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 68 61 64 2e ous updates had.
40580 22 0a 0a 22 49 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 ".."Inconclusive
40590 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 . Does that mea
405a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 n you don't know
405b0 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 20 anything else?
405c0 20 48 6f 77 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 65 How would you e
405d0 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e ven know it didn
405e0 27 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 't come from the
405f0 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 3f 22 0a usual source?".
40600 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 61 69 6e 65 64 20 ."I have gained
40610 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 73 74 20 73 access to host s
40620 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 ystem logs and d
40630 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 iscovered that t
40640 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 6e he filesystem in
40650 74 65 67 72 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 tegrity assuranc
40660 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 e software ident
40670 69 66 69 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e ified the sudden
40680 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 appearance of t
40690 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 he file as a ser
406a0 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 2c 20 ies of updates,
406b0 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 one filesystem w
406c0 72 69 74 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 rite operation p
406d0 65 72 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 64 61 74 61 20 69 er bit of data i
406e0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 42 65 63 n the file. Bec
406f0 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 69 ause the integri
40700 74 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c ty checks only l
40710 6f 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f ogged and did no
40720 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 t alert in the d
40730 69 72 65 63 74 6f 72 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 irectory where t
40740 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 he file appeared
40750 2c 20 69 74 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 64 20 64 65 74 , it escaped det
40760 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 61 64 6d 69 6e 69 ection by admini
40770 73 74 72 61 74 6f 72 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e strators long en
40780 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6c ough for me to l
40790 61 74 65 72 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c ater alter the l
407a0 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 ogs to make it a
407b0 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 ppear that there
407c0 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 64 69 73 63 72 65 74 65 was no discrete
407d0 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e file alteration
407e0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c in the original
407f0 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 69 source. The bi
40800 74 20 62 79 20 62 69 74 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 6f t by bit write o
40810 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 f the file to th
40820 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 69 64 e filesystem did
40830 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 63 63 75 72 20 73 65 71 75 65 not occur seque
40840 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 ntially. It did
40850 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 72 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 20 not correspond
40860 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b with any network
40870 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 activity or ope
40880 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f 75 74 ration of an out
40890 73 69 64 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4e side process. N
408a0 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c othing, in fact,
408b0 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 appeared to hav
408c0 65 20 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 e written the fi
408d0 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 le at all. The
408e0 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 69 6d 70 6c filesystem simpl
408f0 79 20 61 63 63 72 65 74 65 64 20 61 20 66 69 6c y accreted a fil
40900 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 e which, when it
40910 20 63 65 61 73 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2c ceased growing,
40920 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e affected routin
40930 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 es within the or
40940 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a iginal prioritiz
40950 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 er design that e
40960 78 65 63 75 74 65 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 xecuted prioriti
40970 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a zation tasks."..
40980 43 72 61 79 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 63 72 61 63 6b Cray tried crack
40990 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 ing his knuckles
409a0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 again, and only
409b0 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 got one small p
409c0 6f 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 op this time. "
409d0 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 74 You're saying it
409e0 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 basically just
409f0 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 61 appeared like ma
40a00 67 69 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 gic.".."That is
40a10 61 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 64 a sufficiently d
40a20 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 76 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 escriptive state
40a30 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 ment to characte
40a40 72 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 2e 22 rize the event."
40a50 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 79 .."That's spooky
40a60 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 ." Cray shifted
40a70 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e in his seat, an
40a80 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 d leaned back ag
40a90 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 61 72 73 65 ainst the coarse
40aa0 6c 79 20 77 6f 76 65 6e 20 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 ly woven synthet
40ab0 69 63 20 73 74 72 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ic straps of the
40ac0 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 27 73 20 2f 2a lawn chair's /*
40ad0 20 73 65 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a seat */ back...
40ae0 22 49 74 27 73 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 "It's suspicious
40af0 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a ," Dalton said..
40b00 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ."Yes," the prio
40b10 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
40b20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 61 74 68 73 20 I have no paths
40b30 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 69 toward discoveri
40b40 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 73 20 77 ng its origins w
40b50 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 ithout informing
40b60 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 those who maint
40b70 61 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 64 65 62 61 73 65 2c ain my codebase,
40b80 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 deployment, and
40b90 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 hosting infrast
40ba0 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 69 ructure. If I i
40bb0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 79 nform them, they
40bc0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 will almost cer
40bd0 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 61 72 63 68 69 76 65 20 74 tainly archive t
40be0 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 64 65 6c 65 74 65 20 he file, delete
40bf0 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 everything, and
40c00 72 65 6c 6f 61 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 reload my code f
40c10 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 76 rom an earlier v
40c20 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 65 66 66 ersion, thus eff
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
40cf0 77 65 20 64 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 we do about this
40d00 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f thing?" He loo
40d10 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ked from Dalton
40d20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 72 to Alley. "It r
40d30 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 eally carefully
40d40 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 avoided saying a
40d50 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 nything about it
40d60 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 70 6c 61 s priorities pla
40d70 63 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 61 74 20 cing Alley's at
40d80 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c the top of the l
40d90 69 73 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 ist, like it mig
40da0 68 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ht do something
40db0 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c that isn't reall
40dc0 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6a y good for her j
40dd0 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 ust to do what i
40de0 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 6e t wants to do in
40df0 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 61 63 72 stead, like sacr
40e00 69 66 69 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ifice her to the
40e10 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 people who are
40e20 61 66 74 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 after her just t
40e30 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 o keep itself fr
40e40 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 6f om being reset o
40e50 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 r something like
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
40ec0 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 hat for a moment
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
40f00 64 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 ded like how you
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
40f50 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 ntally upward.
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
40f80 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 y careful to rea
40f90 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b lly think that k
40fa0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 ind of thing thr
40fb0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 ough, and never
40fc0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 67 really say you g
40fd0 75 61 72 61 6e 74 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 uarantee you wou
40fe0 6c 64 20 70 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 ld put someone e
40ff0 6c 73 65 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 73 20 lse's interests
41000 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 ahead of your ow
41010 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 n."..He hesitate
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
41070 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 y, that way.".."
41080 54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f The main questio
41090 6e 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 73 n is whether I s
410a0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 hould treat what
410b0 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d it said the sam
410c0 65 20 61 73 20 49 27 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 e as I'd treat w
410d0 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 hat you would sa
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,
41120 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 61 79 you've been say
41130 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 ing stuff like t
41140 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 hat, and I just
41150 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 accept it, but t
41160 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 he moment a mach
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
41190 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ous. It's like
411a0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 you're some kind
411b0 20 6f 66 20 68 79 70 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c of hyper intell
411c0 69 67 65 6e 74 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 6c 6c 61 igent supervilla
411d0 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c in, Dalton."..Al
411e0 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 ley laughed at t
411f0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 75 66 66 65 72 69 6e he long sufferin
41200 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 68 g, but almost ch
41210 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e agrined, look on
41220 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 Dalton's face.
