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|00000000| 46 72 6f 6d 20 72 65 63 | 2e 61 72 74 73 2e 73 66 |From rec|.arts.sf|
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|00000020| 6a 6f 72 64 61 6e 20 57 | 65 64 20 4e 6f 76 20 31 |jordan W|ed Nov 1|
|00000030| 33 20 31 30 3a 31 37 3a | 35 32 20 31 39 39 36 0a |3 10:17:|52 1996.|
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|000005f0| 73 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 | 65 72 61 62 6c 79 2e 20 |s consid|erably. |
|00000600| 20 53 69 6e 63 65 20 74 | 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 | Since t|his is a|
|00000610| 20 70 61 72 6f 64 79 20 | 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 | parody |of her s|
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|00000790| 20 64 69 73 63 6c 61 69 | 6d 65 72 2e 0a 0a 49 20 | disclai|mer...I |
|000007a0| 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 6f | 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 |also apo|logize t|
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|00000800| 49 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 | 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6e |I assure| you, An|
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|00000830| 65 61 74 65 72 20 61 70 | 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 74 6f |eater ap|ology to|
|00000840| 20 4a 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f | 76 61 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 | John No|vak, but|
|00000850| 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b | 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 6f | I think| I'll po|
|00000860| 73 74 70 6f 6e 65 20 69 | 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 |stpone i|t until |
|00000870| 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 0a | 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 |after I.|see how |
|00000880| 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 74 | 73 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 |he react|s to his|
|00000890| 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e | 20 52 61 6e 64 6c 61 6e | role in| Randlan|
|000008a0| 64 2e 0a 0a 0a 2d 2d 4a | 6f 65 6c 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a |d....--J|oel..***|
|000008b0| 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a | 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a |********|********|
|000008c0| 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a | 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a |********|********|
|000008d0| 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a | 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a |********|********|
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|000008f0| 09 09 5f 61 6c 74 2e 20 | 20 53 68 72 75 67 67 65 |.._alt. | Shrugge|
|00000900| 64 5f 0a 0a 0a 22 57 68 | 6f 20 69 73 20 4a 6f 68 |d_..."Wh|o is Joh|
|00000910| 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f | 22 0a 09 49 6e 20 74 68 |n Novak?|"..In th|
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|00000970| 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 | 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 2c 20 |said it |simply, |
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|00000af0| 0a 09 44 79 6c 61 6e 20 | 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 |..Dylan |shrugged|
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|00000bf0| 20 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f | 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 | "You do|n't find|
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|00000d80| 09 44 79 6c 61 6e 20 70 | 61 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f |.Dylan p|aused fo|
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|00002f00| 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 | 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 |had the |face and|
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|00003070| 22 0a 09 22 57 65 6c 6c | 2c 20 79 65 73 2e 22 20 |".."Well|, yes." |
|00003080| 20 47 6c 61 6e 63 69 6e | 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 | Glancin|g around|
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|000030b0| 65 6c 73 65 0a 74 6f 20 | 73 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 |else.to |say. "W|
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|000030d0| 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 | 73 65 65 6e 20 68 69 6d |haven't |seen him|
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|00003180| 70 72 6f 73 70 65 63 74 | 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d |prospect| was alm|
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|000031a0| 0a 09 48 61 77 6b 20 66 | 65 6c 6c 20 73 69 6c 65 |..Hawk f|ell sile|
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|000032a0| 44 79 6c 61 6e 2e 22 20 | 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 |Dylan." | Her voi|
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|000032d0| 20 42 69 6c 6c 27 73 20 | 67 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 09 | Bill's |gone?"..|
|000032e0| 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 |"He was |one of t|
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|00003460| 77 6b 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 | 20 62 69 74 74 65 72 6c |wk spoke| bitterl|
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|00003660| 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 | 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 |"I don't| think y|
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|000036a0| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 2e 2e 2e 20 63 68 61 6e |, Andrea|... chan|
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|00003790| 2e 20 20 22 42 75 74 20 | 69 66 0a 79 6f 75 27 6c |. "But |if.you'l|
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|000037b0| 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 6f 72 | 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d |hink for| the mom|
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|000038c0| 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 64 | 65 20 42 69 6c 6c 20 64 |What mad|e Bill d|
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|000038e0| 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 77 65 6c 6c 2d 72 65 73 | He was |well-res|
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|00003960| 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 0a | 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 |." She.|paused, |
|00003970| 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 | 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 |not quit|e sure w|
|00003980| 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 | 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 |hat had |made her|
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|000039d0| 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 |bout thi|s whole |
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|000039f0| 0a 09 22 4f 68 2c 20 69 | 74 27 73 20 6d 75 63 68 |.."Oh, i|t's much|
|00003a00| 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 | 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e | more th|an that.|
|00003a10| 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 6c | 6f 6f 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 | Just l|ook arou|
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|00003a30| 6e 67 0a 6d 6f 72 65 20 | 64 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 |ng.more |desponde|
|00003a40| 6e 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 | 65 76 65 72 2c 20 48 61 |nt than |ever, Ha|
|00003a50| 77 6b 20 77 61 76 65 64 | 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e |wk waved| one han|
|00003a60| 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 |d in the| hair. |
|00003a70| 22 54 68 65 73 65 0a 50 | 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 |"These.P|eople's |
|00003a80| 4e 65 77 73 67 72 6f 75 | 70 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 |Newsgrou|p speake|
|00003a90| 72 73 20 6b 65 65 70 20 | 70 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 |rs keep |popping |
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|00003ac0| 0a 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 | 4e 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 |.down. |No one e|
|00003ad0| 76 65 6e 20 74 72 69 65 | 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 |ven trie|s to for|
|00003ae0| 6d 61 74 20 74 68 65 69 | 72 20 70 6f 73 74 73 20 |mat thei|r posts |
|00003af0| 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c | 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 |correctl|y, excep|
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|00003b10| 67 69 6e 67 20 72 65 67 | 75 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 |ging reg|ulars. |
|00003b20| 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 65 77 | 62 69 65 73 20 6e 6f 77 |Most new|bies now|
|00003b30| 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 | 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 | refuse |to read |
|00003b40| 74 68 65 20 46 41 51 20 | 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 74 |the FAQ |as a mat|
|00003b50| 74 65 72 20 6f 66 0a 70 | 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 |ter of.p|rinciple|
|00003b60| 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 | 6f 6e 65 20 6a 75 73 74 |. Every|one just|
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|00003b90| 69 6e 67 20 77 68 6f 20 | 4a 6f 68 6e 0a 4e 6f 76 |ing who |John.Nov|
|00003ba0| 61 6b 20 69 73 2c 20 61 | 73 20 69 66 20 61 6e 79 |ak is, a|s if any|
|00003bb0| 6f 6e 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 | 2e 20 20 49 20 74 65 6c |one knew|. I tel|
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|00003bd0| 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d | 65 73 20 49 20 66 65 65 | sometim|es I fee|
|00003be0| 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 0a 6c | 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6d |l like.l|eaving m|
|00003bf0| 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a | 09 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 |yself.".|."What?"|
|00003c00| 20 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c | Andrea| suddenl|
|00003c10| 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c | 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 |y felt l|ike her |
|00003c20| 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f | 74 68 6f 6c 64 20 77 61 |last foo|thold wa|
|00003c30| 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e | 69 6e 67 0a 74 6f 20 63 |s beginn|ing.to c|
|00003c40| 72 75 6d 62 6c 65 2e 20 | 20 22 42 75 74 2e 2e 2e |rumble. | "But...|
|00003c50| 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 | 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 70 6f | you cou|ldn't po|
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|00003ca0| 75 73 20 62 6f 74 68 2e | 20 20 42 75 74 20 64 6f |us both.| But do|
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|00003cc0| 20 6f 66 0a 72 61 73 66 | 77 72 2d 6a 20 6d 65 61 | of.rasf|wr-j mea|
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|00003cf0| 76 65 64 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 6c |ved this| group l|
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|00003d10| 63 68 69 6c 64 21 22 0a | 09 22 45 78 63 75 73 65 |child!".|."Excuse|
|00003d20| 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 20 54 | 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 | me?" T|here was|
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|00003d40| 65 72 6f 75 73 20 67 6c | 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 |erous gl|int in t|
|00003d50| 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 | 0a 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 |he other|.woman's|
|00003d60| 20 65 79 65 2e 0a 09 22 | 57 65 6c 6c 2e 2e 2e 20 | eye..."|Well... |
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|00003d80| 20 73 69 73 74 65 72 2c | 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 | sister,| then," |
|00003d90| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 73 | 74 61 6d 6d 65 72 65 64 |Andrea s|tammered|
|00003da0| 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 0a | 63 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 |. "How.|can you |
|00003db0| 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 20 | 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6e |abandon |it all n|
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|00003e20| 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 | 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 68 | any mor|e, so wh|
|00003e30| 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 22 |at's the| point?"|
|00003e40| 20 20 45 79 65 73 20 73 | 61 64 2c 20 73 68 65 0a | Eyes s|ad, she.|
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|00003ee0| 72 72 69 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 | 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a 09 |rrillo."|..****..|
|00003ef0| 54 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 | 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 |The part|y was we|
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|00003f70| 6f 6f 66 20 74 6f 0a 63 | 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 20 74 |oof to.c|onceal t|
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|00004170| 0a 09 46 6c 61 76 69 6f | 20 64 27 41 72 72 69 6c |..Flavio| d'Arril|
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|000041a0| 68 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 | 67 75 65 73 74 73 20 69 |h three |guests i|
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|00004240| 74 62 6f 6f 6b 2d 2d 20 | 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 |tbook-- |and had |
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|00004280| 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 | 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 |proached|, Andrea|
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|000042c0| 68 69 73 0a 66 61 6d 6f | 75 73 20 70 6f 6c 69 73 |his.famo|us polis|
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|000042f0| 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 61 62 | 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 |ccountab|le trans|
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|00004330| 54 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 | 20 6f 76 65 72 68 65 61 |Then she| overhea|
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|00004360| 74 68 72 65 65 20 63 6f | 6d 70 61 6e 69 6f 6e 73 |three co|mpanions|
|00004370| 2e 0a 09 22 2e 2e 2e 42 | 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 |..."...B|ut I do |
|00004380| 68 65 61 72 20 77 68 61 | 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 |hear wha|t you're|
|00004390| 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 | 61 62 6f 75 74 20 52 6f | saying |about Ro|
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|000043b0| 6c 69 6e 67 0a 63 6f 75 | 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 20 73 |ling.cou|ntless s|
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|00004430| 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 | 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e |I have t|he time.|
|00004440| 22 0a 09 48 65 61 72 74 | 20 73 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 |"..Heart| sinking|
|00004450| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 |, Andrea| stood t|
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|000044c0| 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 | 65 20 41 69 65 6c 2c 0a |about th|e Aiel,.|
|000044d0| 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 |I though|t their |
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|000044f0| 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 | 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6f | were re|ally coo|
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|00004510| 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 61 | 74 0a 66 69 67 68 74 65 | of grea|t.fighte|
|00004520| 72 73 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e | 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 |rs movin|g throug|
|00004530| 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 | 73 65 72 74 20 65 6e 20 |h the de|sert en |
|00004540| 6d 61 73 73 65 20 61 6e | 64 20 6f 75 74 72 75 6e |masse an|d outrun|
|00004550| 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 72 | 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 |ning hor|ses to t|
|00004560| 61 6b 65 0a 6f 76 65 72 | 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 |ake.over| walled |
|00004570| 63 69 74 69 65 73 20 6d | 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6f |cities m|ust be o|
|00004580| 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 | 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 69 |ne of th|e best i|
|00004590| 64 65 61 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 43 72 65 61 74 6f 72 |deas the| Creator|
|000045a0| 27 73 20 68 61 64 20 79 | 65 74 21 20 20 49 0a 63 |'s had y|et! I.c|
|000045b0| 61 6e 27 74 20 77 61 69 | 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 |an't wai|t for th|
|000045c0| 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 74 | 61 72 74 20 77 6f 72 6b |em to st|art work|
|000045d0| 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 | 20 74 68 65 20 41 73 68 |ing with| the Ash|
|000045e0| 61 6d 61 6e 21 22 0a 09 | 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 74 |aman!"..|Andrea t|
|000045f0| 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 | 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 |hought s|he was t|
|00004600| 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 | 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 |he only |one who |
|00004610| 64 65 74 65 63 74 65 64 | 20 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 |detected| Flavio'|
|00004620| 73 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 | 0a 70 65 72 63 65 70 74 |s barely|.percept|
|00004630| 69 62 6c 65 20 66 6c 69 | 6e 63 68 2e 20 20 48 69 |ible fli|nch. Hi|
|00004640| 73 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 | 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 63 |s smooth| voice c|
|00004650| 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 | 20 62 65 74 72 61 79 65 |ertainly| betraye|
|00004660| 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e | 67 20 61 73 20 68 65 0a |d nothin|g as he.|
|00004670| 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 41 | 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c |said, "A|ctually,|
|00004680| 20 49 20 68 61 64 6e 27 | 74 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | I hadn'|t though|
|00004690| 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 69 |t about |the mili|
|000046a0| 74 61 72 79 20 61 73 70 | 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 74 |tary asp|ect of t|
|000046b0| 68 65 20 73 65 72 69 65 | 73 0a 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 |he serie|s.all th|
|000046c0| 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 2e | 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 |at much.| I just|
|000046d0| 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 | 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 | suppose|d that s|
|000046e0| 69 6e 63 65 20 4a 6f 72 | 64 61 6e 20 61 74 74 65 |ince Jor|dan atte|
|000046f0| 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 | 20 43 69 74 61 64 65 6c |nded the| Citadel|
|00004700| 2c 20 68 65 0a 6b 6e 65 | 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 |, he.kne|w what h|
|00004710| 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f | 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 77 |e was do|ing in w|
|00004720| 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 | 68 65 20 62 61 74 74 6c |riting t|he battl|
|00004730| 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 73 | 2e 2e 2e 20 20 4f 68 2c |e scenes|... Oh,|
|00004740| 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 | 6e 27 74 0a 6b 6e 6f 77 | you did|n't.know|
|00004750| 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 61 20 43 69 74 61 64 65 | he was |a Citade|
|00004760| 6c 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 | 74 65 3f 2e 2e 2e 22 0a |l gradua|te?...".|
|00004770| 09 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 |.At this| point, |
|00004780| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 |Andrea f|inally c|
|00004790| 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 68 | 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 |leared h|er throa|