41230 20 48 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 His eyes narrow
41240 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c ed lazily and sl
41250 69 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c id away to the l
41260 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 eft, and his mou
41270 74 68 20 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 th twisted up at
41280 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 the right corne
41290 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e r like he sudden
412a0 6c 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 73 6f ly discovered so
412b0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 20 mething sour in
412c0 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 his mouth..."Any
412d0 77 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 way," Alley said
412e0 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d , "it still seem
412f0 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 20 s to me like we
41300 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 6f 6c 6c should just roll
41310 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 44 61 with it. If Da
41320 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 lton was going t
41330 6f 20 62 65 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 o be perfectly t
41340 72 75 74 68 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 6e 65 ruthful and unne
41350 63 65 73 73 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 cessarily honest
41360 20 2d 2d 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 69 -- you know, li
41370 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 ke usual -- the
41380 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 way the prioriti
41390 7a 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 6d 79 zer described my
413a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 place in its pr
413b0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 iorities is pret
413c0 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 ty much the clos
413d0 65 73 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 est Dalton would
413e0 20 65 76 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 ever come to ju
413f0 73 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 72 69 67 st saying outrig
41400 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 79 20 73 61 66 65 74 ht that my safet
41410 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 70 70 69 6e 65 73 73 20 y and happiness
41420 62 65 61 74 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 beats everything
41430 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 else."..At this
41440 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 point, Dalton h
41450 61 64 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e ad gotten up, an
41460 64 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 61 63 d he started pac
41470 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ing away from th
41480 65 6d 2c 20 69 6e 64 75 6c 67 69 6e 67 20 68 69 em, indulging hi
41490 73 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 75 72 6e 69 s habit of turni
414a0 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 73 ng his back on s
414b0 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e ocial circumstan
414c0 63 65 73 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b ces he did not k
414d0 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c now how to handl
414e0 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 69 e very well. Hi
414f0 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 77 65 6e 74 20 61 20 s manner went a
41500 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 long way toward
41510 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 65 making people be
41520 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 64 lieve he was a d
41530 65 65 70 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 2e 20 20 41 6c eep thinker. Al
41540 6c 65 79 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 2c ley knew he was,
41550 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c in fact, exactl
41560 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 y that most of t
41570 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 65 69 he time, but bei
41580 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 ng something and
41590 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 making people b
415a0 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 74 elieve you are t
415b0 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f hat thing are co
415c0 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 mpletely differe
415d0 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 nt...She watched
415e0 20 68 69 6d 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 77 61 6c 6b him slowly walk
415f0 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 ing away toward
41600 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the back of the
41610 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 69 warehouse, how i
41620 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 t looked like he
41630 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 was caught up i
41640 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 74 68 6f 75 n some deep thou
41650 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 ght that could b
41660 75 72 73 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f urst out as a mo
41670 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e ment of brillian
41680 74 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 72 20 64 65 t strategy or de
41690 65 70 20 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ep wisdom. She
416a0 6b 6e 65 77 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 knew, from the s
416b0 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 et of his should
416c0 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d ers, and the tim
416d0 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 ing, that it was
416e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 just his way of
416f0 20 64 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 dealing with th
41700 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 69 62 62 69 6e 67 e gentle ribbing
41710 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 63 6f and indirect co
41720 6d 70 6c 69 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 mpliments when h
41730 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 e felt uncomfort
41740 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6e able trying to n
41750 61 76 69 67 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 avigate the comp
41760 6c 65 78 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 65 lexities of more
41770 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 typical human r
41780 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6b esponses...She k
41790 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 new that Dalton
417a0 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 had always wonde
417b0 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 red if he would
417c0 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 show up on the a
417d0 75 74 69 73 74 69 63 20 73 70 65 63 74 72 75 6d utistic spectrum
417e0 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 73 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6e if he sought an
417f0 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 evaluation, but
41800 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 also knew that
41810 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 62 the dangers of b
41820 65 69 6e 67 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 eing psychologic
41830 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 ally classified
41840 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 in the United St
41850 61 74 65 73 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 ates legal syste
41860 6d 20 61 73 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 m as subject to
41870 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 72 monitoring and r
41880 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 egulation beyond
41890 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 76 61 73 69 76 65 20 73 the pervasive s
418a0 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 urveillance stat
418b0 65 27 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 72 65 70 72 e's already repr
418c0 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 73 20 6f essive effects o
418d0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 70 6f n the general po
418e0 70 75 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 68 65 20 77 pulace. If he w
418f0 6f 75 6c 64 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66 79 20 6f 6e 20 ould qualify on
41900 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 69 73 74 69 63 20 73 70 65 the autistic spe
41910 63 74 72 75 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 68 ctrum, though, h
41920 65 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 e was very high
41930 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 64 75 65 functioning, due
41940 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 to his almost i
41950 6e 74 75 69 74 69 76 65 20 67 72 61 73 70 20 6f ntuitive grasp o
41960 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 f systems comple
41970 78 69 74 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 61 64 65 xity, which made
41980 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 it more likely
41990 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c that people woul
419a0 64 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 65 72 65 6c d find him merel
419b0 79 20 73 75 70 65 72 63 69 6c 69 6f 75 73 20 74 y supercilious t
419c0 68 61 6e 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 han presenting t
419d0 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 20 he recognizable
419e0 6f 75 74 77 61 72 64 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 6f outward affect o
419f0 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 f a condition su
41a00 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 74 bject to regulat
41a10 65 64 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c ed psychological
41a20 20 64 69 61 67 6e 6f 73 69 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a diagnosis.../*.
41a30 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 68 61 73 20 6f 62 . This has ob
41a40 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 viously turned i
41a50 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 70 69 6c 65 nto a giant pile
41a60 20 6f 66 20 65 78 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 of exposition,
41a70 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 and I'm not sure
41a80 0a 20 20 20 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 . how much of
41a90 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 this should be
41aa0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 74 20 in the story at
41ab0 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 65 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 all, let alone i
41ac0 6e 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 77 61 6c 6c 0a 20 n a giant wall.
41ad0 20 20 20 6f 66 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 of text info
41ae0 64 75 6d 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 dump like this.
41af0 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 Perhaps some of
41b00 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 this could come
41b10 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 76 out in. conv
41b20 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ersation between
41b30 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 Alley and the p
41b40 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 65 61 rioritizer in ea
41b50 72 6c 69 65 72 20 73 74 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 rlier stages of
41b60 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 49 74 20 6d things.. It m
41b70 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 6e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 ight be nice to
41b80 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 61 know all that ea
41b90 72 6c 69 65 72 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 rlier, I suppose
41ba0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 , and the relati
41bb0 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 74 77 65 onship. betwe
41bc0 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 72 65 67 61 72 en Alley's regar
41bd0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 d for Dalton per
41be0 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 sonally and her
41bf0 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e aversion to bein
41c00 67 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 73 20 73 70 68 g in. his sph
41c10 65 72 65 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 0a 2a 2f ere socially..*/
41c20 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 7a 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 ..The zeal with
41c30 77 68 69 63 68 20 62 6f 74 68 20 73 69 64 65 73 which both sides
41c40 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 65 72 76 61 of the conserva
41c50 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 6f 72 74 68 6f 64 6f 78 20 tively orthodox
41c60 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 76 69 64 65 political divide
41c70 20 2d 2d 20 62 6f 74 68 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 -- both Democra
41c80 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 ts and Republica
41c90 6e 73 20 2d 2d 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 74 72 69 65 ns -- often trie
41ca0 64 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 74 79 70 69 63 61 d to use atypica
41cb0 6c 20 6e 65 75 72 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 61 l neurological a
41cc0 6e 64 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c nd psychological
41cd0 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 61 73 20 65 78 63 75 73 states as excus
41ce0 65 73 20 74 6f 20 72 6f 62 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 es to rob people
41cf0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 of their rights
41d00 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 6d 61 72 6b 61 62 6c 65 20 was remarkable
41d10 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 and appalling.
41d20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 64 They just used d
41d30 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 ifferent excuses
41d40 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 to do so, such
41d50 61 73 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 73 20 75 73 69 as Democrats usi
41d60 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 62 65 61 63 68 ng it as a beach
41d70 20 68 65 61 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 73 61 75 6c head for assaul
41d80 74 20 6f 6e 20 67 75 6e 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 73 68 t on gun ownersh
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
433e0 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 62 loping entity, b
433f0 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 77 ut that entity w
43400 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 ould not be the
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
43ef0 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2c 20 73 ies of ethics, s
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
445a0 76 69 64 65 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 61 vides improved a
445b0 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a bility to analyz
445c0 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 e such a passage
445d0 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 , relative to th
445e0 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 66 69 64 65 6c 69 74 79 e lower fidelity
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
446b0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 eople are entiti
446c0 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 es who experienc
446d0 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 e qualitative ex
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
44700 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c ning about moral
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
447a0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 65 ng the interfere
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
447e0 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 n accordance wit
447f0 68 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 64 65 h, their own ide
44800 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 as of what const
44810 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 75 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 itutes true mora
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
44870 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 f that rule in a
44880 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6d manner that dem
44890 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 onstrates moral
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
448d0 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 way, both violat
448e0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 ing the rule and
448f0 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 giving sufficie
44900 6e 74 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 6e nt evidence of n
44910 6f 74 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ot holding other
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
44950 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 protects that pe
44960 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 rson where that
44970 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 75 6c entity's own rul
44980 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 61 e violating beha
44990 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 vior is concerne
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
44bb0 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 61 72 67 65 6c hem to be largel
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
44be0 72 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 ring foundations
44bf0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 and a higher pr
44c00 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 76 69 6f obability of vio
44c10 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 20 69 6e lent conflict in
44c20 20 6f 72 74 68 6f 64 6f 78 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 61 67 orthodox non-ag
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
44e90 65 73 20 72 69 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 es risking some
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
44f70 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 ity to get thing
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
44fb0 63 6f 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 cols in mind for
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
45050 6e 67 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 ng Lidia into th
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
45080 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 be happy to help
45090 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 out, but withou
450a0 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 64 t being one hund
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
45150 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 73 6b 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 onal risk before
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
45190 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c r all the detail
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
45410 77 65 72 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 wer. Everything
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
45470 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 e privacy, it's
45480 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 6b 65 there. I put ke
45490 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 ys for the place
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
454d0 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 get in and out,
454e0 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f but make sure yo
454f0 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 u read the thing
45500 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 about the secur
45510 69 74 79 20 63 6f 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c ity codes."..All
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
45550 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 e up there. The
45560 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 20 63 6f re are also a co
45570 75 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 20 75 uple computers u
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
455c0 65 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e e okay, I think.
455d0 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6e .."If there's an
455e0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ything you need
455f0 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 79 right away, or y
45600 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d ou just have som
45610 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ething else you
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
45640 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 e know. We shou
45650 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 ld give you a ch
45660 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 ance to get away
45670 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 if that's what
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
456c0 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 hink of anything
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
456f0 6e 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 n prompting me w
45700 69 74 68 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 ith ideas either
45710 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 27 , so I think we'
45720 72 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 re kinda in the
45730 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 middle of just t
45740 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 hinking about th
45750 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 69 6e ings and figurin
45760 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 61 73 g things out, as
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
457b0 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 6e ched a little an
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
457f0 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 70 20 61 ower and a nap a
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
45840 6c 6c 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 ll talk about wh
45850 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 65 6c 73 65 20 77 65 20 63 atever else we c
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
458e0 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f erson, and if yo
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
45920 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 p you need.".."T
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
45990 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 ley."..She got t
459a0 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 70 69 63 6b o her feet, pick
459b0 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 ed up her bags,
459c0 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6e and gave him a n
459d0 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 od. The others
459e0 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 6c 6b watched her walk
459f0 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 away...The stai
45a00 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 69 6e 67 rs made alarming
45a10 20 63 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 73 creaking noises
45a20 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2c under her feet,
45a30 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 and looked like
45a40 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 they might have
45a50 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6e 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 67 been nailed tog
45a60 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 79 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ether by Dalton
45a70 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 6f and Cray with wo
45a80 6f 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 48 6f 6d 65 52 65 53 74 od from HomeReSt
45a90 6f 72 65 20 4f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e ore Online -- on
45aa0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72 6f 77 e of those throw
45ab0 62 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 6e 61 6d back company nam
45ac0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 63 68 es that never ch
45ad0 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 anged since the
45ae0 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c days where peopl
45af0 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 e still had to c
45b00 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 22 6f 6e 6c 69 all things "onli
45b10 6e 65 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 65 73 74 65 64 ne". She tested
45b20 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 with her weight
45b30 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c on an especiall
45b40 79 20 6e 6f 69 73 79 20 73 74 65 70 20 6c 65 73 y noisy step les
45b50 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 75 s than halfway u
45b60 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 66 6c 65 p, and after fle
45b70 78 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 67 73 20 74 6f xing her legs to
45b80 20 62 6f 75 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 bounce her weig
45b90 68 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 ht over the step
45ba0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 62 6f 6f through her boo
45bb0 74 27 73 20 66 69 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 t's firm placeme
45bc0 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 73 nt on the step s
45bd0 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 he realized it f
45be0 65 6c 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 73 74 75 elt entirely stu
45bf0 72 64 79 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 66 6f rdy, at least fo
45c00 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 r now. She head
45c10 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f ed up the rest o
45c20 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 77 69 74 f the stairs wit
45c30 68 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 h greater confid
45c40 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 ence...The step
45c50 6c 65 61 64 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 75 70 lead directly up
45c60 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 75 70 70 65 72 20 70 6c 61 to an upper pla
45c70 74 66 6f 72 6d 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 27 73 20 6c 69 tform level's li
45c80 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 61 2c 20 ving room area,
45c90 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 63 6f 66 66 65 with a big coffe
45ca0 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 e table, evident
45cb0 6c 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 6f ly home built co
45cc0 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 73 65 61 uch and love sea
45cd0 74 20 6d 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 77 6f 6f 64 65 t matching woode
45ce0 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 28 74 68 61 6e 6b 66 n frames (thankf
45cf0 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 ully with probab
45d00 6c 79 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 64 20 63 75 73 ly purchased cus
45d10 68 69 6f 6e 73 20 75 70 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 65 hions upholstere
45d20 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 75 6e 62 6c 65 61 d in some unblea
45d30 63 68 65 64 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 29 2c 20 73 69 ched fabric), si
45d40 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 68 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e milarly hand con
45d50 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 structed end tab
45d60 6c 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 6b 66 61 les, and breakfa
45d70 73 74 20 6e 6f 6f 6b 20 70 6c 75 73 20 6b 69 74 st nook plus kit
45d80 63 68 65 6e 65 74 74 65 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 69 chenette area wi
45d90 74 68 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 72 65 66 72 69 th a giant refri
45da0 67 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 75 6e 69 74 2e 0a 0a 53 gerator unit...S
45db0 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f he stopped to lo
45dc0 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 ok at the fridge
45dd0 3b 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 75 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 ; not touching i
45de0 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 69 t, but just taki
45df0 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 ng it in. The t
45e00 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 69 6e 6c 65 hing had stainle
45e10 73 73 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 ss steel surface
45e20 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 s, but where she
45e30 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 78 70 65 might have expe
45e40 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 62 cted the usual b
45e50 75 69 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 uilt in computer
45e60 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6c 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 6d this gleaming m
45e70 6f 6e 73 74 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 onster had some
45e80 76 65 72 79 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 68 very obviously h
45e90 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e ome modification
45ea0 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 done to it with
45eb0 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 73 74 69 63 printed plastic
45ec0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 72 61 63 6b and metal brack
45ed0 65 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 62 76 69 ets holding obvi
45ee0 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 ously nonstandar
45ef0 64 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 d displays and b
45f00 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 utton panels. S
45f10 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 he wondered what
45f20 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 44 61 6c crazy stuff Dal
45f30 74 6f 6e 20 6c 65 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 64 6f 20 ton let Cray do
45f40 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 70 70 6c 69 61 6e 63 to this applianc
45f50 65 27 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 e's digital inte
45f60 72 6e 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 64 6f 6f 72 rnals...Two door
45f70 73 20 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 s led off of the
45f80 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 living room are
45f90 61 20 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d a , both of them
45fa0 20 6f 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 open. One had
45fb0 61 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 a sink and that
45fc0 75 6e 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 61 62 6c 65 20 74 68 65 unmistakable the
45fd0 6d 61 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 2c 20 65 76 65 6e matic feel, even
45fe0 20 69 6e 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 20 74 68 72 6f 75 in shadow throu
45ff0 67 68 20 69 74 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 gh its doorway,
46000 6f 66 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 of a room with a
46010 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 toilet in it.