|000047a0| 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 | 65 70 70 65 64 0a 66 6f |t and st|epped.fo|
|000047b0| 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 | 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 73 |rward. |Flavio's|
|000047c0| 20 65 79 65 73 20 62 72 | 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 | eyes br|ightened|
|000047d0| 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 | 20 67 72 61 63 65 66 75 |, and he| gracefu|
|000047e0| 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 73 73 | 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 |lly kiss|ed her e|
|000047f0| 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 0a | 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 |xtended.|hand. "|
|00004800| 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 | 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 |You must| excuse |
|00004810| 6d 65 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 | 61 66 72 61 69 64 2e 2e |me, I'm |afraid..|
|00004820| 2e 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 | 73 20 4d 69 73 73 20 4c |. this i|s Miss L|
|00004830| 65 69 73 74 72 61 2e 20 | 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 |eistra. | She and|
|00004840| 20 49 0a 61 72 65 20 6f | 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e | I.are o|ld frien|
|00004850| 64 73 2e 22 20 20 57 69 | 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 61 |ds." Wi|thout wa|
|00004860| 69 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f | 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 |iting fo|r an ans|
|00004870| 77 65 72 2c 20 68 65 20 | 73 74 72 6f 64 65 20 6f |wer, he |strode o|
|00004880| 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 | 68 65 0a 6e 65 61 72 65 |ver to t|he.neare|
|00004890| 73 74 20 62 61 79 20 77 | 69 6e 64 6f 77 3b 20 74 |st bay w|indow; t|
|000048a0| 68 65 72 65 20 68 65 20 | 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c |here he |stopped,|
|000048b0| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 69 | 6c 65 64 20 77 69 6e 6e | and smi|led winn|
|000048c0| 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 61 74 | 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 22 48 |ingly at| her.."H|
|000048d0| 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 2e 20 20 48 |ello, An|drea. H|
|000048e0| 6f 77 20 68 61 76 65 20 | 79 6f 75 20 62 65 65 6e |ow have |you been|
|000048f0| 3f 22 0a 09 22 49 27 64 | 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 79 |?".."I'd| heard y|
|00004900| 6f 75 27 64 20 63 68 61 | 6e 67 65 64 2c 20 46 6c |ou'd cha|nged, Fl|
|00004910| 61 76 69 6f 2c 22 20 73 | 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 |avio," s|he said |
|00004920| 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 | 2c 20 72 65 66 75 73 69 |steadily|, refusi|
|00004930| 6e 67 20 74 6f 0a 73 75 | 72 72 65 6e 64 65 72 20 |ng to.su|rrender |
|00004940| 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 | 68 65 65 72 79 20 73 65 |to his c|heery se|
|00004950| 6c 66 2d 61 73 73 65 72 | 74 69 76 65 6e 65 73 73 |lf-asser|tiveness|
|00004960| 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 6f | 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 |. "I co|uldn't b|
|00004970| 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 79 | 6f 75 27 64 0a 63 68 61 |elieve y|ou'd.cha|
|00004980| 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 22 |nged thi|s much."|
|00004990| 0a 09 48 65 20 72 61 69 | 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 |..He rai|sed one |
|000049a0| 66 69 6e 65 6c 79 20 73 | 63 75 6c 70 74 65 64 20 |finely s|culpted |
|000049b0| 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e | 20 20 22 43 68 61 6e 67 |eyebrow.| "Chang|
|000049c0| 65 64 2c 20 4d 69 73 73 | 20 4c 65 69 73 74 72 61 |ed, Miss| Leistra|
|000049d0| 3f 20 20 49 0a 63 61 6e | 27 74 20 69 6d 61 67 69 |? I.can|'t imagi|
|000049e0| 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 | 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 |ne what |you're t|
|000049f0| 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 | 62 6f 75 74 2e 22 20 20 |alking a|bout." |
|00004a00| 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 | 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 |Before s|he could|
|00004a10| 20 73 61 79 20 61 6e 79 | 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 0a 68 | say any|thing,.h|
|00004a20| 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 | 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 |e glance|d over h|
|00004a30| 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c | 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 |er shoul|der and |
|00004a40| 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 | 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 66 |sighed. | "I'm af|
|00004a50| 72 61 69 64 20 77 65 27 | 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 |raid we'|re about|
|00004a60| 20 74 6f 20 62 65 0a 69 | 6e 74 65 72 72 75 70 74 | to be.i|nterrupt|
|00004a70| 65 64 2e 22 0a 09 41 20 | 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 68 |ed."..A |rather h|
|00004a80| 61 72 72 69 65 64 2d 6c | 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 |arried-l|ooking y|
|00004a90| 6f 75 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e | 20 77 69 74 68 20 5f 54 |oung man| with _T|
|00004aa0| 68 65 20 57 65 61 6c 74 | 68 20 6f 66 20 4e 61 74 |he Wealt|h of Nat|
|00004ab0| 69 6f 6e 73 5f 0a 74 75 | 63 6b 65 64 20 75 6e 64 |ions_.tu|cked und|
|00004ac0| 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 | 72 6d 20 70 75 73 68 65 |er one a|rm pushe|
|00004ad0| 64 20 62 72 75 73 71 75 | 65 6c 79 20 70 61 73 74 |d brusqu|ely past|
|00004ae0| 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 | 61 63 63 6f 73 74 20 74 | her to |accost t|
|00004af0| 68 65 69 72 20 68 6f 73 | 74 2e 0a 22 46 6f 72 74 |heir hos|t.."Fort|
|00004b00| 79 2d 74 77 6f 20 79 65 | 61 72 73 2c 20 4d 69 73 |y-two ye|ars, Mis|
|00004b10| 74 65 72 20 64 27 41 72 | 72 69 6c 6c 6f 21 20 20 |ter d'Ar|rillo! |
|00004b20| 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e | 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 |That's n|ot what |
|00004b30| 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 | 62 75 74 20 73 75 72 65 |I said, |but sure|
|00004b40| 6c 79 0a 79 6f 75 20 6d | 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 |ly.you m|ust see |
|00004b50| 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 | 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6e |that the|re are n|
|00004b60| 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 | 65 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 |o more r|eserves |
|00004b70| 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 74 | 68 65 20 6f 6e 65 73 20 |except t|he ones |
|00004b80| 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 | 79 65 74 0a 74 6f 20 66 |we have |yet.to f|
|00004b90| 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 | 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 |ind and |the Midd|
|00004ba0| 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 20 | 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 6c |le East |cannot l|
|00004bb0| 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 74 61 | 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 72 |ong reta|in its r|
|00004bc0| 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 63 65 | 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 |elevance| under t|
|00004bd0| 68 65 73 65 0a 63 69 72 | 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 |hese.cir|cumstanc|
|00004be0| 65 73 2e 22 0a 09 46 6c | 61 76 69 6f 20 70 61 75 |es."..Fl|avio pau|
|00004bf0| 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 | 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6d |sed for |a long m|
|00004c00| 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 | 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 63 |oment, s|taring c|
|00004c10| 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 61 74 | 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 |oldly at| the int|
|00004c20| 72 75 64 65 72 2c 0a 61 | 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 |ruder,.a|nd opene|
|00004c30| 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f | 75 74 68 20 61 73 20 69 |d his mo|uth as i|
|00004c40| 66 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 | 61 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 |f to spe|ak. The|
|00004c50| 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6d 69 | 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6c 6d |n he smi|led, alm|
|00004c60| 6f 73 74 20 62 65 61 74 | 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 |ost beat|ifically|
|00004c70| 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 73 68 | 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 |,.and sh|rugged. |
|00004c80| 20 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 | 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 | "Whatev|er you s|
|00004c90| 61 79 2c 20 50 72 61 73 | 65 6e 6a 69 74 2e 20 20 |ay, Pras|enjit. |
|00004ca0| 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 | 69 67 68 74 2c 20 49 27 |You're r|ight, I'|
|00004cb0| 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 22 | 0a 09 54 68 65 20 79 6f |m sure."|..The yo|
|00004cc0| 75 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 20 | 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 |ung man |paused, |
|00004cd0| 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 62 | 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 42 |taken ab|ack. "B|
|00004ce0| 75 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c | 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 |ut surel|y some d|
|00004cf0| 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 | 65 20 6f 66 0a 6f 70 69 |ifferenc|e of.opi|
|00004d00| 6e 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 | 6a 75 73 74 69 66 69 65 |nion is |justifie|
|00004d10| 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 | 74 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 |d given |the admi|
|00004d20| 74 74 65 64 6c 79 20 75 | 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 |ttedly u|nlikely |
|00004d30| 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f | 20 49 20 6f 75 74 6c 69 |scenario| I outli|
|00004d40| 6e 65 2e 2e 2e 0a 49 20 | 6d 65 61 6e 2e 2e 2e 20 |ne....I |mean... |
|00004d50| 20 68 61 76 65 20 79 6f | 75 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 | have yo|u no res|
|00004d60| 70 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 | 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f |pect for| these o|
|00004d70| 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 73 3f | 22 0a 09 22 48 61 76 65 |pinions?|".."Have|
|00004d80| 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 | 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 | you any| respect|
|00004d90| 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 | 6d 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 | for the|m?" The|
|00004da0| 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f | 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 | questio|n was li|
|00004db0| 67 68 74 20 62 75 74 20 | 68 61 72 64 2e 0a 22 49 |ght but |hard.."I|
|00004dc0| 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 | 64 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 |f you di|d, I'm s|
|00004dd0| 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 27 | 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 |ure you'|d offer |
|00004de0| 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 72 | 74 20 6f 66 20 66 61 63 |some sor|t of fac|
|00004df0| 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 6f | 6c 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 |ts to bo|lster th|
|00004e00| 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 0a 6e | 6f 74 20 77 61 73 74 65 |em and.n|ot waste|
|00004e10| 20 6f 75 72 20 74 69 6d | 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 | our tim|e with s|
|00004e20| 6f 70 68 6f 6d 6f 72 69 | 63 20 70 72 61 74 74 6c |ophomori|c prattl|
|00004e30| 65 2e 20 20 42 75 74 20 | 66 72 61 6e 6b 6c 79 2c |e. But |frankly,|
|00004e40| 20 49 27 76 65 20 6d 6f | 72 65 20 6f 72 0a 6c 65 | I've mo|re or.le|
|00004e50| 73 73 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 | 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 |ss lost |interest|
|00004e60| 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 | 73 2e 20 20 41 73 20 79 | in fact|s. As y|
|00004e70| 6f 75 20 73 61 79 2c 20 | 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c |ou say, |it's all|
|00004e80| 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 | 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f | a quest|ion of o|
|00004e90| 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 2d 2d | 0a 73 6f 20 62 79 20 61 |pinion--|.so by a|
|00004ea0| 6c 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 | 2c 20 6c 65 74 20 75 73 |ll means|, let us|
|00004eb0| 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 | 74 68 65 20 41 72 61 62 | ignore |the Arab|
|00004ec0| 73 2e 22 0a 09 22 46 6c | 61 76 69 6f 21 22 20 20 |s.".."Fl|avio!" |
|00004ed0| 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 63 | 6b 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f |The shoc|k was to|
|00004ee0| 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 | 6f 20 62 65 61 72 2e 20 |o much t|o bear. |
|00004ef0| 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 | 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 | Andrea |brushed |
|00004f00| 70 61 73 74 0a 74 68 65 | 20 64 75 6d 62 66 6f 75 |past.the| dumbfou|
|00004f10| 6e 64 65 64 20 6e 65 6f | 2d 4d 61 6c 74 68 75 73 |nded neo|-Malthus|
|00004f20| 69 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 | 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 |ian and |grabbed |
|00004f30| 74 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c | 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 79 |the smil|ing lawy|
|00004f40| 65 72 27 73 20 73 68 6f | 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 0a 22 |er's sho|ulder.."|
|00004f50| 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 | 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 |You don'|t mean t|
|00004f60| 68 61 74 2e 20 20 54 65 | 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f |hat. Te|ll me yo|
|00004f70| 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 | 6d 65 61 6e 20 77 68 61 |u don't |mean wha|
|00004f80| 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 | 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 2d |t you ju|st said-|
|00004f90| 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a | 66 61 63 74 20 61 6e 64 |- about.|fact and|
|00004fa0| 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e | 2e 20 20 54 65 6c 6c 20 | opinion|. Tell |
|00004fb0| 6d 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 | 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 |me they |haven't |
|00004fc0| 67 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e | 22 0a 09 46 6c 61 76 69 |got you.|"..Flavi|
|00004fd0| 6f 20 64 72 65 77 20 68 | 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 |o drew h|er away |
|00004fe0| 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 | 20 63 72 6f 77 64 2c 20 |from the| crowd, |
|00004ff0| 61 6e 20 69 72 6f 6e 69 | 63 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 |an ironi|c smile |
|00005000| 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 0a 70 | 65 72 66 65 63 74 6c 79 |on his.p|erfectly|
|00005010| 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 72 74 | 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 66 61 | proport|ioned fa|
|00005020| 63 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 | 6e 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f |ce. Whe|n none o|
|00005030| 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 | 68 65 72 20 67 75 65 73 |f the ot|her gues|
|00005040| 74 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 | 20 68 65 61 72 0a 74 68 |ts could| hear.th|
|00005050| 65 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 73 | 70 6f 6b 65 20 67 65 6e |em, he s|poke gen|
|00005060| 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 | 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 |tly. "W|hat's th|
|00005070| 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c | 20 4d 69 73 73 20 4c 65 |e point,| Miss Le|
|00005080| 69 73 74 72 61 3f 20 20 | 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 |istra? |They cla|
|00005090| 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 0a | 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 69 |im that.|their ri|
|000050a0| 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 61 | 6e 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f |ght to a|n opinio|
|000050b0| 6e 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 | 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 |n is mor|e import|
|000050c0| 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 6e | 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 |ant than| their r|
|000050d0| 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 | 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f |esponsib|ility to|
|000050e0| 0a 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e | 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 |.live in| the rea|
|000050f0| 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e | 20 20 57 68 6f 20 61 6d |l world.| Who am|
|00005100| 20 49 20 74 6f 20 64 69 | 73 69 6c 6c 75 73 69 6f | I to di|sillusio|
|00005110| 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 | 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 |n them? | It's a |
|00005120| 66 75 74 69 6c 65 20 61 | 6e 64 0a 74 68 61 6e 6b |futile a|nd.thank|
|00005130| 6c 65 73 73 20 6a 6f 62 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 |less job|, and I |
|00005140| 73 65 65 20 6e 6f 20 72 | 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f |see no r|eason to|
|00005150| 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 | 20 69 74 20 66 75 72 74 | attempt| it furt|
|00005160| 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 09 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 73 74 |her."..A|ndrea st|
|00005170| 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 | 63 6b 2c 20 66 65 65 6c |epped ba|ck, feel|
|00005180| 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 | 74 68 69 6e 67 20 64 69 |ing some|thing di|
|00005190| 65 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e | 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 |e within| her. "|
|000051a0| 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 | 65 0a 79 6f 75 27 72 65 |I suppos|e.you're|
|000051b0| 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 | 4d 72 2e 20 64 27 41 72 | right, |Mr. d'Ar|
|000051c0| 72 69 6c 6c 6f 2c 22 20 | 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 |rillo," |she said|
|000051d0| 20 64 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 | 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 | dully. | "What's|
|000051e0| 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 | 6e 74 3f 20 20 57 68 6f | the poi|nt? Who|
|000051f0| 20 69 73 0a 4a 6f 68 6e | 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f 22 | is.John| Novak?"|
|00005200| 0a 09 41 20 73 74 72 61 | 6e 67 65 20 67 6c 69 6e |..A stra|nge glin|
|00005210| 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 69 | 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 |t came i|nto her |
|00005220| 68 6f 73 74 27 73 20 65 | 79 65 2e 20 20 22 54 68 |host's e|ye. "Th|
|00005230| 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 76 | 69 6c 65 20 70 68 72 61 |at's a v|ile phra|
|00005240| 73 65 2e 22 0a 09 22 49 | 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2d 2d 20 |se.".."I| know-- |
|00005250| 49 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 | 69 74 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 |I hated |it too, |
|00005260| 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 | 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d |from the| first m|
|00005270| 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 20 | 68 65 61 72 64 20 69 74 |oment I |heard it|
|00005280| 2e 22 0a 53 75 64 64 65 | 6e 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 |.".Sudde|nly, she|
|00005290| 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 73 | 68 61 6d 65 64 2e 20 20 | felt as|hamed. |
|000052a0| 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 | 73 74 2e 2e 2e 20 69 74 |"It's ju|st... it|
|000052b0| 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 | 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 |'s on ev|eryone's|
|000052c0| 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 | 74 68 65 73 65 0a 64 61 | tongue |these.da|
|000052d0| 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 | 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 |ys. I g|uess it'|
|000052e0| 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 67 | 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 09 |s contag|ious."..|
|000052f0| 22 42 75 74 20 79 6f 75 | 20 73 65 65 2c 20 49 20 |"But you| see, I |
|00005300| 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 | 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e |know the| answer.|
|00005310| 22 20 20 46 6c 61 76 69 | 6f 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 |" Flavi|o smiled|
|00005320| 2c 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 | 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 |, a bit |sadly. |
|00005330| 22 49 0a 6b 6e 6f 77 20 | 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 |"I.know |exactly |
|00005340| 77 68 6f 20 4a 6f 68 6e | 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 69 |who John| Novak i|
|00005350| 73 2e 22 0a 09 46 6f 72 | 20 6e 6f 20 61 63 63 6f |s."..For| no acco|
|00005360| 75 6e 74 61 62 6c 65 20 | 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2c 20 |untable |reason, |
|00005370| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 |Andrea f|elt her |
|00005380| 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 65 | 61 70 2e 20 20 22 59 6f |heart le|ap. "Yo|
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|000053a0| 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 73 | 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 |Flavio's| eyes we|
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|00005400| 67 72 61 64 65 20 74 68 | 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 |grade th|e final |
|00005410| 65 78 61 6d 73 20 6f 66 | 20 74 77 6f 20 68 75 6e |exams of| two hun|
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|00005440| 64 75 61 74 65 73 2e 20 | 20 4e 6f 74 20 61 20 73 |duates. | Not a s|
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|00005470| 61 20 43 2b 2c 20 62 75 | 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 |a C+, bu|t the st|
|00005480| 75 64 65 6e 74 73 20 70 | 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 64 |udents p|rotested|
|00005490| 20 6c 6f 75 64 6c 79 2c | 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 69 | loudly,| demandi|
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|000054b0| 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 79 | 0a 63 75 72 76 65 2c 20 | them by|.curve, |
|000054c0| 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 | 61 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 |and thre|atened h|
|000054d0| 69 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 |im with |the loss|
|000054e0| 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 | 6a 6f 62 20 69 66 20 68 | of his |job if h|
|000054f0| 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 | 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 79 2e |e didn't| comply.|
|00005500| 0a 53 6f 20 68 65 20 74 | 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 |.So he t|ook all |
|00005510| 74 68 65 20 65 78 61 6d | 73 2c 20 70 75 62 6c 69 |the exam|s, publi|
|00005520| 63 6c 79 20 6d 61 72 6b | 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 |cly mark|ed them |
|00005530| 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 | 20 61 6e 20 46 2c 20 74 |all with| an F, t|
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|00005550| 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 71 | 75 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 |in the q|uad and |
|00005560| 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 74 | 68 65 20 61 73 68 65 73 |shoved t|he ashes|
|00005570| 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 69 | 73 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e | down hi|s studen|
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|00005600| 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 77 61 |"Oh." A|ndrea wa|
|00005610| 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 | 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 62 |s a bit |taken ab|
|00005620| 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 57 | 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 |ack. "W|ell. Th|
|00005630| 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 | 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 0a |at wasn'|t quite.|
|00005640| 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 64 | 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 |what I'd| expecte|
|00005650| 64 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 | 70 6f 73 65 2e 22 0a 09 |d, I sup|pose."..|
|00005660| 54 68 65 20 79 6f 75 6e | 67 20 64 27 41 72 72 69 |The youn|g d'Arri|
|00005670| 6c 6c 6f 27 73 20 67 61 | 7a 65 20 61 62 72 75 70 |llo's ga|ze abrup|
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|000056c0| 61 70 68 6f 72 2c 20 6d | 79 20 64 65 61 72 20 4d |aphor, m|y dear M|
|000056d0| 73 2e 20 4c 65 69 73 74 | 72 61 2e 20 20 49 27 6c |s. Leist|ra. I'l|
|000056e0| 6c 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 | 6e 0a 69 74 20 74 6f 20 |l explai|n.it to |
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|00005710| 6f 77 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 | 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 22 |ow, good| night."|
|00005720| 0a 09 48 65 20 72 65 61 | 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 64 20 |..He rea|lly did |
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|00005740| 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 6b | 62 6f 6e 65 73 2e 20 20 |ed cheek|bones. |
|00005750| 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 | 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 |Her eyes| were sa|
|00005760| 64 20 61 73 0a 73 68 65 | 20 62 6f 77 65 64 20 62 |d as.she| bowed b|
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|00005780| 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c | 20 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 2e |t, then,| Flavio.|
|00005790| 22 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a | 0a 5b 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e |"..****.|.[contin|
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|000057c0| 6e 2e 72 6f 62 65 72 74 | 2d 6a 6f 72 64 61 6e 20 |n.robert|-jordan |
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|00005c20| 48 61 77 6b 20 77 61 73 | 20 72 69 67 68 74 3b 20 |Hawk was| right; |
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|00005c90| 73 75 72 72 65 6e 64 65 | 72 2c 0a 73 68 65 20 63 |surrende|r,.she c|
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|00005cc0| 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 69 | 6e 2c 20 77 68 61 74 20 | given i|n, what |
|00005cd0| 68 6f 70 65 20 77 61 73 | 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 66 |hope was| there f|
|00005ce0| 6f 72 0a 61 6e 79 6f 6e | 65 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 0a |or.anyon|e else?.|
|00005cf0| 09 43 68 65 63 6b 69 6e | 67 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e |.Checkin|g her in|
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|00005d30| 3e 20 57 65 6c 63 6f 6d | 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 |> Welcom|e back, |
|00005d40| 64 65 61 72 69 65 21 20 | 20 43 61 72 65 20 66 6f |dearie! | Care fo|
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|00005d60| 73 3f 0a 3e 09 09 09 09 | 41 75 6e 74 69 65 20 45 |s?.>....|Auntie E|
|00005d70| 72 69 63 61 0a 0a 09 57 | 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 |rica...W|ithin th|
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|00005da0| 45 72 69 63 61 27 73 20 | 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 45 |Erica's |door. E|
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|00005e30| 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 | 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 09 22 |in the b|ack.".."|
|00005e40| 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 | 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 |How did |you know|
|00005e50| 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 68 | 65 72 65 20 61 67 61 69 | I was h|ere agai|
|00005e60| 6e 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 66 6f 75 6e |n?" And|rea foun|
|00005e70| 64 20 61 20 68 6f 6f 6b | 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 0a |d a hook| on the.|
|00005e80| 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 | 20 62 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 |door and| boldly |
|00005e90| 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 | 20 63 6f 61 74 20 66 72 |hung her| coat fr|
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|00006020| 63 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 | 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 61 |c and ex|tended a|
|00006030| 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 | 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 | comfort|ing hand|
|00006040| 2e 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 | 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 |.."Why d|on't you|
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|00006060| 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 64 | 65 61 72 3f 22 0a 09 43 | down, d|ear?"..C|
|00006070| 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 69 67 | 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 |oldly ig|noring t|
|00006080| 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 66 | 65 72 65 64 20 61 69 64 |he proff|ered aid|
|00006090| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 |, Andrea| walked |
|000060a0| 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 |through |the door|
|000060b0| 2c 0a 68 65 61 64 20 68 | 65 6c 64 20 68 69 67 68 |,.head h|eld high|
|000060c0| 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f | 74 68 65 72 20 77 6f 6d |. The o|ther wom|
|000060d0| 61 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 | 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c |an stepp|ed back,|
|000060e0| 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 | 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 | retract|ing her |
|000060f0| 68 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 | 68 0a 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 |hand wit|h.gentle|
|00006100| 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 | 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 2e 20 | underst|anding. |
|00006110| 20 54 6f 67 65 74 68 65 | 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 | Togethe|r they s|
|00006120| 74 72 6f 64 65 20 74 68 | 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 |trode th|rough th|
|00006130| 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2c | 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a |e house,| to the.|
|00006140| 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 72 6f | 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 |small ro|om where|
|00006150| 20 41 75 6e 74 20 45 72 | 69 63 61 20 53 61 64 75 | Aunt Er|ica Sadu|
|00006160| 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e | 20 65 72 75 64 69 74 65 |n and an| erudite|
|00006170| 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 | 20 4e 6f 72 77 65 67 69 |-looking| Norwegi|
|00006180| 61 6e 2d 0a 41 6d 65 72 | 69 63 61 6e 20 77 65 72 |an-.Amer|ican wer|
|00006190| 65 20 73 69 70 70 69 6e | 67 20 74 65 61 2e 20 0a |e sippin|g tea. .|
|000061a0| 09 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2c | 20 45 72 69 63 61 2e 20 |."Hello,| Erica. |
|000061b0| 20 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 | 52 69 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 | Hello, |Rick." |
|000061c0| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 |Andrea f|orced he|
|000061d0| 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 | 74 6f 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 |r voice |to sound|
|000061e0| 0a 6e 65 75 74 72 61 6c | 2e 0a 09 42 6f 74 68 20 |.neutral|...Both |
|000061f0| 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 | 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 |met her |eyes and|
|00006200| 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 | 74 65 6c 79 20 6b 6e 65 | immedia|tely kne|
|00006210| 77 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 | 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f |w better| than to|
|00006220| 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 61 | 6e 79 0a 73 79 6d 70 61 | offer a|ny.sympa|
|00006230| 74 68 79 2e 20 20 41 75 | 6e 74 69 65 20 45 72 69 |thy. Au|ntie Eri|
|00006240| 63 61 20 77 61 73 20 74 | 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 |ca was t|he first|
|00006250| 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 | 6b 2c 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 | to spea|k, maint|
|00006260| 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 | 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 |aining a| tone of|
|00006270| 0a 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 20 | 61 62 73 74 72 61 63 74 |.polite |abstract|
|00006280| 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 | 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e |ion. "H|ello, An|
|00006290| 64 72 65 61 20 64 65 61 | 72 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 63 |drea dea|r. Welc|
|000062a0| 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b | 20 74 6f 20 72 61 73 66 |ome back| to rasf|
|000062b0| 77 72 2d 6a 2e 20 20 4e | 6f 74 0a 74 68 61 74 20 |wr-j. N|ot.that |
|000062c0| 77 65 27 76 65 20 6d 69 | 73 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 |we've mi|ssed you|
|000062d0| 2d 2d 20 74 68 61 74 20 | 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d |-- that |would im|
|000062e0| 70 6c 79 20 77 65 20 6e | 65 65 64 65 64 20 79 6f |ply we n|eeded yo|
|000062f0| 75 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d | 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6f |u in som|e way, o|
|00006300| 72 0a 6c 61 63 6b 65 64 | 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 |r.lacked| somethi|
|00006310| 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f | 75 72 20 61 62 73 65 6e |ng in yo|ur absen|
|00006320| 63 65 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 | 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c |ce-- but| it's al|
|00006330| 77 61 79 73 20 61 20 70 | 6c 65 61 73 75 72 65 20 |ways a p|leasure |
|00006340| 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 0a | 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 |to have.|somewhat|
|00006350| 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 | 67 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f | intelli|gent peo|
|00006360| 70 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 | 6e 64 2e 20 20 43 61 72 |ple arou|nd. Car|
|00006370| 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 69 | 6c 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 |e for mi|lk with |
|00006380| 79 6f 75 72 20 74 65 61 | 3f 22 0a 09 22 4e 6f 20 |your tea|?".."No |
|00006390| 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f | 75 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 73 |thank yo|u. No s|
|000063a0| 75 67 61 72 20 65 69 74 | 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 53 |ugar eit|her." S|
|000063b0| 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 | 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f |he waite|d for so|
|000063c0| 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f | 20 6f 66 66 65 72 0a 61 |meone to| offer.a|
|000063d0| 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 | 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 | chair, |and sat |
|000063e0| 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 | 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f |with a f|eeling o|
|000063f0| 66 20 74 72 69 75 6d 70 | 68 20 77 68 65 6e 20 6e |f triump|h when n|
|00006400| 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 64 69 | 64 2e 0a 09 22 57 65 6c |o one di|d..."Wel|
|00006410| 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 | 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 74 74 |come to |our litt|
|00006420| 6c 65 20 63 68 61 2d 6e | 6f 2d 79 75 2c 20 41 6e |le cha-n|o-yu, An|
|00006430| 64 72 65 61 2e 22 20 20 | 52 69 63 6b 20 4d 6f 65 |drea." |Rick Moe|
|00006440| 6e 20 70 6f 75 72 65 64 | 20 74 68 65 0a 74 65 61 |n poured| the.tea|
|00006450| 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 | 68 65 64 20 69 74 20 68 | and pus|hed it h|
|00006460| 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 61 | 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 |alfway a|cross th|
|00006470| 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 | 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 |e table |to her. |
|00006480| 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 | 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 | She rea|ched the|
|00006490| 20 72 65 73 74 0a 6f 66 | 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 | rest.of| the way|
|000064a0| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6e 61 | 74 63 68 65 64 20 69 74 | and sna|tched it|
|000064b0| 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 | 68 69 73 20 67 72 69 70 | out of |his grip|
|000064c0| 2c 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 69 | 6e 67 20 68 61 6c 66 20 |, spilli|ng half |
|000064d0| 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 73 | 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 |of it as| she did|
|000064e0| 0a 73 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 | 73 63 61 6c 64 69 6e 67 |.so and |scalding|
|000064f0| 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e | 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 | her han|d. He s|
|00006500| 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 73 6c | 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 61 |miled sl|ightly a|
|00006510| 6e 64 20 69 6e 63 6c 69 | 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 |nd incli|ned his |
|00006520| 68 65 61 64 2c 0a 69 6e | 64 69 63 61 74 69 6e 67 |head,.in|dicating|
|00006530| 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 | 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 | that th|is time |
|00006540| 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 | 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 74 |she had |the vict|
|00006550| 6f 72 79 2e 20 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 20 73 61 74 |ory. An|drea sat|
|00006560| 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e | 20 68 65 72 0a 63 68 61 | back in| her.cha|
|00006570| 69 72 2c 20 69 67 6e 6f | 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 |ir, igno|ring her|
|00006580| 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 | 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 2c | burned |fingers,|
|00006590| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 70 | 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 | and sip|ped the |
|000065a0| 74 65 61 2e 20 20 53 68 | 65 20 66 65 6c 74 0a 63 |tea. Sh|e felt.c|
|000065b0| 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 | 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 |onsidera|bly more|
|000065c0| 20 63 6f 6d 70 6f 73 65 | 64 2e 0a 09 22 57 68 79 | compose|d..."Why|
|000065d0| 20 64 69 64 20 73 68 65 | 20 6c 65 61 76 65 3f 22 | did she| leave?"|
|000065e0| 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b | 65 64 20 61 74 20 6c 65 | she ask|ed at le|
|000065f0| 6e 67 74 68 2e 0a 09 22 | 57 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 |ngth..."|We don't|
|00006600| 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 64 | 65 61 72 2c 22 20 45 6d | know, d|ear," Em|
|00006610| 6d 61 20 72 65 70 6c 69 | 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f |ma repli|ed. "No|
|00006620| 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 | 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 |t entire|ly. She|
|00006630| 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 0a | 75 6e 68 61 70 70 79 20 |'s been.|unhappy |
|00006640| 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f | 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6e 67 |for a lo|ng, long|
|00006650| 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 | 6e 64 20 49 20 74 68 69 | time, a|nd I thi|
|00006660| 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 | 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 |nk it wa|s only a|
|00006670| 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 | 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 0a | matter |of time.|
|00006680| 61 66 74 65 72 20 42 69 | 6c 6c 20 76 61 6e 69 73 |after Bi|ll vanis|
|00006690| 68 65 64 2e 22 0a 09 22 | 4c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 67 |hed.".."|Last nig|