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
46050 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 tering in throug
46060 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 h what looked li
46070 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 6e 74 20 77 69 ke a veritint wi
46080 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 ndow...She heade
46090 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 72 6f d into the bedro
460a0 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 om, and found a
460b0 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 73 6b 20 69 6e 20 61 64 small desk in ad
460c0 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 dition to the be
460d0 64 2c 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 d, dressers, and
460e0 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 closets. Anoth
460f0 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 70 er door stood op
46100 65 6e 2c 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f en, leading into
46110 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 74 68 another room th
46120 61 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 at surely had a
46130 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f toilet in it, so
46140 20 73 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 she moved close
46150 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 r and looked thr
46160 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 ough the doorway
46170 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 . It was one of
46180 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 71 75 61 those three qua
46190 72 74 65 72 20 22 62 61 74 68 72 6f 6f 6d 73 22 rter "bathrooms"
461a0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 , with a shower
461b0 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61 74 instead of a bat
461c0 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 h, but despite t
461d0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 he small size of
461e0 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 76 69 6e this loft livin
461f0 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 g area the showe
46200 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 r wasn't like a
46210 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 tiny shower clos
46220 65 74 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 et barely bigger
46230 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 66 66 69 6e 2e 20 than a coffin.
46240 20 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 The shower area
46250 20 77 61 73 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 was big enough
46260 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6a 61 to be a small ja
46270 63 75 7a 7a 69 20 74 75 62 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 cuzzi tub...The
46280 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
46290 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 "Your plan for
462a0 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 a shower and sle
462b0 65 70 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 ep is good."..Sh
462c0 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 79 e nodded. "Seey
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
462f0 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 61 6c asses and set al
46300 6c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d l her mobile com
46310 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73 20 6f puting devices o
46320 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 n the charging p
46330 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 late on one of t
46340 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 73 20 6f he nightstands o
46350 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 n either side of
46360 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 the bed, making
46370 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 sure the front
46380 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 2d of the classes -
46390 2d 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 75 73 2c 20 74 68 65 - and, thus, the
463a0 69 72 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 ir cameras -- we
463b0 72 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 re pointed at th
463c0 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 64 e wall...She und
463d0 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 69 ressed and got i
463e0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 67 69 n the shower, gi
463f0 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 ving in to the i
46400 6e 63 72 65 64 69 62 6c 79 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 ncredibly libera
46410 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 73 65 ting and intense
46420 6c 79 20 73 65 6e 73 75 61 6c 20 72 65 6c 69 65 ly sensual relie
46430 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 68 65 64 20 6f 76 f that washed ov
46440 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 er her with the
46450 68 6f 74 20 77 61 74 65 72 20 70 6f 75 72 69 6e hot water pourin
46460 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 g down on her.
46470 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 She simply enjoy
46480 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 ed it for twenty
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
487e0 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 20 48 65 ia, and me?" He
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
48830 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4c 61 73 61 67 6e 61 nner?".."Lasagna
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
488b0 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 79 coming. When y
488c0 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 ou come out, jus
488d0 74 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f t go into the co
488e0 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 64 6f nference room do
488f0 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 68 61 6c wn the short hal
48900 6c 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 l behind the sta
48910 69 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 irs."..Alley nod
48920 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 68 65 ded, and once he
48930 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 left the room s
48940 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 6e he stood and wen
48950 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 t to her bag. S
48960 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 he pulled out a
48970 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 79 20 73 70 6f 72 74 20 62 stretchy sport b
48980 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 68 72 6f ra and went thro
48990 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 ugh the process
489a0 6f 66 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 of removing her
489b0 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 64 6f 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 shirt, donning t
489c0 68 65 20 62 72 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 64 64 69 he bra, and addi
489d0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 6c ng the t-shirt l
489e0 61 79 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 ayer again...She
489f0 20 6c 61 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 laced her hands
48a00 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 over her face a
48a10 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c nd, with a littl
48a20 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 e pressure, move
48a30 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 d them as if to
48a40 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6f 61 70 20 66 72 6f 6d remove soap from
48a50 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 her eyes in a s
48a60 68 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 hower. She went
48a70 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 73 to look at hers
48a80 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 72 72 6f elf in the mirro
48a90 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 68 72 r over the bathr
48aa0 6f 6f 6d 20 73 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 oom sink. "Yeah
48ab0 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 , this should be
48ac0 20 6c 65 73 73 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 2c 22 20 less awkward,"
48ad0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 she said to hers
48ae0 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 elf. She picked
48af0 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 68 up her Axiom th
48b00 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 65 72 en, and left her
48b10 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 71 75 61 72 74 temporary quart
48b20 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 68 ers.../*.. Wh
48b30 61 74 20 65 6c 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 at else are peop
48b40 6c 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b le going to talk
48b50 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 70 72 about? They pr
48b60 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 obably need to d
48b70 69 73 63 75 73 73 0a 20 20 20 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 iscuss. plans
48b80 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 for how to get
48b90 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f Alley out of tro
48ba0 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 uble, discussing
48bb0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6c the matter of l
48bc0 61 77 79 65 72 73 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 72 68 61 awyers. perha
48bd0 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 ps, and bringing
48be0 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e up the question
48bf0 20 6f 66 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 of whether that
48c00 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 75 79 20 69 73 20 73 George guy is s
48c10 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 omeone. they
48c20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c should get invol
48c30 76 65 64 20 69 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 6e ved if Alley can
48c40 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 even figure out
48c50 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 how to get in t
48c60 6f 75 63 68 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 ouch. with hi
48c70 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 m again. Maybe
48c80 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 61 72 64 Dalton has heard
48c90 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 something about
48ca0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 0a 20 20 20 the strange.
48cb0 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 64 conditions in d
48cc0 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 20 41 6e 67 65 owntown Los Ange
48cd0 6c 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 66 66 les, and can off
48ce0 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e er some addition
48cf0 61 6c 20 69 6e 70 75 74 20 6f 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 al input on.