|000066a0| 68 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 | 67 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 |ht, thou|gh, she |
|000066b0| 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 61 | 6c 6d 6f 73 74 2e 2e 2e |seemed a|lmost...|
|000066c0| 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 | 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 | content| again."|
|000066d0| 20 20 45 72 69 63 61 0a | 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 | Erica.|sounded |
|000066e0| 6d 69 6c 64 6c 79 20 70 | 65 72 70 6c 65 78 65 64 |mildly p|erplexed|
|000066f0| 2e 20 20 22 53 68 65 20 | 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 65 |. "She |said she|
|00006700| 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 61 | 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 | was lea|ving not|
|00006710| 20 69 6e 20 64 65 66 65 | 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 0a | in defe|at, but.|
|00006720| 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 | 73 68 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 |because |she hone|
|00006730| 73 74 6c 79 20 62 65 6c | 69 65 76 65 64 20 69 74 |stly bel|ieved it|
|00006740| 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 6f | was the| most co|
|00006750| 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 | 76 65 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 |nstructi|ve solut|
|00006760| 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 54 68 65 | 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e |ion..The|re was n|
|00006770| 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e | 67 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 |o keepin|g her, a|
|00006780| 6e 64 20 77 65 20 6b 6e | 65 77 20 62 65 74 74 65 |nd we kn|ew bette|
|00006790| 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 | 6f 20 74 72 79 2e 20 20 |r than t|o try. |
|000067a0| 49 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 | 77 68 65 72 65 0a 73 68 |I asked |where.sh|
|000067b0| 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f | 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 |e was go|ing, and|
|000067c0| 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 | 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 | she sai|d she th|
|000067d0| 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 65 | 27 64 20 66 69 6e 64 20 |ought we|'d find |
|000067e0| 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6f 6e | 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e |out soon| enough.|
|000067f0| 20 20 53 68 65 0a 6e 65 | 76 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 | She.ne|ver told|
|00006800| 20 75 73 2c 20 74 68 6f | 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 09 22 | us, tho|ugh.".."|
|00006810| 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 | 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 |Didn't s|he menti|
|00006820| 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 | 6d 61 6e 2d 2d 20 73 6f |on some |man-- so|
|00006830| 6d 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e | 67 65 72 20 73 68 65 27 |me stran|ger she'|
|00006840| 64 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 | 20 74 6f 20 77 68 6f 27 |d talked| to who'|
|00006850| 64 0a 73 65 74 74 6c 65 | 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 |d.settle|d her th|
|00006860| 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 6f | 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 |oughts o|n the ma|
|00006870| 74 74 65 72 3f 22 20 20 | 45 6d 6d 61 20 6c 6f 6f |tter?" |Emma loo|
|00006880| 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 | 20 61 74 20 45 72 69 63 |ked over| at Eric|
|00006890| 61 2c 20 6f 6e 65 0a 65 | 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20 72 |a, one.e|yebrow r|
|000068a0| 61 69 73 65 64 2e 20 20 | 22 49 20 61 73 6b 65 64 |aised. |"I asked|
|000068b0| 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 | 61 73 20 42 69 6c 6c 2c | if it w|as Bill,|
|000068c0| 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 | 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 | but she| laughed|
|000068d0| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 | 64 20 6e 6f 2e 22 0a 09 | and sai|d no."..|
|000068e0| 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6d 61 | 6e 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 |"Some ma|n?" And|
|000068f0| 72 65 61 20 6a 75 6d 70 | 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 |rea jump|ed on th|
|00006900| 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 74 61 | 72 79 20 63 6c 75 65 2e |e solita|ry clue.|
|00006910| 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 | 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 0a | "What |sort of.|
|00006920| 6d 61 6e 3f 22 0a 09 45 | 6d 6d 61 20 72 61 69 73 |man?"..E|mma rais|
|00006930| 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 | 61 6e 64 73 20 68 65 6c |ed her h|ands hel|
|00006940| 70 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e | 20 20 22 53 68 65 20 6e |plessly.| "She n|
|00006950| 65 76 65 72 20 73 61 69 | 64 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 |ever sai|d, Andre|
|00006960| 61 20 64 65 61 72 2e 0a | 46 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 |a dear..|For all |
|00006970| 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 | 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 |I know, |it was a|
|00006980| 20 6e 65 77 62 69 65 2d | 2d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 | newbie-|- the la|
|00006990| 73 74 20 74 72 6f 6c 6c | 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 72 |st troll| that br|
|000069a0| 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 | 62 72 69 64 67 65 2e 22 |oke the |bridge."|
|000069b0| 0a 09 22 54 68 61 74 20 | 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6d |.."That |sounds m|
|000069c0| 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 | 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 |ost like|ly to me|
|000069d0| 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 61 66 | 72 61 69 64 2c 22 20 52 |, I'm af|raid," R|
|000069e0| 69 63 6b 20 72 65 67 72 | 65 74 66 75 6c 6c 79 0a |ick regr|etfully.|
|000069f0| 61 66 66 69 72 6d 65 64 | 2e 20 20 22 54 77 6f 20 |affirmed|. "Two |
|00006a00| 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f | 2c 20 49 20 73 61 77 20 |days ago|, I saw |
|00006a10| 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 | 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 |someone |going of|
|00006a20| 66 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 64 65 20 72 69 67 75 |f on the| de rigu|
|00006a30| 65 75 72 0a 61 6e 74 69 | 2d 4e 79 6e 61 65 76 65 |eur.anti|-Nynaeve|
|00006a40| 20 72 61 6e 74 2e 2e 2e | 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f | rant...| you kno|
|00006a50| 77 2c 20 77 68 61 74 20 | 64 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 |w, what |do those|
|00006a60| 20 4a 6f 72 64 61 6e 20 | 62 69 74 63 68 65 73 20 | Jordan |bitches |
|00006a70| 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 | 65 79 27 72 65 0a 64 6f |think th|ey're.do|
|00006a80| 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 61 6c | 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 |ing, tal|king bac|
|00006a90| 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 | 69 72 20 6d 65 6e 3f 20 |k to the|ir men? |
|00006aa0| 20 48 61 77 6b 20 77 61 | 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2d | Hawk wa|s there-|
|00006ab0| 2d 20 62 75 74 20 69 6e | 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 |- but in|stead of|
|00006ac0| 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 | 0a 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c 61 | turning|.into la|
|00006ad0| 20 62 65 6c 6c 65 20 64 | 61 6d 65 20 73 61 6e 73 | belle d|ame sans|
|00006ae0| 20 6d 65 72 63 69 20 77 | 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 6b 6e | merci w|e all kn|
|00006af0| 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 6c | 6f 76 65 2c 20 73 68 65 |ow and l|ove, she|
|00006b00| 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 69 | 67 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 | just si|ghed and|
|00006b10| 0a 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 | 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 |.let the| little |
|00006b20| 73 65 78 69 73 74 20 67 | 6f 20 6f 6e 20 72 61 6e |sexist g|o on ran|
|00006b30| 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 | 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 |ting. I| think s|
|00006b40| 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 | 7a 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 |he reali|zed for |
|00006b50| 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 | 74 0a 74 69 6d 65 20 6a |the firs|t.time j|
|00006b60| 75 73 74 20 68 6f 77 20 | 70 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 |ust how |pointles|
|00006b70| 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 | 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e |s the wh|ole thin|
|00006b80| 67 20 77 61 73 2e 20 20 | 41 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 |g was. |And now |
|00006b90| 73 68 65 27 73 20 67 69 | 76 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 |she's gi|ven it a|
|00006ba0| 6c 6c 0a 75 70 2e 20 20 | 43 27 65 73 74 20 6c 61 |ll.up. |C'est la|
|00006bb0| 20 76 69 65 2e 22 0a 09 | 22 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 | vie."..|"The new|
|00006bc0| 73 67 72 6f 75 70 27 73 | 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 61 20 |sgroup's| gone a |
|00006bd0| 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 61 79 | 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 68 69 |long way|s downhi|
|00006be0| 6c 6c 20 73 69 6e 63 65 | 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d |ll since| the tim|
|00006bf0| 65 20 49 20 66 69 72 73 | 74 0a 61 72 72 69 76 65 |e I firs|t.arrive|
|00006c00| 64 2e 22 20 20 41 75 6e | 74 69 65 20 45 72 69 63 |d." Aun|tie Eric|
|00006c10| 61 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 | 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 69 |a's eyes| were di|
|00006c20| 73 74 61 6e 74 20 61 6e | 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 |stant an|d sad. |
|00006c30| 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 | 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 |"People |used to |
|00006c40| 74 61 6b 65 0a 70 72 69 | 64 65 20 69 6e 20 70 6f |take.pri|de in po|
|00006c50| 73 74 69 6e 67 3b 20 74 | 68 65 79 20 72 65 66 75 |sting; t|hey refu|
|00006c60| 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 | 6f 75 6e 74 65 6e 61 6e |sed to c|ountenan|
|00006c70| 63 65 20 6c 61 7a 69 6e | 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 |ce lazin|ess and |
|00006c80| 6c 65 65 63 68 69 6e 67 | 20 68 65 72 65 2c 0a 61 |leeching| here,.a|
|00006c90| 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 | 74 68 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 |ny more |than in |
|00006ca0| 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 | 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 |real lif|e. You |
|00006cb0| 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 | 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 6e |wouldn't| hear an|
|00006cc0| 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 6e 6f 6e 73 65 6e |y of thi|s nonsen|
|00006cd0| 73 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 | 0a 74 68 65 20 27 72 69 |se about|.the 'ri|
|00006ce0| 67 68 74 20 77 61 79 27 | 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 73 74 |ght way'| to post|
|00006cf0| 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 | 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f | being a| creatio|
|00006d00| 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 | 20 65 6c 69 74 65 2e 20 |n of the| elite. |
|00006d10| 20 54 68 65 20 46 41 51 | 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 65 | The FAQ| was see|
|00006d20| 6e 0a 61 73 20 61 20 68 | 65 6c 70 66 75 6c 20 74 |n.as a h|elpful t|
|00006d30| 6f 6f 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 | 62 6f 64 79 20 6f 66 20 |ool and |body of |
|00006d40| 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 20 72 | 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 |wisdom r|ather th|
|00006d50| 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 | 6f 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 61 |an the r|oot of a|
|00006d60| 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 6c 2e | 0a 43 61 62 61 6c 20 6d |ll evil.|.Cabal m|
|00006d70| 65 6d 62 65 72 73 2d 2d | 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 |embers--| there a|
|00006d80| 72 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 | 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 6e |re, of c|ourse, n|
|00006d90| 6f 20 43 61 62 61 6c 20 | 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 2d |o Cabal |members-|
|00006da0| 2d 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f | 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 61 |- were o|ffered a|
|00006db0| 74 0a 6c 65 61 73 74 20 | 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 |t.least |a little|
|00006dc0| 20 64 65 66 65 72 65 6e | 63 65 2e 20 20 42 75 74 | deferen|ce. But|
|00006dd0| 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 | 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 | all tha|t's gone|
|00006de0| 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 09 | 22 54 68 65 20 67 72 6f | now."..|"The gro|
|00006df0| 75 70 27 73 20 6c 6f 73 | 74 20 69 74 73 20 6f 6c |up's los|t its ol|
|00006e00| 64 20 6a 65 20 6e 65 20 | 73 61 69 73 20 71 75 6f |d je ne |sais quo|
|00006e10| 69 2c 22 20 52 69 63 6b | 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2e |i," Rick| agreed.|
|00006e20| 0a 09 22 49 74 27 73 20 | 6c 6f 73 74 20 69 74 73 |.."It's |lost its|
|00006e30| 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 6d | 65 6e 2c 22 20 45 72 69 | great m|en," Eri|
|00006e40| 63 61 20 63 6f 72 72 65 | 63 74 65 64 20 68 69 6d |ca corre|cted him|
|00006e50| 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 | 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 |. "Ther|e were t|
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|00007210| 42 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 | 62 6f 6e 65 68 65 61 64 |But the |bonehead|
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|00007230| 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 20 74 | 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 |minate t|he group|
|00007240| 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 | 75 73 65 0a 66 6f 72 20 | had no |use.for |
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|00007290| 74 6f 0a 73 68 61 6d 65 | 2e 20 20 50 6c 75 73 2c |to.shame|. Plus,|
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|000072d0| 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 0a | 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 77 | always.|stayed w|
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|000072f0| 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 73 | 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 |tandards| they re|
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|00007310| 20 74 68 72 65 77 20 68 | 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 0a | threw h|im out,.|
|00007320| 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 72 | 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 |and he r|esponded|
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|00007350| 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 | 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 |osting a| continu|
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|00007390| 6f 70 69 63 20 54 41 4e | 3a 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 |opic TAN|:s. And|
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|000073b0| 65 63 6c 61 72 65 64 20 | 61 6e 20 6f 75 74 6c 61 |eclared |an outla|
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|000073d0| 6c 6c 20 6f 6e 20 72 61 | 73 66 77 72 2d 6a 20 69 |ll on ra|sfwr-j i|
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|000073f0| 61 6c 70 2e 20 20 42 75 | 74 0a 68 65 20 6c 65 66 |alp. Bu|t.he lef|
|00007400| 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 | 72 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 |t his ma|rk on th|
|00007410| 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2d | 2d 20 61 72 73 20 6c 6f |e group-|- ars lo|
|00007420| 6e 67 61 2c 20 76 69 74 | 61 20 62 72 65 76 69 73 |nga, vit|a brevis|
|00007430| 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e | 6f 77 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e |, you kn|ow."..An|
|00007440| 64 72 65 61 20 6d 75 6c | 6c 65 64 20 74 68 69 73 |drea mul|led this|
|00007450| 20 6f 76 65 72 20 73 69 | 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 | over si|lently. |
|00007460| 20 22 41 6e 64 20 74 68 | 65 20 74 68 69 72 64 3f | "And th|e third?|
|00007470| 22 0a 09 45 72 69 63 61 | 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e |"..Erica| sighed.|
|00007480| 20 20 22 41 20 72 61 74 | 68 65 72 20 62 72 69 67 | "A rat|her brig|
|00007490| 68 74 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 | 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 |ht young| fellow |
|000074a0| 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 6e | 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 |you'll n|ever hav|
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|000074c0| 6c 65 66 74 20 6c 6f 6e | 67 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 62 |left lon|g ago, b|
|000074d0| 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 | 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 |efore th|e group |
|000074e0| 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 | 69 74 73 20 63 75 72 72 |reached |its curr|
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|00007500| 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 66 | 6f 72 65 73 61 77 20 69 |use he f|oresaw i|
|00007510| 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f | 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 |t and co|uldn't b|
|00007520| 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 77 | 61 74 63 68 20 69 74 20 |ear to w|atch it |
|00007530| 68 61 70 70 65 6e 20 61 | 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69 |happen a|round hi|
|00007540| 6d 2e 22 0a 53 68 65 20 | 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 |m.".She |paused s|
|00007550| 61 64 6c 79 3b 20 6e 6f | 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 |adly; no| one els|
|00007560| 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 | 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e |e said a|nything.|
|00007570| 20 20 22 4d 79 20 66 65 | 6c 6c 6f 77 20 4e 65 74 | "My fe|llow Net|
|00007580| 2d 41 75 6e 74 20 4a 75 | 64 79 0a 47 68 69 72 61 |-Aunt Ju|dy.Ghira|
|00007590| 72 64 65 6c 6c 69 20 61 | 6e 64 20 49 20 64 69 64 |rdelli a|nd I did|
|000075a0| 20 6f 75 72 20 62 65 73 | 74 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 | our bes|t to pre|
|000075b0| 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 | 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f |pare the| three o|
|000075c0| 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 | 6f 72 20 74 68 65 0a 63 |f them f|or the.c|
|000075d0| 6f 72 72 75 70 74 69 6f | 6e 20 6f 66 20 55 73 65 |orruptio|n of Use|
|000075e0| 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 49 20 | 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 |net. I |suppose |
|000075f0| 69 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 | 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 |it may b|e too ea|
|00007600| 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 64 | 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 |rly to d|ecide th|
|00007610| 61 74 20 77 65 27 76 65 | 0a 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2d |at we've|.failed-|
|00007620| 2d 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | 20 73 6f 6d 65 2c 20 69 |- though| some, i|
|00007630| 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 2c | 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 69 |t seems,| have gi|
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|00007650| 0a 09 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 | 65 73 2e 20 20 50 6f 6f |.."Oh, y|es. Poo|
|00007660| 72 20 4a 75 64 79 2e 2e | 2e 22 20 20 45 6d 6d 61 |r Judy..|." Emma|
|00007670| 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 20 | 61 6e 64 20 64 61 62 62 | sighed |and dabb|
|00007680| 65 64 20 61 20 74 65 61 | 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 |ed a tea|r away f|
|00007690| 72 6f 6d 0a 68 65 72 20 | 65 79 65 2e 0a 09 41 6e |rom.her |eye...An|
|000076a0| 64 72 65 61 27 73 20 69 | 6e 63 6f 6d 70 72 65 68 |drea's i|ncompreh|
|000076b0| 65 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 6d | 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 |ension m|ust have|
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|000076d0| 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 | 65 2e 0a 45 72 69 63 61 | her fac|e..Erica|
|000076e0| 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 | 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f | waited |for a mo|
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|00007700| 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 | 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 |y shook |her head|
|00007710| 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 | 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c |. "You |didn't l|
|00007720| 6f 6f 6b 0a 74 68 72 6f | 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 |ook.thro|ugh all |
|00007730| 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 61 69 | 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d |your mai|l this m|
|00007740| 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 | 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 2c |orning, |did you,|
|00007750| 20 64 65 61 72 3f 22 0a | 09 22 4e 6f 3b 20 49 20 | dear?".|."No; I |
|00007760| 73 61 77 20 79 6f 75 72 | 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 |saw your| message|
|00007770| 20 61 6e 64 20 68 75 72 | 72 69 65 64 20 72 69 67 | and hur|ried rig|
|00007780| 68 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e | 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 20 |ht over.| Why?" |
|00007790| 20 43 6f 6c 64 20 64 72 | 65 61 64 0a 62 65 67 61 | Cold dr|ead.bega|
|000077a0| 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 72 65 | 65 70 20 75 70 20 6f 6e |n to cre|ep up on|
|000077b0| 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 | 72 74 2e 0a 09 22 54 68 | her hea|rt..."Th|
|000077c0| 65 72 65 27 73 20 6f 6e | 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 73 |ere's on|e last s|
|000077d0| 75 72 76 65 79 20 66 72 | 6f 6d 20 41 75 6e 74 20 |urvey fr|om Aunt |
|000077e0| 4a 6f 6f 64 79 2d 2d 20 | 72 65 71 75 69 65 6d 20 |Joody-- |requiem |
|000077f0| 61 65 74 65 72 6e 61 6d | 20 64 6f 6e 61 0a 65 69 |aeternam| dona.ei|
|00007800| 73 2d 2d 20 69 6e 20 65 | 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 |s-- in e|veryone'|
|00007810| 73 20 62 6f 78 2c 20 77 | 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 |s box, w|ith only|
|00007820| 20 6f 6e 65 20 71 75 65 | 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e | one que|stion on|
|00007830| 20 69 74 2e 22 20 20 52 | 69 63 6b 27 73 20 76 6f | it." R|ick's vo|
|00007840| 69 63 65 0a 09 22 4f 68 | 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 27 57 |ice.."Oh| no. 'W|
|00007850| 68 6f 20 69 73 20 4a 6f | 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b |ho is Jo|hn Novak|
|00007860| 3f 27 22 20 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 66 65 6c 74 |?'" And|rea felt|
|00007870| 20 61 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 | 70 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 | a dull |pain at |
|00007880| 74 68 65 69 72 0a 73 69 | 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e |their.si|lent con|
|00007890| 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f | 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6d |firmatio|n. "Dam|
|000078a0| 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 41 75 | 6e 74 69 65 20 45 72 69 |n it, Au|ntie Eri|
|000078b0| 63 61 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 | 69 73 20 68 65 2d 2d 20 |ca, who |is he-- |
|000078c0| 61 6e 64 20 77 68 79 20 | 64 6f 65 73 0a 65 76 65 |and why |does.eve|
|000078d0| 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 6b 65 | 65 70 20 61 73 6b 69 6e |ryone ke|ep askin|
|000078e0| 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 | 68 69 6d 2c 20 69 66 20 |g about |him, if |
|000078f0| 6e 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 72 | 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 |no one r|eally ca|
|00007900| 72 65 73 3f 22 0a 09 52 | 69 63 6b 20 4d 6f 65 6e |res?"..R|ick Moen|
|00007910| 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e | 20 20 22 41 68 2c 20 74 | sighed.| "Ah, t|
|00007920| 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 | 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 |hat is t|he real |
|00007930| 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e | 2c 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 |question|, isn't |
|00007940| 69 74 3f 20 20 42 75 74 | 0a 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 |it? But|.as they|
|00007950| 20 73 61 79 2c 20 63 68 | 65 20 76 75 6f 6c 20 64 | say, ch|e vuol d|
|00007960| 69 72 65 20 71 75 65 73 | 74 6f 3f 22 0a 09 22 49 |ire ques|to?".."I|
|00007970| 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 | 61 74 20 69 74 20 6d 65 | know wh|at it me|
|00007980| 61 6e 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 | 6e 67 20 52 69 63 6b 2d |ans, you|ng Rick-|
|00007990| 2d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 | 65 20 49 20 68 61 70 70 |- becaus|e I happ|
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|000079b0| 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 | 6b 20 69 73 2e 22 20 20 |ohn Nova|k is." |
|000079c0| 45 72 69 63 61 20 73 70 | 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 61 |Erica sp|oke in a|
|000079d0| 20 66 69 72 6d 2c 20 73 | 74 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f | firm, s|teady to|
|000079e0| 6e 65 2e 0a 09 22 59 6f | 75 20 64 6f 3f 22 20 41 |ne..."Yo|u do?" A|
|000079f0| 6e 64 72 65 61 20 61 6e | 64 20 52 69 63 6b 20 65 |ndrea an|d Rick e|
|00007a00| 78 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 | 20 73 69 6d 75 6c 74 61 |xclaimed| simulta|
|00007a10| 6e 65 6f 75 73 6c 79 2e | 0a 09 22 41 62 73 6f 6c |neously.|.."Absol|
|00007a20| 75 74 65 6c 79 2e 22 20 | 20 46 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 |utely." | Folding|
|00007a30| 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e | 64 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 | her han|ds in he|
|00007a40| 72 20 6c 61 70 2c 20 41 | 75 6e 74 20 45 72 69 63 |r lap, A|unt Eric|
|00007a50| 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 | 64 0a 62 61 63 6b 20 69 |a settle|d.back i|
|00007a60| 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 | 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 4a |n her ch|air. "J|
|00007a70| 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 | 6b 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e |ohn Nova|k was an|
|00007a80| 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 | 72 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 | enginee|r who de|
|00007a90| 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 61 | 20 66 65 61 73 69 62 6c |signed a| feasibl|
|00007aa0| 65 0a 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 | 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 64 75 |e.means |of produ|
|00007ab0| 63 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6c | 64 20 66 75 73 69 6f 6e |cing col|d fusion|
|00007ac0| 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 65 76 | 65 72 2c 20 68 65 20 77 |. Howev|er, he w|
|00007ad0| 61 73 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 | 6d 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 |as infor|med that|
|00007ae0| 20 74 68 65 0a 6d 61 74 | 65 72 69 61 6c 73 20 68 | the.mat|erials h|
|00007af0| 65 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 | 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 |e requir|ed to ma|
|00007b00| 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 76 | 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 |ke his v|ision a |
|00007b10| 72 65 61 6c 69 74 79 20 | 77 65 72 65 20 62 79 20 |reality |were by |
|00007b20| 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 74 | 61 69 6e 74 65 64 0a 77 |nature t|ainted.w|
|00007b30| 69 74 68 20 62 61 73 65 | 72 20 65 6c 65 6d 65 6e |ith base|r elemen|
|00007b40| 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 | 74 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 |ts, and |that his|
|00007b50| 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 | 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 | standar|ds for p|
|00007b60| 75 72 69 74 79 20 77 65 | 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c |urity we|re compl|
|00007b70| 65 74 65 6c 79 0a 75 6e | 72 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 |etely.un|realisti|
|00007b80| 63 2e 20 20 53 6f 20 68 | 65 20 77 69 74 68 64 72 |c. So h|e withdr|
|00007b90| 65 77 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 | 74 68 65 20 73 63 69 65 |ew from |the scie|
|00007ba0| 6e 74 69 66 69 63 20 63 | 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 |ntific c|ommunity|
|00007bb0| 2c 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 | 61 0a 6c 61 62 6f 72 61 |, built |a.labora|
|00007bc0| 74 6f 72 79 20 61 6e 64 | 20 61 70 70 61 72 61 74 |tory and| apparat|
|00007bd0| 75 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 | 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 |us with |his own |
|00007be0| 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 | 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c |hands, a|nd compl|
|00007bf0| 65 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 | 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 |eted his| project|
|00007c00| 2e 0a 54 68 65 6e 20 68 | 65 20 6e 75 6b 65 64 20 |..Then h|e nuked |
|00007c10| 50 65 6f 72 69 61 2e 22 | 0a 09 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 |Peoria."|.."Oh. |
|00007c20| 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 | 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 |Another |metaphor|
|00007c30| 2e 22 20 20 41 6e 64 72 | 65 61 20 73 61 74 20 62 |." Andr|ea sat b|
|00007c40| 61 63 6b 2c 20 63 6c 65 | 61 72 6c 79 20 66 65 65 |ack, cle|arly fee|
|00007c50| 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 74 | 0a 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 09 |ling let|.down...|
|00007c60| 22 45 74 20 74 75 2c 20 | 45 72 69 63 61 3f 22 20 |"Et tu, |Erica?" |
|00007c70| 52 69 63 6b 20 4d 6f 65 | 6e 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 |Rick Moe|n mutter|
|00007c80| 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b | 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 6c |ed, look|ing no l|
|00007c90| 65 73 73 20 64 69 73 67 | 72 75 6e 74 6c 65 64 2e |ess disg|runtled.|
|00007ca0| 0a 09 54 68 65 20 6f 6c | 64 65 72 20 77 6f 6d 61 |..The ol|der woma|
|00007cb0| 6e 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 | 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e |n raised| her han|
|00007cc0| 64 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f | 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 |ds. "Yo|u can't |
|00007cd0| 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 | 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 |understa|nd now, |
|00007ce0| 6d 79 0a 64 65 61 72 73 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 |my.dears|, and I |
|00007cf0| 63 61 6e 27 74 20 65 78 | 70 72 65 73 73 20 69 74 |can't ex|press it|
|00007d00| 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 | 65 72 20 77 61 79 2e 20 | any oth|er way. |
|00007d10| 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 74 | 69 6c 6c 20 74 6f 6f 20 | It's st|ill too |
|00007d20| 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e | 20 74 68 65 0a 70 61 72 |early in| the.par|
|00007d30| 6f 64 79 2e 20 20 45 76 | 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 |ody. Ev|entually|
|00007d40| 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 | 72 73 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 |, of cou|rse, you|
|00007d50| 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 | 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 |'ll find| out wha|
|00007d60| 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 | 6c 6c 20 62 65 65 6e 20 |t it's a|ll been |
|00007d70| 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 0a | 75 70 20 74 6f 2c 20 62 |leading.|up to, b|
|00007d80| 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 | 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 70 |ut it's |not my p|
|00007d90| 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 | 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 |lace to |tell you|
|00007da0| 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f | 72 79 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 | the sto|ry in li|
|00007db0| 74 65 72 61 6c 20 74 65 | 72 6d 73 2e 0a 59 6f 75 |teral te|rms..You|
|00007dc0| 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 | 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f |'ll just| have to|
|00007dd0| 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 0a | 09 22 4e 6f 2e 22 20 20 | wait.".|."No." |
|00007de0| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 27 73 | 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c |Andrea's| eyes fl|
|00007df0| 61 73 68 65 64 20 61 73 | 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f |ashed as| she sto|
|00007e00| 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 | 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 |od. "I |won't wa|
|00007e10| 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c | 0a 77 65 27 72 65 20 74 |it until|.we're t|
|00007e20| 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 | 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 |he last |two peop|
|00007e30| 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6e | 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 |le of an|y sense |
|00007e40| 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 6e 20 | 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 |left on |the news|
|00007e50| 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 | 57 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 |group. |We need |
|00007e60| 74 6f 0a 64 69 73 63 6f | 76 65 72 20 77 68 79 20 |to.disco|ver why |
|00007e70| 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 | 27 73 20 6c 65 61 76 69 |everyone|'s leavi|
|00007e80| 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 | 73 74 6f 70 20 74 68 65 |ng, and |stop the|
|00007e90| 6d 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 | 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f |m before| the who|
|00007ea0| 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 | 0a 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 |le thing|.collaps|
|00007eb0| 65 73 2e 20 20 54 69 6d | 65 20 69 73 20 73 68 6f |es. Tim|e is sho|
|00007ec0| 72 74 2c 20 41 75 6e 74 | 69 65 20 45 72 69 63 61 |rt, Aunt|ie Erica|
|00007ed0| 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 49 | 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 73 |-- and I| can't s|
|00007ee0| 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 20 | 73 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 |it here |sipping |
|00007ef0| 74 65 61 0a 61 6e 79 20 | 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 22 |tea.any |longer."|
|00007f00| 0a 09 45 72 69 63 61 27 | 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 |..Erica'|s smile |
|00007f10| 77 61 73 20 70 6c 61 63 | 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f |was plac|id. "Yo|
|00007f20| 75 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 | 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 |u do wha|t you ha|
|00007f30| 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f | 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 |ve to do|, Andrea|
|00007f40| 0a 64 65 61 72 2e 22 0a | 09 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 |.dear.".|.Andrea |
|00007f50| 73 65 74 20 64 6f 77 6e | 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 61 |set down| her tea|
|00007f60| 63 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 | 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 |cup and |walked t|
|00007f70| 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f | 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 |o the do|or. The|
|00007f80| 72 65 20 73 68 65 0a 70 | 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 6c |re she.p|aused, l|
|00007f90| 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 | 61 63 6b 20 62 72 69 65 |ooking b|ack brie|
|00007fa0| 66 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 | 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 |fly. "T|hank you|
|00007fb0| 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 | 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 77 | very mu|ch for w|
|00007fc0| 65 6c 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 | 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b |elcoming| me back|
|00007fd0| 2e 0a 49 74 27 73 20 67 | 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 6b |..It's g|ood to k|
|00007fe0| 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 | 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 |now that| there a|
|00007ff0| 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c | 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c |re still| some pl|
|00008000| 61 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 | 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 |aces on |the news|
|00008010| 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 68 | 65 72 65 0a 70 65 6f 70 |group wh|ere.peop|
|00008020| 6c 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 | 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 67 |le have |some deg|
|00008030| 72 65 65 20 6f 66 20 70 | 72 69 64 65 20 69 6e 20 |ree of p|ride in |
|00008040| 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 | 65 73 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 |themselv|es. Jus|
|00008050| 74 2e 2e 2e 20 64 6f 6e | 27 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6f |t... don|'t any o|
|00008060| 66 20 79 6f 75 0a 76 61 | 6e 69 73 68 20 77 69 74 |f you.va|nish wit|
|00008070| 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 6c | 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 |hout tal|king to |
|00008080| 6d 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 | 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 72 69 |me first|, all ri|
|00008090| 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 09 22 | 48 61 73 74 61 20 6c 61 |ght?".."|Hasta la|
|000080a0| 20 76 69 73 74 61 2c 20 | 41 6e 64 72 65 61 2c 22 | vista, |Andrea,"|
|000080b0| 20 52 69 63 6b 20 4d 6f | 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 | Rick Mo|en said |
|000080c0| 72 65 67 72 65 74 66 75 | 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 |regretfu|lly. "I|
|000080d0| 66 20 79 6f 75 0a 6e 65 | 65 64 20 61 6e 79 20 68 |f you.ne|ed any h|
|000080e0| 65 6c 70 2d 2d 20 65 78 | 63 75 73 65 20 6d 65 2c |elp-- ex|cuse me,|
|000080f0| 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 | 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 | if you |want the|
|00008100| 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 | 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 | company| of an e|
|00008110| 71 75 61 6c 6c 79 0a 73 | 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 6c 69 |qually.s|elf-reli|
|00008120| 61 6e 74 20 68 75 6d 61 | 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 2d |ant huma|n being-|
|00008130| 2d 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e | 6f 77 20 6d 79 20 61 64 |- you kn|ow my ad|
|00008140| 64 72 65 73 73 2e 20 20 | 42 75 65 6e 20 73 75 65 |dress. |Buen sue|
|00008150| 72 74 65 21 22 0a 09 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 72 65 |rte!"..A|ndrea re|
|00008160| 66 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 67 72 61 6e 74 20 68 |fused to| grant h|
|00008170| 69 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 | 72 6f 70 68 79 20 6f 66 |im the t|rophy of|
|00008180| 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 | 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f | a smile|, but no|
|00008190| 64 64 65 64 0a 68 61 75 | 67 68 74 69 6c 79 20 69 |dded.hau|ghtily i|
|000081a0| 6e 20 68 69 73 20 64 69 | 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 |n his di|rection |
|000081b0| 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 | 79 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 |to conve|y her gr|
|000081c0| 61 74 69 74 75 64 65 2e | 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 |atitude.| Then, |
|000081d0| 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 | 6f 77 20 74 6f 0a 74 68 |with a b|ow to.th|
|000081e0| 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 | 74 77 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 |e other |two wome|