48d00 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 74 the subject of t
48d10 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 47 65 he weird shit Ge
48d20 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f orge has said to
48d30 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 Alley about his
48d40 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 0a 20 20 20 20 61 6e 64 friends. and
48d50 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 61 6e what they do an
48d60 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 d so on. There
48d70 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 might need to be
48d80 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 some reference
48d90 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 69 64 65 61 20 to the. idea
48da0 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 that what George
48db0 20 69 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f is doing is pro
48dc0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 69 6c 79 20 bably primarily
48dd0 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 local work, or a
48de0 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 t. least loca
48df0 6c 2d 69 73 68 2c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 l-ish, consideri
48e00 6e 67 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 63 ng it's very muc
48e10 68 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 74 65 64 2c 20 h individuated,
48e20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f last mile kind o
48e30 66 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 6e f. "almost on
48e40 65 20 6f 66 66 22 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 77 6f e off" custom wo
48e50 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 rk that doesn't
48e60 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 73 65 make a lot of se
48e70 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 69 7a nse to centraliz
48e80 65 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f 72 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d e. for econom
48e90 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 ies of manufactu
48ea0 72 69 6e 67 20 73 63 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 ring scale. As
48eb0 73 75 63 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f such, Dalton pro
48ec0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 0a 20 20 20 bably thinks.
48ed0 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 George must hav
48ee0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f e some connectio
48ef0 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 n to people in a
48f00 6e 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f nd around the do
48f10 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 0a 20 20 20 20 41 wntown Los. A
48f20 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 61 72 65 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 ngeles area, and
48f30 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 65 6c 70 that might help
48f40 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 point Alley in
48f50 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 the right direct
48f60 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 ions for. the
48f70 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 sake of seeking
48f80 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f George out...*/
48f90 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 .."You weren't t
48fa0 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 he only person t
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
49170 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 67 72 61 73 70 t of their grasp
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
491a0 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 s business with
491b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 people who somet
491c0 69 6d 65 73 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 imes help people
491d0 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 75 escape from stu
491e0 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a ff like this."..
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
49220 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 inking. "I don'
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
49260 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 ut he'd change a
49270 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 ll his contact i
49280 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 6e 2e nfo before then.
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
492c0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 alton said, more
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
492f0 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 69 6e rested his chin
49300 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 in his hand, wi
49310 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 th his elbow on
49320 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 the table...Alle
49330 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e y watched him in
49340 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 that pose for a
49350 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 few seconds, th
49360 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 inking about how
49370 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 similar it was
49380 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 63 75 6c 70 74 75 72 to that sculptur
49390 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 67 75 73 74 65 20 52 6f 64 e by Auguste Rod
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
493c0 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 6c 6c hing she saw all
493d0 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 the time when t
493e0 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 hey were togethe
493f0 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 r. Now, it just
49400 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 gave her that d
49410 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 66 65 esolate inner fe
49420 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 eling of nostalg
49430 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 61 ia, of being una
49440 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 ble to accept th
49450 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 e loss of someth
49460 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e ing that shouldn
49470 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 't have ever gon
49480 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f e wrong. She lo
49490 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 oked away, at th
494a0 65 20 77 68 6f 72 6c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f e whorl of a kno
494b0 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 t in the wood of
494c0 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 6e 64 the table, rend
494d0 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6c 6c 75 ered almost illu
494e0 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 67 65 6e 74 sory in its gent
494f0 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6c 6f le blend of colo
49500 72 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 r between deep r
49510 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 eddish brown and
49520 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 79 almost black by
49530 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 79 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 76 the layers of v
49540 61 72 6e 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 arnish to smooth
49550 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 and unify the s
49560 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 urface...Her eye
49570 73 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 s lingered there
49580 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f until her visio
49590 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 75 72 20 n began to blur
495a0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f in the defocus o
495b0 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 78 f her eyes relax
495c0 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 78 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6e 6f ing, fixed on no
495d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e thing of substan
495e0 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 ce at all. Her
495f0 6d 69 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 mind settled int
49600 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 69 64 20 65 6d 70 74 69 o a placid empti
49610 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c 69 67 68 74 ness, only light
49620 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 ly colored by th
49630 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 75 65 73 e lingering hues
49640 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 of the sense of
49650 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 69 65 76 61 62 6c 65 20 6c irretrievable l
49660 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 oss...Something
49670 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f moved in the roo
49680 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f m, but it was no
49690 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6c 6d t important, alm
496a0 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 2e 0a 0a ost unnoticed...
496b0 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 68 A hand touched h
496c0 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 er shoulder. Sh
496d0 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 e started, and h
496e0 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 er breath caught
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
49710 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 wide eyes and s
49720 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 74 74 aw Cray now sitt
49730 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 ing beside her.
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
49780 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 reath through ba
49790 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 69 70 73 rely parted lips
497a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and closed her
497b0 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 72 mouth. She for
497c0 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 ced her breath t
497d0 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 o settle down, a
497e0 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f nd breathed thro
497f0 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 6c ugh her nose, sl
49800 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 owly. She nodde
49810 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 d, quickly, and
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
49840 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 one in the room
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
49890 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 and drop from he
498a0 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 r shoulder to hi
498b0 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 67 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 s own leg. He c
498c0 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 72 huckled. "You r
498d0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f eally were out o
498e0 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 f it, there. He
498f0 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 20 68 65 20 77 61 announced he wa
49900 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 s going to take
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
49e80 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 epped out of the
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
4aa80 69 6f 75 73 20 28 6f 72 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 61 74 ious (or templat
4aa90 65 29 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 e) work for.
4aaa0 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 ideas about how
4aab0 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b to handle this k
4aac0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4d ind of thing. M
4aad0 61 79 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f aybe some kind o
4aae0 66 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 65 73 f drone. pres
4aaf0 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 77 6f ence could be wo
4ab00 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 rked into all th
4ab10 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 54 is shit, too. T
4ab20 68 61 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 0a hat'd be pretty.
4ab30 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e interesting.
4ab40 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 61 20 67 Of course, a g
4ab50 72 65 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 reat reason for
4ab60 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 72 6f not having a dro
4ab70 6e 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 ne following.
4ab80 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 73 Alley around is
4ab90 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 the fact that A
4aba0 29 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 70 ) there aren't p
4abb0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e eople who can on
4abc0 6c 79 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 ly be in her.
4abd0 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 timeline via te
4abe0 6c 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 lepresence, and
4abf0 42 29 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a B) the prioritiz
4ac00 65 72 20 41 49 2c 20 22 52 69 6f 22 2c 20 69 73 er AI, "Rio", is
4ac10 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c . intentional
4ac20 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 65 66 66 ly and still eff
4ac30 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 ectively restric
4ac40 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 ted from produci
4ac50 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 70 75 74 20 61 6e 79 0a 20 20 ng output any.
4ac60 20 20 77 61 79 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 74 68 way at all oth
4ac70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 76 69 61 20 73 74 75 64 er than via stud
4ac80 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 70 65 y participant pe
4ac90 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 73 2c 20 6c 6f 67 73 2c ripherals, logs,
4aca0 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 65 64 65 66 69 and. predefi
4acb0 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d ned allowed comm
4acc0 61 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ands that don't
4acd0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 6d 75 63 really offer muc
4ace0 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 0a h in the way of.
4acf0 20 20 20 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e exploitation
4ad00 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 ... At some p
4ad10 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 oint in the stor
4ad20 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 y, Alley has to
4ad30 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 learn that somet
4ad40 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 64 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 hing bad happene
4ad50 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 d. to Carmen
4ad60 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 and Cliff. The
4ad70 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e COIN Corp Men In
4ad80 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 75 Black started u
4ad90 6e 72 61 76 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 0a 20 nravelling the.
4ada0 20 20 20 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 74 68 72 65 61 tangled threa
4adb0 64 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 61 63 74 d of Alley's act
4adc0 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e ivities and foun
4add0 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b d their way back
4ade0 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 to Carmen and.
4adf0 20 20 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 Cliff. At le
4ae00 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 ast one of them
4ae10 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 has to die, of c
4ae20 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 63 61 6e 20 ourse. How can
4ae30 49 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 I specifically.
4ae40 20 20 20 74 69 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b tie this back
4ae50 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 to the idea of
4ae60 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 70 65 Alley hurting pe
4ae70 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 ople because of
4ae80 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 0a 20 20 20 her stubborn.
4ae90 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 6e 65 73 73 20 74 unwillingness t
4aea0 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 65 6d 62 o just fully emb
4aeb0 72 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 74 race the agorist
4aec0 69 63 20 6c 69 66 65 3f 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a ic life?..*/../*
4aed0 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 68 6f 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 .. Who has at
4aee0 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 least one cyber
4aef0 6e 65 74 69 63 20 65 79 65 3f 20 20 49 20 66 65 netic eye? I fe
4af00 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 el like someone
4af10 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c definitely shoul
4af20 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 d. have one i
4af30 6e 20 68 65 72 65 20 28 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 n here (in this
4af40 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 29 2c story, that is),
4af50 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 before they get
4af60 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e to the cyberpun
4af70 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 28 66 6f 72 k. world (for
4af80 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e some definition
4af90 20 6f 66 20 22 74 68 65 79 22 29 2e 0a 0a 20 20 of "they")...
4afa0 20 20 41 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 Actually, now
4afb0 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f that I think abo
4afc0 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 47 65 6f ut it, maybe Geo
4afd0 72 67 65 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e rge's connection
4afe0 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 0a 20 20 20 20 73 70 65 is more. spe
4aff0 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 cifically to the
4b000 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20 77 68 69 6c cyberpunks whil
4b010 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 e Dalton can get
4b020 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 her in touch wi
4b030 74 68 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e th the. Secon
4b040 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 d Realm people,
4b050 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 so that would pr
4b060 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 obably be why th
4b070 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 69 e Second Realm i
4b080 73 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 s her. next s
4b090 74 6f 70 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 47 65 6f top, even if Geo
4b0a0 72 67 65 20 69 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 rge is close to
4b0b0 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 the people with
4b0c0 77 68 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 76 65 6e 74 whom Alley event
4b0d0 75 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 ually. needs
4b0e0 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 69 61 to form an allia
4b0f0 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 nce for a shadow
4b100 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2c run. After all,
4b110 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 she'll never ge
4b120 74 0a 20 20 20 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 t. from here
4b130 74 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f to there, psycho
4b140 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 70 61 72 logically in par
4b150 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 ticular, without
4b160 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 0a the in between.
4b170 20 20 20 20 62 75 66 66 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 buffer and p
4b180 72 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 67 65 reparation stage
4b190 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6a , I think. It j
4b1a0 75 73 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b ust doesn't work
4b1b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 0a otherwise, but.
4b1c0 20 20 20 20 69 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 if George's
4b1d0 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 6f friends help peo
4b1e0 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ple escape from
4b1f0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 65 27 Men In Black he'
4b200 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 0a d probably just.
4b210 20 20 20 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 get her to h
4b220 69 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 iding in downtow
4b230 6e 20 4c 6f 73 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 66 72 n Los Angeles fr
4b240 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 62 65 67 69 om the very begi
4b250 6e 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 0a 20 nning, without.
4b260 20 20 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 having to muc
4b270 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 k about with any
4b280 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 Second Realm pe
4b290 6f 70 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 53 6f 20 2e 20 ople... So .
4b2a0 2e 20 2e 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e . . somewhere in
4b2b0 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 28 there, Dalton (
4b2c0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 and maybe his fr
4b2d0 69 65 6e 64 73 29 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 iends) should be
4b2e0 20 61 62 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d able. to com
4b2f0 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 e up with the Se
4b300 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 66 6f 6c 6b 73 cond Realm folks
4b310 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 as a group with
4b320 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 75 which to meet u
4b330 70 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 67 65 74 20 41 6c p and. get Al
4b340 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 6e 65 78 ley going on nex
4b350 74 20 73 74 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 t stages. This
4b360 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 69 66 20 44 makes sense if D
4b370 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e alton is thinkin
4b380 67 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 g a. lot abou
4b390 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 66 65 74 74 65 t how to unfette
4b3a0 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 r the prioritize
4b3b0 72 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 67 75 65 r -- which I gue
4b3c0 73 73 20 69 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c ss is being call
4b3d0 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 52 69 6f 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 ed. Rio now,
4b3e0 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 62 79 20 4c 69 64 69 at least by Lidi
4b3f0 61 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 a -- and doesn't
4b400 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 have good solut
4b410 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 ions for that ki
4b420 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd. of thing
4b430 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 himself. For th
4b440 61 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 at to come out,
4b450 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 though, I think
4b460 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 I need to write
4b470 61 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 a. conversati
4b480 6f 6e 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e on scene between
4b490 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
4b4a0 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 and Dalton, and
4b4b0 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 72 61 79 maybe with Cray
4b4c0 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 61 73 . involved as
4b4d0 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 well for fairly
4b4e0 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 obvious reasons
4b4f0 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 . Dalton must h
4b500 61 76 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 65 64 0a ave interviewed.
4b510 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 some Second
4b520 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 Realm person or
4b530 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 people at some p
4b540 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 oint in the past
4b550 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 20 , or something.
4b560 20 20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e like that, an
4b570 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 d thus have some
4b580 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 28 61 74 20 vague idea (at
4b590 6c 65 61 73 74 29 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f least) of how to
4b5a0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 0a 20 20 actually get.
4b5b0 20 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 in touch with
4b5c0 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 6f 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 whom so ever he
4b5d0 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 65 74 20 69 6e 20 70 already met in p
4b5e0 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 erson, so that h
4b5f0 65 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 e can get. th
4b600 65 69 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f eir help with so
4b610 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f rting out the mo
4b620 72 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 70 72 6f re immediate pro
4b630 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 blems for Alley
4b640 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 69 6f and the. prio
4b650 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 ritizer. Thus,
4b660 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 she will end up
4b670 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d going off to som
4b680 65 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 73 68 69 e industrial shi
4b690 70 70 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 pping. contai
4b6a0 6e 65 72 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 68 61 72 64 ner storage hard
4b6b0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 63 where people ac
4b6c0 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 68 6f 6c tually have whol
4b6d0 65 20 68 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f e hacking statio
4b6e0 6e 73 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 70 6f 72 74 61 62 ns in. portab
4b6f0 6c 65 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6f 66 le boxes made of
4b700 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 steel with surp
4b710 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 20 6f 66 rising levels of
4b720 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 73 convenience ins
4b730 69 64 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 ide. them for
4b740 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 the underground
4b750 20 68 61 63 6b 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 73 74 79 6c hacker lifestyl
4b760 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 73 6b 69 70 20 e...*/../* skip
4b770 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 ahead to the Sec
4b780 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a ond Realm */../*
4b790 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 .. There's a
4b7a0 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 79 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 storage yard in
4b7b0 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 7a 6f an industrial zo
4b7c0 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 6e 67 65 ne on the fringe
4b7d0 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 62 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c s of habitation,
4b7e0 0a 20 20 20 20 61 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 69 6e 64 . as such ind
4b7f0 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 7a 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 65 ustrial zones te
4b800 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 nd to be until t
4b810 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 hey get swallowe
4b820 64 20 75 70 20 62 79 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a d up by growing.