|000081f0| 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 | 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 6e |n, she t|urned an|
|00008200| 64 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 | 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e |d left t|he room.|
|00008210| 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a 09 | 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 |..****..|The next|
|00008220| 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 | 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 | two day|s were a|
|00008230| 6e 20 75 6e 68 61 70 70 | 79 20 62 6c 75 72 20 6f |n unhapp|y blur o|
|00008240| 66 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 | 77 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 |f bad ne|ws. And|
|00008250| 72 65 61 20 73 70 65 6e | 74 0a 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 |rea spen|t.almost|
|00008260| 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 | 68 65 72 20 77 61 6b 69 | all of |her waki|
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|00008280| 6e 67 20 72 61 73 66 77 | 72 2d 6a 2c 20 74 72 79 |ng rasfw|r-j, try|
|00008290| 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 | 69 6e 64 20 6f 6c 64 0a |ing to f|ind old.|
|000082a0| 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 | 61 6e 63 65 73 20 61 6d |acquaint|ances am|
|000082b0| 69 64 73 74 20 74 68 65 | 20 73 65 61 20 6f 66 20 |idst the| sea of |
|000082c0| 6c 75 72 6b 65 72 73 20 | 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 62 |lurkers |and newb|
|000082d0| 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 | 65 20 66 65 77 20 73 68 |ies. Th|e few sh|
|000082e0| 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 65 | 64 0a 77 65 72 65 20 61 |e locate|d.were a|
|000082f0| 6c 6c 20 74 6f 6f 20 6f | 66 74 65 6e 20 64 69 73 |ll too o|ften dis|
|00008300| 70 69 72 69 74 65 64 2c | 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 72 |pirited,| and bor|
|00008310| 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e | 67 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 |e nothin|g but ba|
|00008320| 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 20 | 20 53 68 65 20 6d 65 74 |d news. | She met|
|00008330| 0a 4d 69 6b 65 20 4b 6f | 7a 6c 6f 77 73 6b 69 20 |.Mike Ko|zlowski |
|00008340| 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 61 6e | 64 6f 6d 20 74 68 72 65 |on a ran|dom thre|
|00008350| 61 64 3b 20 68 65 20 74 | 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 |ad; he t|old her |
|00008360| 74 68 61 74 20 54 73 68 | 65 6e 20 28 75 6e 73 75 |that Tsh|en (unsu|
|00008370| 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 | 6c 79 29 0a 68 61 64 20 |rprising|ly).had |
|00008380| 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 | 6c 65 66 74 20 74 6f 20 |finally |left to |
|00008390| 6a 6f 69 6e 20 4c 6f 79 | 6e 61 72 20 44 61 6e 6e |join Loy|nar Dann|
|000083a0| 65 73 6b 6a 6f 6c 64 20 | 69 6e 20 62 61 6e 64 77 |eskjold |in bandw|
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|000083c0| 65 0a 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 | 4b 61 74 65 20 4e 65 70 |e.found |Kate Nep|
|000083d0| 76 65 75 20 63 68 61 74 | 74 69 6e 67 20 69 64 6c |veu chat|ting idl|
|000083e0| 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 4b | 61 72 6c 2d 4a 6f 68 61 |y with K|arl-Joha|
|000083f0| 6e 2d 2d 20 77 68 6f 20 | 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 |n-- who |was in a|
|00008400| 20 66 6f 75 6c 20 6d 6f | 6f 64 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 | foul mo|od,.and |
|00008410| 73 70 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f | 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 |spent mo|st of hi|
|00008420| 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 63 | 6f 6d 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 |s time c|omplaini|
|00008430| 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 |ng that |the news|
|00008440| 67 72 6f 75 70 20 68 61 | 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f |group ha|d someho|
|00008450| 77 0a 6f 76 65 72 74 61 | 6b 65 6e 20 53 63 61 6e |w.overta|ken Scan|
|00008460| 64 69 6e 61 76 69 61 20 | 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 74 |dinavia |in its t|
|00008470| 72 6f 6c 6c 20 70 6f 70 | 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e |roll pop|ulation.|
|00008480| 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 | 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f | He was| able to|
|00008490| 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d | 2c 0a 68 6f 77 65 76 65 | confirm|,.howeve|
|000084a0| 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 | 4d 61 67 6e 75 73 20 49 |r, that |Magnus I|
|000084b0| 74 6c 61 6e 64 20 68 61 | 64 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 |tland ha|d vanish|
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|000084f0| 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 66 | 6c 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f |ho was f|laming o|
|00008500| 66 66 20 61 20 73 77 61 | 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 62 6f |ff a swa|rm of bo|
|00008510| 6e 65 68 65 61 64 73 20 | 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 22 |neheads |in the "|
|00008520| 54 61 69 6d 61 6e 64 72 | 65 64 22 0a 73 65 63 74 |Taimandr|ed".sect|
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|00008540| 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6c | 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 67 72 |ould tal|k, he gr|
|00008550| 69 6d 6c 79 20 69 6e 66 | 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 |imly inf|ormed he|
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|00008570| 63 68 0a 42 6f 79 65 20 | 77 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 |ch.Boye |were on |
|00008580| 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 67 | 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 61 |the verg|e of lea|
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|000085a0| 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 | 65 6e 74 72 65 61 74 79 | and no |entreaty|
|000085b0| 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d | 6f 76 65 0a 74 68 65 6d | could m|ove.them|
|000085c0| 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 74 | 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 |. For t|he first|
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|00008620| 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 | 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 |morning |of the t|
|00008630| 68 69 72 64 20 64 61 79 | 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 |hird day|, there |
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|000086b0| 20 49 6e 20 72 65 73 70 | 6f 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 | In resp|onse to |
|000086c0| 68 65 72 20 71 75 69 7a | 7a 69 63 61 6c 20 61 6e |her quiz|zical an|
|000086d0| 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 | 6c 79 20 69 6e 64 69 67 |d slight|ly indig|
|000086e0| 6e 61 6e 74 20 67 6c 61 | 72 65 2c 0a 68 65 20 73 |nant gla|re,.he s|
|000086f0| 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 | 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 69 6c |hrugged |and smil|
|00008700| 65 64 2e 0a 09 22 49 20 | 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 |ed..."I |realize |
|00008710| 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 | 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 |you neve|r called|
|00008720| 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 | 68 65 6c 70 2d 2d 20 62 | for my |help-- b|
|00008730| 75 74 20 49 20 66 6f 75 | 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 |ut I fou|nd your |
|00008740| 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 0a 73 | 70 65 65 63 68 20 74 6f |little.s|peech to|
|00008750| 20 45 72 69 63 61 20 69 | 6e 73 70 69 72 69 6e 67 | Erica i|nspiring|
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|000087a0| 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e | 20 20 54 6f 63 68 69 73 |problem.| Tochis|
|000087b0| 20 61 66 6e 20 74 69 73 | 68 2e 20 20 42 65 73 69 | afn tis|h. Besi|
|000087c0| 64 65 73 2c 20 49 20 68 | 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 |des, I h|ave some|
|000087d0| 20 6e 65 77 73 0a 79 6f | 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 | news.yo|u may fi|
|000087e0| 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 | 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 22 |nd inter|esting."|
|000087f0| 0a 09 22 4c 65 74 27 73 | 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 |.."Let's| hear it|
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|00008810| 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 73 74 | 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 |ingly st|epped aw|
|00008820| 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 | 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 |ay from |the door|
|00008830| 20 61 6e 64 0a 61 6c 6c | 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d | and.all|owed him|
|00008840| 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 74 65 | 72 2e 0a 09 22 57 65 6c | to ente|r..."Wel|
|00008850| 6c 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 | 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 |l, first|, the ba|
|00008860| 64 20 6e 65 77 73 3a 20 | 53 74 2e 20 45 72 72 6f |d news: |St. Erro|
|00008870| 6e 65 6f 75 73 20 68 61 | 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c |neous ha|s finall|
|00008880| 79 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 | 61 20 76 6f 77 0a 6f 66 |y taken |a vow.of|
|00008890| 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4a 75 | silence|, and Ju|
|000088a0| 6c 69 65 20 4b 61 6e 67 | 61 73 20 69 73 20 73 77 |lie Kang|as is sw|
|000088b0| 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 | 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 |imming w|ith the |
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|000088d0| 20 74 68 65 0a 64 6f 75 | 62 6c 65 20 62 6c 6f 77 | the.dou|ble blow|
|000088e0| 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 | 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 66 | could r|eally af|
|000088f0| 66 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 | 2c 20 68 65 20 68 75 72 |fect her|, he hur|
|00008900| 72 69 65 64 20 6f 6e 2e | 20 20 22 42 75 74 20 68 |ried on.| "But h|
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|00008970| 65 72 2e 20 20 42 6f 74 | 68 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 |er. Bot|h spent |
|00008980| 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 | 6f 75 72 20 74 61 6c 6b |a good h|our talk|
|00008990| 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c | 27 65 74 72 61 6e 67 65 |ing to l|'etrange|
|000089a0| 72 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72 | 69 65 75 78 2c 0a 61 6e |r myster|ieux,.an|
|000089b0| 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 69 | 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 |d then i|mmediate|
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|000089d0| 6f 75 6e 74 73 20 69 6e | 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 |ounts in| order a|
|000089e0| 6e 64 20 76 61 6e 69 73 | 68 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f |nd vanis|hed. Do|
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|00008a00| 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 | 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 |e you as| similar|
|00008a10| 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 65 | 72 74 61 69 6e 20 6f 74 | to a ce|rtain ot|
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|00008a40| 72 65 61 20 66 6f 72 67 | 6f 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 |rea forg|ot her a|
|00008a50| 6e 6e 6f 79 61 6e 63 65 | 20 69 6e 20 73 75 64 64 |nnoyance| in sudd|
|00008a60| 65 6e 20 65 78 63 69 74 | 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 |en excit|ement. |
|00008a70| 22 59 6f 75 20 74 68 69 | 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 0a |"You thi|nk it's.|
|00008a80| 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 | 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72 79 |the same| mystery|
|00008a90| 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 6f | 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 74 | man who| spoke t|
|00008aa0| 6f 20 48 61 77 6b 3f 22 | 0a 09 22 53 65 65 6d 73 |o Hawk?"|.."Seems|
|00008ab0| 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c | 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 | likely,| doesn't|
|00008ac0| 20 69 74 3f 20 20 54 68 | 65 20 6d 6f 64 75 73 20 | it? Th|e modus |
|00008ad0| 6f 70 65 72 61 6e 64 69 | 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 |operandi| is the |
|00008ae0| 73 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 74 | 20 61 6e 79 0a 72 61 74 |same, at| any.rat|
|00008af0| 65 2e 2e 2e 20 77 68 69 | 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 |e... whi|ch would|
|00008b00| 20 6c 65 61 64 20 6d 65 | 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e | lead me| to thin|
|00008b10| 6b 2c 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 | 61 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 |k, contr|a my pre|
|00008b20| 76 69 6f 75 73 20 67 75 | 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 61 |vious gu|ess, tha|
|00008b30| 74 20 74 68 69 73 0a 66 | 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 69 73 |t this.f|ellow is|
|00008b40| 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 | 61 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 | more th|an just |
|00008b50| 61 20 62 6f 6e 65 68 65 | 61 64 65 64 20 6e 65 77 |a bonehe|aded new|
|00008b60| 62 69 65 2e 22 0a 09 46 | 72 6f 77 6e 69 6e 67 20 |bie."..F|rowning |
|00008b70| 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 66 | 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6e |thoughtf|ully, An|
|00008b80| 64 72 65 61 20 73 61 69 | 64 2c 20 22 42 75 74 20 |drea sai|d, "But |
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|00008ba0| 74 20 62 65 3f 0a 57 68 | 6f 20 65 6c 73 65 20 63 |t be?.Wh|o else c|
|00008bb0| 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e | 76 69 6e 63 65 20 61 6c |ould con|vince al|
|00008bc0| 6c 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 | 6f 6c 64 62 69 65 73 20 |l these |oldbies |
|00008bd0| 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 | 3f 20 20 41 6e 64 20 77 |to leave|? And w|
|00008be0| 68 79 3f 22 0a 09 52 69 | 63 6b 20 4d 6f 65 6e 20 |hy?"..Ri|ck Moen |
|00008bf0| 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 68 | 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 |spread h|is hands|
|00008c00| 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 66 | 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 | regretf|ully. "|
|00008c10| 53 6f 64 6f 6d 79 20 6e | 6f 6e 20 73 61 70 69 65 |Sodomy n|on sapie|
|00008c20| 6e 73 2c 0a 64 65 61 72 | 2e 22 0a 09 22 57 65 6c |ns,.dear|.".."Wel|
|00008c30| 6c 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c | 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 |l, we'll| just ha|
|00008c40| 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 | 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 |ve to fi|nd out. |
|00008c50| 20 4b 65 65 70 20 79 6f | 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 | Keep yo|ur eyes |
|00008c60| 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 52 69 | 63 6b 2e 22 0a 09 54 68 |open, Ri|ck."..Th|
|00008c70| 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 | 61 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 |e next d|ay passe|
|00008c80| 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 | 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 75 |d slowly| and fru|
|00008c90| 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 | 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 |strating|ly. And|
|00008ca0| 72 65 61 20 72 61 6e 20 | 69 6e 74 6f 0a 52 69 63 |rea ran |into.Ric|
|00008cb0| 68 61 72 64 20 42 6f 6c | 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 |hard Bol|linger, |
|00008cc0| 77 68 6f 20 67 72 6f 77 | 6c 65 64 20 61 6d 69 61 |who grow|led amia|
|00008cd0| 62 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 | 20 68 65 27 64 20 73 65 |bly that| he'd se|
|00008ce0| 65 6e 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 | 79 20 6f 66 20 73 74 72 |en plent|y of str|
|00008cf0| 61 6e 67 65 72 73 2c 0a | 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 6e 65 |angers,.|but none|
|00008d00| 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 | 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 | of that| particu|
|00008d10| 6c 61 72 20 64 65 73 63 | 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e |lar desc|ription.|
|00008d20| 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 | 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 68 65 | He had| also he|
|00008d30| 61 72 64 20 72 75 6d 6f | 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 0a |ard rumo|rs that.|
|00008d40| 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6e 65 | 68 65 61 64 73 2c 20 6c |the bone|heads, l|
|00008d50| 65 65 63 68 65 73 2c 20 | 61 6e 64 20 74 72 6f 6c |eeches, |and trol|
|00008d60| 6c 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 | 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 |ls were |meeting |
|00008d70| 74 6f 20 65 6c 65 63 74 | 20 61 20 50 65 6f 70 6c |to elect| a Peopl|
|00008d80| 65 27 73 20 43 61 62 61 | 6c 2c 0a 77 69 74 68 20 |e's Caba|l,.with |
|00008d90| 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 75 | 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 |the excu|se that |
|00008da0| 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 | 43 61 62 61 6c 20 5b 54 |the old |Cabal [T|
|00008db0| 49 4e 4f 43 5d 20 68 61 | 64 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 |INOC] ha|d lost t|
|00008dc0| 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 | 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 20 |oo many |members |
|00008dd0| 74 6f 0a 6d 61 69 6e 74 | 61 69 6e 20 61 20 71 75 |to.maint|ain a qu|
|00008de0| 6f 72 75 6d 2e 20 20 4f | 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 |orum. O|therwise|
|00008df0| 2c 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 | 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 |, her se|arch for|
|00008e00| 20 6e 65 77 73 20 77 61 | 73 20 66 72 75 69 74 6c | news wa|s fruitl|
|00008e10| 65 73 73 2e 20 20 53 68 | 65 20 6d 65 74 0a 52 69 |ess. Sh|e met.Ri|
|00008e20| 63 6b 20 4d 6f 65 6e 20 | 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 68 |ck Moen |again th|
|00008e30| 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 69 | 6e 67 3b 20 68 65 20 6c |at eveni|ng; he l|
|00008e40| 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 6c | 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c |ooked sl|ightly l|
|00008e50| 65 73 73 20 67 6c 6f 6f | 6d 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 |ess gloo|my, but |
|00008e60| 6e 6f 74 20 62 79 0a 6d | 75 63 68 2e 0a 09 22 49 |not by.m|uch..."I|
|00008e70| 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 | 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 75 72 | talked |to a lur|
|00008e80| 6b 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 | 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 74 |ker who |claims t|
|00008e90| 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f | 76 65 72 68 65 61 72 64 |o have o|verheard|
|00008ea0| 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 | 65 20 6f 66 20 61 0a 63 | one sid|e of a.c|
|00008eb0| 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 | 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 |onversat|ion betw|
|00008ec0| 65 65 6e 20 61 20 72 61 | 73 66 77 72 2d 6a 20 6f |een a ra|sfwr-j o|
|00008ed0| 6c 64 62 69 65 20 61 6e | 64 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b |ldbie an|d a dark|
|00008ee0| 2d 62 65 61 72 64 65 64 | 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 |-bearded| strange|
|00008ef0| 72 2e 0a 55 6e 66 6f 72 | 74 75 6e 61 74 65 6c 79 |r..Unfor|tunately|
|00008f00| 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c | 64 62 69 65 20 20 77 61 |, the ol|dbie wa|
|00008f10| 73 20 41 61 72 6f 6e 20 | 42 65 72 67 6d 61 6e 2e |s Aaron |Bergman.|
|00008f20| 22 20 20 52 69 63 6b 20 | 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 |" Rick |shrugged|
|00008f30| 20 72 75 65 66 75 6c 6c | 79 2e 0a 22 57 65 20 64 | ruefull|y.."We d|
|00008f40| 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 | 74 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 73 |idn't ge|t many s|
|00008f50| 65 6e 74 65 6e 63 65 73 | 20 6f 66 20 6f 76 65 72 |entences| of over|
|00008f60| 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 79 6c | 6c 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 49 | one syl|lable, I|