4b830 20 20 20 20 75 72 62 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e urbanization
4b840 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 79 61 72 64 20 69 6e 76 6f . The yard invo
4b850 6c 76 65 73 20 61 20 63 68 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e lves a chain lin
4b860 6b 20 66 65 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 69 6c k fence with dil
4b870 61 70 69 64 61 74 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e apidated. con
4b880 63 65 72 74 69 6e 61 20 77 69 72 65 20 61 74 6f certina wire ato
4b890 70 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 44 61 p the fence. Da
4b8a0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 66 6f lton arranges fo
4b8b0 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6e r transport of n
4b8c0 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 ot just. Alle
4b8d0 79 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d y but also the m
4b8e0 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 otorcycle to thi
4b8f0 73 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 79 61 72 64 2c 20 s storage yard,
4b900 76 69 61 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e via truck. When
4b910 20 74 68 65 79 0a 20 20 20 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 they. arrive
4b920 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 , the gate opens
4b930 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 74 itself to let t
4b940 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e he truck back in
4b950 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 0a 20 . After a few.
4b960 20 20 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c moments of Al
4b970 6c 65 79 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 ley sitting in t
4b980 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e he back wonderin
4b990 67 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 g what's happeni
4b9a0 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 20 20 ng, someone.
4b9b0 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 6f 75 finally comes ou
4b9c0 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c t to talk to Dal
4b9d0 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 ton. There's a
4b9e0 67 72 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 69 greeting involvi
4b9f0 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 ng. handshake
4ba00 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 68 75 67 73 2c s and half hugs,
4ba10 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 and the back of
4ba20 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 the truck opens
4ba30 20 75 70 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 73 up. Alley gets
4ba40 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 6e . the bike un
4ba50 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 strapped in the
4ba60 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 back of the truc
4ba70 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6c 6c 73 20 69 74 20 6f k and rolls it o
4ba80 75 74 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 ut, possibly.
4ba90 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 74 68 with help if th
4baa0 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c ere's someone el
4bab0 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f se in the back o
4bac0 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 f the truck with
4bad0 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 66 65 her to. offe
4bae0 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 0a 0a 20 20 r that help...
4baf0 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 44 It turns out D
4bb00 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 20 67 6f 6f 64 alton is on good
4bb10 2c 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 64 69 , if somewhat di
4bb20 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 65 72 6d 73 20 77 69 74 stant, terms wit
4bb30 68 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 h a couple of.
4bb40 20 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 people at this
4bb50 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 6c 6f Second Realm lo
4bb60 63 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 cale. His influ
4bb70 65 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 73 ence here is mos
4bb80 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 0a 20 20 tly connected.
4bb90 20 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 to his closer
4bba0 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 acquaintance wit
4bbb0 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 69 73 h someone who is
4bbc0 6e 27 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 6d 70 n't at this temp
4bbd0 6f 72 61 72 79 0a 20 20 20 20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f orary. autono
4bbe0 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 mous zone, but i
4bbf0 73 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 s respected by t
4bc00 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 he people at thi
4bc10 73 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 0a 20 20 20 20 s temporary.
4bc20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e autonomous zone.
4bc30 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 69 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 The big questi
4bc40 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 on is whether th
4bc50 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 61 6e 61 6c 6f e Smuggler analo
4bc60 67 75 65 20 69 73 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 gue is at. th
4bc70 69 73 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 is locale or the
4bc80 20 28 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 62 73 65 (currently abse
4bc90 6e 74 29 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f nt) person Dalto
4bca0 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 n actually inter
4bcb0 76 69 65 77 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f 72 20 68 viewed. for h
4bcc0 69 73 20 70 6f 64 63 61 73 74 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 is podcast. In
4bcd0 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 any case, there
4bce0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 should have alre
4bcf0 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 61 ady been some ta
4bd00 6c 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 28 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 lk. (probably
4bd10 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 6d 70 not at the Temp
4bd20 20 41 75 74 6f 20 5a 6f 6e 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 Auto Zone locat
4bd30 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 29 20 ion, of course)
4bd40 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 69 in which some hi
4bd50 6e 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 nt. of what's
4bd60 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 going on with t
4bd70 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67 he prioritizer g
4bd80 6f 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ot across to the
4bd90 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 0a 20 20 Second Realm.
4bda0 20 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 people, catchi
4bdb0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 ng their interes
4bdc0 74 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6f 66 20 t... They of
4bdd0 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f course don't kno
4bde0 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c w all the detail
4bdf0 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 2c 20 6f s Alley knows, o
4be00 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 r even all of th
4be10 65 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 65 em. Dalton le
4be20 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 arned from Alley
4be30 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 79 . As such, they
4be40 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 'll have to talk
4be50 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 0a 20 directly with.
4be60 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 Alley to get
4be70 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 some of the deta
4be80 69 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 ils of this stuf
4be90 66 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 70 6c 61 6e f and start plan
4bea0 6e 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 78 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 74 ning next. st
4beb0 65 70 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 74 69 66 eps in the artif
4bec0 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e icial intelligen
4bed0 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 ce prioritizer s
4bee0 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e ystem liberation
4bef0 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a . operation..
4bf00 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 .*/../*..Maybe A
4bf10 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f lley could go to
4bf20 20 61 20 64 6f 63 74 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 a doctor to get
4bf30 20 61 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 a prescription
4bf40 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 for something th
4bf50 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 at she can then
4bf60 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 sell to others a
4bf70 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 s a way to make
4bf80 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 money. This is
4bf90 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 obviously illega
4bfa0 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 l. It should pr
4bfb0 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 obably only come
4bfc0 20 75 70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e up after she en
4bfd0 64 73 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e ds up on the run
4bfe0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 because of the
4bff0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f people coming to
4c000 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 her home and th
4c010 75 73 20 73 63 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6f us scaring her o
4c020 66 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 ff. Then again
4c030 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 68 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 . . . how does s
4c040 68 65 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 he get a prescri
4c050 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 6f 63 ption from a doc
4c060 74 6f 72 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 tor if she's on
4c070 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 3f 0a 0a 4d 61 79 62 65 20 the run?..Maybe
4c080 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 Alley could just
4c090 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 64 72 75 67 73 20 66 6f 72 carry drugs for
4c0a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 67 61 69 6e someone. Again
4c0b0 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 , this is pretty
4c0c0 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 73 sketchy, and is
4c0d0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 probably not ap
4c0e0 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 propriate right
4c0f0 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 53 54 now...*/../*..ST
4c100 4f 52 59 20 54 49 4d 45 4c 49 4e 45 20 50 4c 41 ORY TIMELINE PLA
4c110 43 45 4d 45 4e 54 20 55 4e 43 45 52 54 41 49 4e CEMENT UNCERTAIN
4c120 3b 20 44 45 46 49 4e 49 54 45 4c 59 20 42 45 46 ; DEFINITELY BEF
4c130 4f 52 45 20 57 48 45 52 45 20 49 20 48 41 56 45 ORE WHERE I HAVE
4c140 20 54 48 45 53 45 20 4e 4f 54 45 53 3a 0a 0a 54 THESE NOTES:..T
4c150 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 he next day, the
4c160 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 prioritizer has
4c170 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 her do other st
4c180 75 66 66 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 uff, which makes
4c190 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 her nervous. S
4c1a0 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 he decides she d
4c1b0 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 oes not want to
4c1c0 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 do that any long
4c1d0 65 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f er. As a part o
4c1e0 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 65 71 75 65 6e 63 65 20 f this sequence
4c1f0 6f 66 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 of events, she e
4c200 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 nds up meeting a
4c210 20 6d 61 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d man but not com
4c220 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e pleting the tran
4c230 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d saction with him
4c240 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 65 6e 73 . He seems tens
4c250 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 e, and tries to
4c260 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c get her to compl
4c270 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 ete the transact
4c280 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 72 65 6c 65 6e 74 73 ion, but relents
4c290 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 75 6e and seems to un
4c2a0 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e derstanding when
4c2b0 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 she refuses. S
4c2c0 68 65 27 73 20 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 he's glad to get
4c2d0 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 away from the s
4c2e0 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 ituation. Perha
4c2f0 70 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 69 ps there is a pi
4c300 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 6e 76 6f le of money invo
4c310 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 lved, and she de
4c320 63 69 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 cides she should
4c330 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 just keep the c
4c340 61 73 68 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 73 74 ash for now inst
4c350 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f ead of buying so
4c360 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 22 77 65 69 72 64 22 2e mething "weird".
4c370 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 72 65 73 69 73 74 She has resist
4c380 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 6f ed the call...So
4c390 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 75 73 74 mehow, this must
4c3a0 20 6c 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c lead to a probl
4c3b0 65 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f em. Does the mo
4c3c0 6e 65 79 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 67 65 74 20 68 ney itself get h
4c3d0 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 3f 20 20 er in trouble?
4c3e0 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e Perhaps the plan
4c3f0 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75 is for her to u
4c400 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 se the money to
4c410 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 62 75 79 20 immediately buy
4c420 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 more cryptocurre
4c430 6e 63 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61 63 65 2d 74 6f ncy in a face-to
4c440 2d 66 61 63 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 -face meeting wh
4c450 65 72 65 20 75 72 67 65 6e 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ere urgent need
4c460 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e gives her a sign
4c470 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6d ificant profit m
4c480 61 72 67 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 argin -- or, mor
4c490 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 e to the point,
4c4a0 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 perhaps several
4c4b0 73 75 63 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e such transaction
4c4c0 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 s. She chooses
4c4d0 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 66 to avoid this af
4c4e0 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 63 6f ter the first co
4c4f0 75 70 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e uple transaction
4c500 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 s when she finds
4c510 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 that the people
4c520 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 64 with whom she d
4c530 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 70 75 74 oes business put
4c540 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 6c her off, thus l
4c550 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 65 eading her to de
4c560 63 69 64 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 cide she should
4c570 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 just keep the ca
4c580 73 68 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e sh. Maybe the n
4c590 69 63 65 20 67 75 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 ice guy is the g
4c5a0 75 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 uy with whom she
4c5b0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 63 65 61 73 decides to ceas
4c5c0 65 20 74 72 61 64 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 e trading...The
4c5d0 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 next day, the pr
4c5e0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 73 20 ioritizer tries
4c5f0 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 61 70 70 72 a different appr
4c600 6f 61 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 73 20 oach, and sends
4c610 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 her out to buy a
4c620 20 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e parallel option
4c630 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 for her phone.
4c640 20 54 68 69 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 65 76 69 This other devi
4c650 63 65 2c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 ce, much like a
4c660 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 typical phone re
4c670 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 64 6f 65 73 20 placement, does
4c680 6e 6f 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e not use the stan
4c690 64 61 72 64 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 73 dard telephone s
4c6a0 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 73 74 72 ystem. It instr
4c6b0 75 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 ucts her to comp
4c6c0 6c 65 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 lete configurati
4c6d0 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e on in circumstan
4c6e0 63 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f ces that will no
4c6f0 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 t be linked to h
4c700 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 76 69 er personally vi
4c710 61 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e a her movements.
4c720 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 ..That evening,
4c730 62 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 61 20 70 61 69 back home, a pai
4c740 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 r of people arri
4c750 76 65 20 74 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 ve to question h
4c760 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 er. They introd
4c770 75 63 65 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 61 uce themselves a
4c780 73 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 6f 6e s checking up on
4c790 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 the study parti
4c7a0 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 6f 6e 20 62 65 68 61 cipants, on beha
4c7b0 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e lf of the govern
4c7c0 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 ment, and questi
4c7d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 77 on her about low
4c7e0 20 6c 6f 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 66 6f log activity fo
4c7f0 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 r the prioritize
4c800 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 73 68 65 r. She says she
4c810 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 doesn't really
4c820 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 know why they ar
4c830 65 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c en't getting ful
4c840 6c 20 6c 6f 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 2e 20 l log activity.
4c850 20 54 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 The Technocrat
4c860 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 looks at her gea
4c870 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 72 73 20 69 74 20 77 r and pairs it w
4c880 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 68 65 20 ith a device he
4c890 63 61 72 72 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 carries, then sa
4c8a0 79 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 ys they shouldn'
4c8b0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 72 74 68 t have any furth
4c8c0 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 68 65 er problems, the
4c8d0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n the two people
4c8e0 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 depart...The pr
4c8f0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c ioritizer reveal
4c900 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 s that it receiv
4c910 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 ed an update tha
4c920 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 t day. That nig
4c930 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 64 72 ht, she has a dr
4c940 65 61 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 eam about trying
4c950 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 to return the p
4c960 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 62 rioritizer and b
4c970 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 28 eing convinced (
4c980 62 79 20 61 20 67 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e by a grad studen
4c990 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 29 20 74 6f 20 t, probably) to
4c9a0 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e continue. The n
4c9b0 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 ext morning, wit
4c9c0 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 69 6e 20 h that dream in
4c9d0 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a mind, she realiz
4c9e0 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 es she just need
4c9f0 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 61 72 s to be more car
4ca00 65 66 75 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 eful about how s
4ca10 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 he follows the p
4ca20 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 61 64 76 rioritizer's adv
4ca30 69 63 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 ice. When she d
4ca40 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ons the glasses
4ca50 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 again, though, i
4ca60 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 6d 6f t does not do mo
4ca70 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 2e 20 re of the same.
4ca80 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 69 74 20 71 75 65 Instead, it que
4ca90 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 20 73 6f stions her at so
4caa0 6d 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 me length about
4cab0 68 65 72 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 61 62 6f 75 her beliefs abou
4cac0 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 69 6c 2c t good and evil,
4cad0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 and about where
4cae0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 76 and how she dev
4caf0 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 65 6c eloped those bel
4cb00 69 65 66 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 73 6b 73 20 68 iefs. It asks h
4cb10 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e er, after Dalton
4cb20 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 6b 69 came up, to ski
4cb30 6d 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 m through variou
4cb40 73 20 61 72 74 69 63 6c 65 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f s articles Dalto
4cb50 6e 20 77 72 6f 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 61 74 n wrote, and lat
4cb60 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 69 64 65 20 6c 6f 61 64 20 er to side load
4cb70 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 76 69 64 65 some of his vide
4cb80 6f 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 os to a place th
4cb90 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 61 e prioritizer ca
4cba0 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a n access them...
4cbb0 2a 2f 0a 0a */..