|00008f70| 27 6d 20 61 66 72 61 69 | 64 2e 20 20 51 75 65 20 |'m afrai|d. Que |
|00008f80| 73 65 72 61 2c 0a 73 65 | 72 61 2e 22 0a 09 22 41 |sera,.se|ra.".."A|
|00008f90| 61 72 6f 6e 27 73 20 67 | 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 65 |aron's g|one, the|
|00008fa0| 6e 3f 22 0a 09 48 65 20 | 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 |n?"..He |sighed. |
|00008fb0| 20 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 | 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 | "Yes. |By the t|
|00008fc0| 69 6d 65 20 49 20 66 6f | 75 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 2c |ime I fo|und him,|
|00008fd0| 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 70 | 61 72 74 75 72 65 20 77 | his dep|arture w|
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|00008ff0| 6c 69 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 27 73 20 65 |li."..An|drea's e|
|00009000| 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 | 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e |yes were| hard an|
|00009010| 64 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 61 | 73 20 66 6c 69 6e 74 2e |d cold a|s flint.|
|00009020| 20 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 | 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 72 | "This |stranger|
|00009030| 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 0a | 45 6e 65 6d 79 2c 20 52 | is the.|Enemy, R|
|00009040| 69 63 6b 2c 20 49 27 6d | 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 |ick, I'm| convinc|
|00009050| 65 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 | 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 |ed of it|. He's |
|00009060| 61 20 44 65 73 74 72 6f | 79 65 72 2c 20 64 65 64 |a Destro|yer, ded|
|00009070| 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 | 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 63 6f |icated t|o the.co|
|00009080| 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 6f | 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c |llapse o|f what l|
|00009090| 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 6f | 6f 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 |ittle go|od remai|
|000090a0| 6e 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 | 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2e |ns on th|e group.|
|000090b0| 20 20 57 65 27 76 65 20 | 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 | We've |got to s|
|000090c0| 74 6f 70 0a 68 69 6d 2e | 22 0a 09 22 46 69 6e 65 |top.him.|".."Fine|
|000090d0| 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 73 | 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 61 |, but as| they sa|
|000090e0| 79 20 69 6e 20 55 72 75 | 67 75 61 79 2c 20 71 75 |y in Uru|guay, qu|
|000090f0| 65 20 70 6f 64 65 6d 6f | 73 20 68 61 63 65 72 3f |e podemo|s hacer?|
|00009100| 22 0a 09 41 6e 64 72 65 | 61 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 |"..Andre|a's fine|
|00009110| 6c 79 20 64 72 61 77 6e | 20 6c 69 70 73 20 70 72 |ly drawn| lips pr|
|00009120| 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 69 | 67 68 74 6c 79 20 74 6f |essed ti|ghtly to|
|00009130| 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 | 73 20 73 68 65 0a 74 68 |gether a|s she.th|
|00009140| 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 | 54 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 |ought. |Then she|
|00009150| 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 | 75 70 2e 20 20 22 57 65 | looked |up. "We|
|00009160| 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 61 6e 74 69 63 69 70 | need to| anticip|
|00009170| 61 74 65 20 68 69 6d 2c | 20 52 69 63 6b 2e 20 20 |ate him,| Rick. |
|00009180| 57 65 20 6e 65 65 64 0a | 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 |We need.|to figur|
|00009190| 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 | 6f 20 68 65 27 73 20 67 |e out wh|o he's g|
|000091a0| 6f 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 | 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 20 20 |oing for| next. |
|000091b0| 48 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79 | 20 72 65 61 6c 20 43 61 |How many| real Ca|
|000091c0| 62 61 6c 20 6d 65 6d 62 | 65 72 73 20 28 74 68 65 |bal memb|ers (the|
|000091d0| 72 65 0a 61 72 65 20 6e | 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 20 43 |re.are n|o real C|
|000091e0| 61 62 61 6c 20 6d 65 6d | 62 65 72 73 29 20 61 72 |abal mem|bers) ar|
|000091f0| 65 20 6c 65 66 74 3f 22 | 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 |e left?"| There |
|00009200| 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f | 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 73 |was a mo|ment's s|
|00009210| 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 77 | 68 69 6c 65 0a 74 68 65 |ilence w|hile.the|
|00009220| 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 72 | 61 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 |y both r|an down |
|00009230| 61 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c | 20 6c 69 73 74 2e 20 20 |a mental| list. |
|00009240| 54 68 65 6e 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 27 73 20 65 79 |Then And|rea's ey|
|00009250| 65 73 20 62 72 69 67 68 | 74 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 |es brigh|tened. |
|00009260| 22 4f 66 0a 63 6f 75 72 | 73 65 21 22 20 73 68 65 |"Of.cour|se!" she|
|00009270| 20 65 78 63 6c 61 69 6d | 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 | exclaim|ed, and |
|00009280| 77 61 73 20 6f 75 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 |was out |the door|
|00009290| 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 | 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 | before |he had a|
|000092a0| 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 | 74 6f 0a 72 69 73 65 20 | chance |to.rise |
|000092b0| 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 | 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a |from his| chair..|
|000092c0| 09 53 68 65 20 73 70 72 | 69 6e 74 65 64 20 64 6f |.She spr|inted do|
|000092d0| 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 | 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 73 |wn the v|irtual s|
|000092e0| 74 72 65 65 74 73 2c 20 | 6e 6f 74 20 62 6f 74 68 |treets, |not both|
|000092f0| 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f | 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 |ering to| check i|
|00009300| 66 0a 52 69 63 6b 20 4d | 6f 65 6e 20 77 61 73 20 |f.Rick M|oen was |
|00009310| 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e | 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 |followin|g. It d|
|00009320| 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 | 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 |idn't ma|tter if |
|00009330| 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 | 68 65 72 65 20 6f 72 20 |he was t|here or |
|00009340| 6e 6f 74 3b 20 61 6c 6c | 0a 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 |not; all|.that ma|
|00009350| 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 77 | 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 |ttered w|as that |
|00009360| 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 | 68 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 |she reac|h her de|
|00009370| 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f | 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d |stinatio|n in tim|
|00009380| 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 | 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 0a |e. She |finally.|
|00009390| 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 2c | 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 6f 75 |arrived,| worn ou|
|000093a0| 74 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 | 73 70 69 6e 67 20 66 6f |t and ga|sping fo|
|000093b0| 72 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 | 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 |r air, a|t the fr|
|000093c0| 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 | 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 61 |ont door| of a ta|
|000093d0| 6c 6c 2c 20 64 61 72 6b | 0a 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e |ll, dark|.buildin|
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|000093f0| 74 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f | 6f 6b 20 74 6f 20 63 61 |t she to|ok to ca|
|00009400| 74 63 68 20 68 65 72 20 | 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 |tch her |breath, |
|00009410| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 74 | 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 |Andrea t|hought s|
|00009420| 68 65 0a 67 6c 69 6d 70 | 73 65 64 20 61 20 6c 61 |he.glimp|sed a la|
|00009430| 72 67 65 2c 20 73 68 61 | 64 6f 77 79 20 66 69 67 |rge, sha|dowy fig|
|00009440| 75 72 65 20 73 74 72 69 | 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 |ure stri|ding dow|
|00009450| 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c | 6c 65 79 20 62 65 68 69 |n the al|ley behi|
|00009460| 6e 64 20 74 68 65 0a 6e | 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 69 |nd the.n|eighbori|
|00009470| 6e 67 20 74 65 6e 65 6d | 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 |ng tenem|ents. I|
|00009480| 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6d | 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 |t was im|possible|
|00009490| 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 | 68 69 6d 20 63 6c 65 61 | to see |him clea|
|000094a0| 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 74 | 68 65 0a 74 77 69 6c 69 |rly in t|he.twili|
|000094b0| 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 65 | 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 |ght of e|vening, |
|000094c0| 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c | 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 |however,| and wit|
|000094d0| 68 20 61 20 73 69 6e 6b | 69 6e 67 20 68 65 61 72 |h a sink|ing hear|
|000094e0| 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 61 | 73 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 |t she da|shed int|
|000094f0| 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 68 61 | 6c 6c 2c 20 68 6f 70 69 |o the.ha|ll, hopi|
|00009500| 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e | 73 74 20 68 6f 70 65 20 |ng again|st hope |
|00009510| 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 | 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 |that she| wasn't |
|00009520| 74 6f 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 | 2e 0a 09 53 68 65 20 62 |too late|...She b|
|00009530| 75 72 73 74 20 69 6e 74 | 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 |urst int|o the ma|
|00009540| 69 6e 20 62 65 64 72 6f | 6f 6d 2c 20 77 68 65 72 |in bedro|om, wher|
|00009550| 65 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 20 | 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 61 |e a man |in a sha|
|00009560| 70 65 2d 73 68 69 66 74 | 69 6e 67 0a 77 61 72 64 |pe-shift|ing.ward|
|00009570| 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 61 6b | 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 |er cloak| glanced|
|00009580| 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 | 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e | up at h|er, then|
|00009590| 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 | 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 6f | went ba|ck to to|
|000095a0| 73 73 69 6e 67 20 63 6c | 6f 74 68 65 73 20 61 6e |ssing cl|othes an|
|000095b0| 64 0a 76 61 6c 75 61 62 | 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f |d.valuab|les into|
|000095c0| 20 61 20 73 75 69 74 63 | 61 73 65 2e 20 20 22 48 | a suitc|ase. "H|
|000095d0| 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 2e 22 0a 09 |ello, An|drea."..|
|000095e0| 22 53 74 6f 70 20 70 61 | 63 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 64 |"Stop pa|cking, d|
|000095f0| 61 72 6b 65 6c 66 2c 22 | 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6d |arkelf,"| she com|
|00009600| 6d 61 6e 64 65 64 2e 0a | 09 4d 69 63 68 61 65 6c |manded..|.Michael|
|00009610| 20 53 74 65 65 76 65 73 | 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 | Steeves| looked |
|00009620| 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e | 2c 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 |up again|, an eve|
|00009630| 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 | 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 61 |n smile |on his a|
|00009640| 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 2c 0a | 66 69 6e 65 6c 79 20 73 |ngular,.|finely s|
|00009650| 63 75 6c 70 74 65 64 20 | 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 22 |culpted |face. "|
|00009660| 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 | 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c |I can't |do that,|
|00009670| 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 2e | 22 0a 09 22 53 6f 20 68 | Andrea.|".."So h|
|00009680| 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f | 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 |e got to| you as |
|00009690| 77 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 | 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 |well?" |Her voic|
|000096a0| 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 | 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 |e was th|ick with|
|000096b0| 20 72 61 67 65 20 61 6e | 64 0a 68 75 72 74 2e 20 | rage an|d.hurt. |
|000096c0| 20 22 59 6f 75 27 76 65 | 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 | "You've| decided|
|000096d0| 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f | 77 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 | to thro|w in you|
|000096e0| 72 20 6c 6f 74 20 77 69 | 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 44 |r lot wi|th the D|
|000096f0| 65 73 74 72 6f 79 65 72 | 3f 22 0a 09 22 51 75 69 |estroyer|?".."Qui|
|00009700| 74 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 | 74 6c 79 2c 20 79 65 73 |te hones|tly, yes|
|00009710| 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 63 | 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 |." He c|losed th|
|00009720| 65 20 73 75 69 74 63 61 | 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 |e suitca|se and t|
|00009730| 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 66 61 63 65 0a 68 65 |urned to| face.he|
|00009740| 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 | 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 |r. "You| don't u|
|00009750| 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e | 64 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 |nderstan|d. Righ|
|00009760| 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 | 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 |t now, I| don't t|
|00009770| 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 | 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 53 |hink you| can. S|
|00009780| 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 0a | 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c |ome day.|you will|
|00009790| 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 | 65 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 |, when h|e explai|
|000097a0| 6e 73 20 69 74 20 74 6f | 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 42 |ns it to| you. B|
|000097b0| 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e | 6f 77 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 |ut for n|ow, plea|
|000097c0| 73 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 | 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e |se trust| me when|
|000097d0| 20 49 0a 73 61 79 20 68 | 65 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 | I.say h|e's righ|
|000097e0| 74 2e 22 0a 09 22 48 6f | 77 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 |t.".."Ho|w can he|
|000097f0| 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 | 74 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 | be righ|t?" And|
|00009800| 72 65 61 20 73 74 6f 6f | 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 |rea stoo|d in the|
|00009810| 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 | 2c 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e | doorway|, foldin|
|00009820| 67 20 68 65 72 0a 61 72 | 6d 73 2e 20 20 22 48 6f |g her.ar|ms. "Ho|
|00009830| 77 20 63 61 6e 20 69 74 | 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 |w can it| be righ|
|00009840| 74 20 74 6f 20 61 62 61 | 6e 64 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 |t to aba|ndon eve|
|00009850| 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 | 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 |rything |on this |
|00009860| 67 72 6f 75 70 20 74 68 | 61 74 0a 79 6f 75 27 76 |group th|at.you'v|
|00009870| 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 | 20 74 6f 20 64 65 76 65 |e worked| to deve|
|00009880| 6c 6f 70 2c 20 64 61 72 | 6b 65 6c 66 2d 2d 20 74 |lop, dar|kelf-- t|
|00009890| 6f 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f | 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 |o abando|n even y|
|000098a0| 6f 75 72 20 57 61 72 64 | 65 72 20 42 6f 6e 64 3f |our Ward|er Bond?|
|000098b0| 22 0a 09 48 65 20 73 68 | 6f 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 |"..He sh|ot her a|
|000098c0| 20 73 74 65 72 6e 20 67 | 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 | stern g|lance. |
|000098d0| 22 49 27 6d 20 68 61 72 | 64 6c 79 20 61 62 61 6e |"I'm har|dly aban|
|000098e0| 64 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 | 68 61 74 2c 20 41 6e 64 |doning t|hat, And|
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|00009900| 20 68 69 73 20 6c 75 67 | 67 61 67 65 2c 20 68 65 | his lug|gage, he|
|00009910| 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 | 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 | stepped| toward |
|00009920| 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 42 | 75 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 |her. "B|ut I am |
|00009930| 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 0a | 72 61 73 66 77 72 2d 6a |leaving.|rasfwr-j|
|00009940| 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 | 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f |. Pleas|e step o|
|00009950| 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 | 65 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a |ut of th|e way.".|
|00009960| 09 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 | 72 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 |.She sta|red up a|
|00009970| 74 20 68 69 6d 20 63 6f | 6c 64 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 |t him co|ldly for|
|00009980| 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e | 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 | a momen|t, then |
|00009990| 64 69 64 20 61 73 20 68 | 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e |did as h|e asked.|
|000099a0| 0a 48 65 20 77 61 6c 6b | 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 |.He walk|ed past |
|000099b0| 68 65 72 3b 20 73 68 65 | 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 |her; she| neither|
|000099c0| 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6e | 6f 72 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 | moved n|or spoke|
|000099d0| 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 | 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 | until s|he heard|
|000099e0| 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f | 72 0a 63 6c 6f 73 65 2e | the doo|r.close.|
|000099f0| 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 68 | 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c | Then h|er shoul|
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|00009a10| 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 | 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 69 |d she st|umbled i|
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|00009a30| 65 72 65 0a 73 68 65 20 | 73 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 |ere.she |sat for |
|00009a40| 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 | 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2d |several |minutes-|
|00009a50| 2d 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 | 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 |- until |she hear|
|00009a60| 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f | 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 |d the do|or open |
|00009a70| 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 | 6e 64 20 73 68 65 0a 73 |again, a|nd she.s|
|00009a80| 61 74 20 75 70 20 77 69 | 74 68 20 61 20 73 75 64 |at up wi|th a sud|
|00009a90| 64 65 6e 20 73 75 72 67 | 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 70 |den surg|e of hop|
|00009aa0| 65 2e 0a 09 49 74 20 77 | 61 73 20 46 6c 61 76 69 |e...It w|as Flavi|
|00009ab0| 6f 20 64 27 41 72 72 69 | 6c 6c 6f 2e 0a 09 22 48 |o d'Arri|llo..."H|
|00009ac0| 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 2c 22 20 68 |ello, An|drea," h|
|00009ad0| 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 | 6e 20 61 20 67 65 6e 74 |e said i|n a gent|
|00009ae0| 6c 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 | 2e 0a 09 22 48 65 6c 6c |le voice|..."Hell|
|00009af0| 6f 2c 20 46 6c 61 76 69 | 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 |o, Flavi|o," she |
|00009b00| 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 20 | 64 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 |replied |dully, s|
|00009b10| 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 | 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f |inking b|ack into|
|00009b20| 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 | 69 72 2e 0a 09 22 49 20 | her cha|ir..."I |
|00009b30| 73 61 77 20 4d 69 6b 65 | 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 |saw Mike| on the |
|00009b40| 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2e | 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f |way out.| I'm so|
|00009b50| 72 72 79 20 79 6f 75 20 | 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 |rry you |had to g|
|00009b60| 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 | 68 0a 74 68 61 74 2e 2e |o throug|h.that..|
|00009b70| 2e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 | 27 64 20 72 75 6e 20 61 |. if you|'d run a|
|00009b80| 20 62 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 | 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 | bit mor|e slowly|
|00009b90| 2c 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 | 6c 64 20 73 69 6d 70 6c |, he wou|ld simpl|
|00009ba0| 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 | 65 65 6e 20 67 6f 6e 65 |y have b|een gone|
|00009bb0| 0a 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f | 75 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 |.when yo|u arrive|
|00009bc0| 64 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 73 68 6f 6f |d."..And|rea shoo|
|00009bd0| 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 | 61 64 2c 20 66 65 65 6c |k her he|ad, feel|
|00009be0| 69 6e 67 20 65 6d 70 74 | 79 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 |ing empt|y. "You|
|00009bf0| 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 | 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 74 | know it| was bet|
|00009c00| 74 65 72 0a 74 68 69 73 | 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 |ter.this| way. B|
|00009c10| 75 74 20 49 20 6a 75 73 | 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 |ut I jus|t don't |
|00009c20| 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 | 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 |understa|nd. How|
|00009c30| 20 63 61 6e 20 65 76 65 | 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 | can eve|ryone wh|
|00009c40| 6f 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 | 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 74 68 |o cares |about.th|
|00009c50| 69 73 20 6e 65 77 73 67 | 72 6f 75 70 20 6a 75 73 |is newsg|roup jus|
|00009c60| 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 3f | 20 20 48 6f 77 20 63 61 |t leave?| How ca|
|00009c70| 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 | 73 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 |n you wa|ste your|
|00009c80| 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 65 | 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 |self the| way you|
|00009c90| 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 74 | 0a 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f | do? It|.just do|
|00009ca0| 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 | 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 |esn't ma|ke sense|
|00009cb0| 2e 22 0a 09 46 6c 61 76 | 69 6f 20 73 69 67 68 65 |."..Flav|io sighe|
|00009cc0| 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c | 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 |d. "Wel|l, I cou|
|00009cd0| 6c 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 | 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 |ld try t|o explai|
|00009ce0| 6e 20 69 74 20 62 79 20 | 61 70 70 65 61 6c 20 74 |n it by |appeal t|
|00009cf0| 6f 0a 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 | 6c 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 |o.logica|l proper|
|00009d00| 74 69 65 73 2c 20 73 75 | 63 68 20 61 73 20 6e 6f |ties, su|ch as no|
|00009d10| 6e 2d 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 | 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e |n-contra|diction.|
|00009d20| 2e 2e 20 62 75 74 20 6f | 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 |.. but o|f course|
|00009d30| 2c 20 6f 6e 65 0a 6d 6f | 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 65 |, one.mo|ment's e|
|00009d40| 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 | 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 |xperienc|e of the|
|00009d50| 20 5f 72 65 61 6c 5f 20 | 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 73 68 | _real_ |world sh|
|00009d60| 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 | 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 |ould be |evidence|
|00009d70| 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 | 6f 70 6c 65 0a 61 72 65 | that pe|ople.are|
|00009d80| 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 67 69 | 63 61 6c 2e 20 20 41 6c |n't logi|cal. Al|
|00009d90| 6c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 | 73 61 79 20 69 73 20 74 |l I can |say is t|
|00009da0| 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 | 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 65 |hat you |don't se|
|00009db0| 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 | 6f 6c 65 20 70 69 63 74 |e the wh|ole pict|
|00009dc0| 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 09 22 | 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6c |ure.".."|What's l|
|00009dd0| 65 66 74 20 74 6f 20 73 | 65 65 2c 20 46 6c 61 76 |eft to s|ee, Flav|
|00009de0| 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 64 65 6d 61 |io?" And|rea dema|
|00009df0| 6e 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 | 57 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 |nded. "|What cou|
|00009e00| 6c 64 0a 70 6f 73 73 69 | 62 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 |ld.possi|bly make|
|00009e10| 20 6d 65 20 61 67 72 65 | 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 | me agre|e with w|
|00009e20| 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 | 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 |hat you'|re doing|
|00009e30| 3f 22 0a 09 22 57 65 6c | 6c 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 |?".."Wel|l, one t|
|00009e40| 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 | 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b |hing you| don't k|
|00009e50| 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 | 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 |now is t|hat I'm |
|00009e60| 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 | 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 |leaving |myself. |
|00009e70| 20 54 68 69 73 0a 61 66 | 74 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 2e | This.af|ternoon.|
|00009e80| 22 0a 09 22 57 68 61 74 | 3f 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 |".."What|?" Her |
|00009e90| 65 79 65 73 20 73 6e 61 | 70 70 65 64 20 75 70 20 |eyes sna|pped up |
|00009ea0| 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 | 68 69 73 2e 20 20 22 42 |to meet |his. "B|
|00009eb0| 75 74 2d 2d 20 77 68 79 | 3f 20 20 44 61 6d 6e 20 |ut-- why|? Damn |
|00009ec0| 69 74 2c 0a 46 6c 61 76 | 69 6f 2c 20 69 66 20 61 |it,.Flav|io, if a|
|00009ed0| 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 | 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 69 |nyone ha|d a moti|
|00009ee0| 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 | 61 79 2c 20 69 74 20 77 |ve to st|ay, it w|
|00009ef0| 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 | 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 |as you, |with you|
|00009f00| 72 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 | 72 69 74 79 0a 61 6e 64 |r popula|rity.and|
|00009f10| 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 | 72 74 69 65 73 21 22 0a | your pa|rties!".|
|00009f20| 09 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 | 73 20 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 |.Flavio'|s angula|
|00009f30| 72 2c 20 6d 61 74 68 65 | 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c |r, mathe|maticall|
|00009f40| 79 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 72 | 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 66 |y propor|tioned f|
|00009f50| 61 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 63 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 22 |ace was |calm. "|
|00009f60| 42 75 74 0a 79 6f 75 20 | 73 65 65 2c 20 49 27 6d |But.you |see, I'm|
|00009f70| 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 72 | 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 61 6e | not thr|owing an|
|00009f80| 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 | 61 72 74 69 65 73 2e 20 |y more p|arties. |
|00009f90| 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 70 | 65 6e 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 | I've sp|ent all |
|00009fa0| 6d 79 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 | 2c 0a 73 71 75 61 6e 64 |my money|,.squand|
|00009fb0| 65 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 | 61 73 73 65 74 73 2c 20 |ered my |assets, |
|00009fc0| 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 64 | 6f 77 6e 20 6d 79 20 6d |burned d|own my m|
|00009fd0| 61 6e 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 | 61 6e 64 20 61 6d 20 6e |ansion, |and am n|
|00009fe0| 6f 77 20 6c 65 61 76 69 | 6e 67 20 74 77 6f 20 73 |ow leavi|ng two s|
|00009ff0| 74 65 70 73 0a 61 68 65 | 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 |teps.ahe|ad of th|
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|0000a010| 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 | 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6c |d that's| not all|
|0000a020| 2d 2d 20 49 27 76 65 20 | 61 6c 73 6f 20 65 6e 73 |-- I've |also ens|
|0000a030| 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 | 74 20 74 68 65 0a 6c 65 |ured tha|t the.le|
|0000a040| 76 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 69 | 6e 74 65 6c 6c 65 63 74 |vel of i|ntellect|
|0000a050| 75 61 6c 20 64 69 61 6c | 6f 67 75 65 20 6f 6e 20 |ual dial|ogue on |
|0000a060| 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 | 67 72 6f 75 70 20 68 61 |the news|group ha|
|0000a070| 73 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e | 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 |s declin|ed to de|
|0000a080| 70 74 68 73 0a 62 65 73 | 74 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 |pths.bes|t descri|
|0000a090| 62 65 64 20 61 73 20 27 | 6e 65 61 6e 64 65 72 74 |bed as '|neandert|
|0000a0a0| 68 61 6c 27 2e 20 20 54 | 68 65 20 6e 65 77 6c 79 |hal'. T|he newly|
|0000a0b0| 20 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 | 20 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 | elected| People'|
|0000a0c0| 73 20 43 61 62 61 6c 20 | 6f 66 0a 72 61 73 66 77 |s Cabal |of.rasfw|
|0000a0d0| 72 2d 6a 20 77 61 6e 74 | 73 20 6d 65 20 61 72 72 |r-j want|s me arr|
|0000a0e0| 65 73 74 65 64 20 66 6f | 72 20 61 72 73 6f 6e 2c |ested fo|r arson,|
|0000a0f0| 20 77 61 73 74 69 6e 67 | 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 | wasting| public |
|0000a100| 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 0a 66 6f |property|, and.fo|
|0000a110| 73 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 | 6d 61 73 73 20 70 6f 70 |stering |mass pop|
|0000a120| 75 6c 61 72 20 69 67 6e | 6f 72 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 |ular ign|orance. |
|0000a130| 20 4e 65 65 64 6c 65 73 | 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 | Needles|s to say|
|0000a140| 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 | 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 |, I don'|t intend|
|0000a150| 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 | 0a 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e | to stay|.long en|
|0000a160| 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 | 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 |ough to |answer t|
|0000a170| 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 | 65 73 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e |he charg|es."..An|
|0000a180| 64 72 65 61 20 63 6f 75 | 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 70 |drea cou|ldn't sp|
|0000a190| 65 61 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 | 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 |eak for |several |
|0000a1a0| 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c | 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 |seconds,| and whe|
|0000a1b0| 6e 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 | 6e 61 6c 6c 79 0a 64 69 |n she fi|nally.di|
|0000a1c0| 64 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 | 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 |d, it wa|s in a b|
|0000a1d0| 61 72 65 6c 79 20 61 75 | 64 69 62 6c 65 20 76 6f |arely au|dible vo|
|0000a1e0| 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 46 | 6c 61 76 69 6f 2e 20 20 |ice. "F|lavio. |
|0000a1f0| 59 6f 75 2e 2e 2e 20 79 | 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 |You... y|ou were |
|0000a200| 64 6f 69 6e 67 0a 61 6c | 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 |doing.al|l this d|
|0000a210| 65 6c 69 62 65 72 61 74 | 65 6c 79 3f 20 20 59 6f |eliberat|ely? Yo|
|0000a220| 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 | 6c 65 61 67 75 65 20 77 |u're in |league w|
|0000a230| 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 | 45 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 20 |ith the |Enemy?" |
|0000a240| 20 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 | 65 64 3b 20 73 68 65 0a | He nodd|ed; she.|
|0000a250| 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 | 72 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 |shook he|r head, |
|0000a260| 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f | 20 66 69 65 72 63 65 6c |as if to| fiercel|
|0000a270| 79 20 6e 65 67 61 74 65 | 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 |y negate| the ver|
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|0000a290| 2e 2e 2e 20 79 6f 75 0a | 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 |... you.|used to |
|0000a2a0| 62 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 | 68 65 20 70 72 6f 75 64 |be one t|he proud|
|0000a2b0| 65 73 74 20 70 6f 73 74 | 65 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 72 |est post|ers on r|
|0000a2c0| 61 73 66 77 72 2d 6a 2e | 20 20 4e 6f 77 20 79 6f |asfwr-j.| Now yo|
|0000a2d0| 75 27 76 65 20 64 65 73 | 74 72 6f 79 65 64 0a 65 |u've des|troyed.e|
|0000a2e0| 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e | 67 20 79 6f 75 20 65 76 |verythin|g you ev|
|0000a2f0| 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 | 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 |er contr|ibuted t|
|0000a300| 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 | 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 61 6e |o this g|roup, an|
|0000a310| 64 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 | 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 |d done i|t with y|
|0000a320| 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 0a | 68 61 6e 64 73 21 20 20 |our own.|hands! |
|0000a330| 48 6f 77 2d 2d 20 68 6f | 77 20 5f 63 6f 75 6c 64 |How-- ho|w _could|
|0000a340| 5f 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 | 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 |_ you?" | She tri|
|0000a350| 65 64 20 74 6f 20 75 6e | 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 |ed to un|derstand|
|0000a360| 2c 20 62 75 74 20 66 61 | 69 6c 65 64 0a 75 74 74 |, but fa|iled.utt|
|0000a370| 65 72 6c 79 2e 0a 09 22 | 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 |erly..."|I don't |
|0000a380| 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f | 75 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d |think yo|u'll com|
|0000a390| 70 72 65 68 65 6e 64 20 | 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 |prehend |until he|
|0000a3a0| 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 66 | 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 2e | comes f|or you..|
|0000a3b0| 2e 22 20 20 48 65 0a 70 | 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 67 |." He.p|aused, g|
|0000a3c0| 72 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 | 72 75 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 |rinning |ruefully|
|0000a3d0| 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 | 4c 6f 79 20 77 6f 75 6c |. "Oh, |Loy woul|
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|0000a3f0| 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 | 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 |that one|. Let's|
|0000a400| 0a 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 | 79 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e |.just sa|y I didn|
|0000a410| 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 | 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 |'t want |to leave|
|0000a420| 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 | 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 | any of |my contr|
|0000a430| 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 | 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 |ibutions| to be t|
|0000a440| 6f 73 73 65 64 0a 61 72 | 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 |ossed.ar|ound and|
|0000a450| 20 73 75 63 6b 65 64 20 | 64 72 79 20 62 79 20 74 | sucked |dry by t|
|0000a460| 68 65 20 6c 65 65 63 68 | 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 |he leech|es of th|
|0000a470| 65 20 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 | 27 73 20 47 72 6f 75 70 |e People|'s Group|
|0000a480| 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 0a | 44 65 73 74 72 6f 79 65 |. This.|Destroye|
|0000a490| 72 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 | 72 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 |r of you|rs showe|
|0000a4a0| 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 | 74 2e 22 0a 09 22 57 68 |d me tha|t.".."Wh|
|0000a4b0| 6f 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 44 65 73 74 72 6f 79 |o is the| Destroy|
|0000a4c0| 65 72 2c 20 46 6c 61 76 | 69 6f 3f 22 0a 09 48 65 |er, Flav|io?"..He|
|0000a4d0| 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 6c | 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 | was sil|ent for |
|0000a4e0| 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 | 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 |a long t|ime, the|
|0000a4f0| 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 | 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e |n smiled| a stran|
|0000a500| 67 65 2c 20 73 61 64 20 | 73 6d 69 6c 65 0a 61 6e |ge, sad |smile.an|
|0000a510| 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 | 65 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 |d shrugg|ed. "Wh|
|0000a520| 6f 20 69 73 20 4a 6f 68 | 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f |o is Joh|n Novak?|
|0000a530| 22 0a 09 53 68 65 20 61 | 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 69 |"..She a|lmost hi|
|0000a540| 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 | 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c |t him. |Instead,|
|0000a550| 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f | 6f 64 2c 20 62 6f 77 65 | she sto|od, bowe|
|0000a560| 64 20 73 74 69 66 66 6c | 79 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 |d stiffl|y in his|
|0000a570| 0a 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 | 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 |.directi|on, and |
|0000a580| 73 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 | 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 64 |stalked |out of d|
|0000a590| 61 72 6b 65 6c 66 27 73 | 20 6c 61 69 72 2e 20 20 |arkelf's| lair. |
|0000a5a0| 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 | 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 |By the t|ime she |
|0000a5b0| 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 | 68 65 72 0a 68 6f 6d 65 |reached |her.home|
|0000a5c0| 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 | 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6e 69 |, it was| full ni|
|0000a5d0| 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 | 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 |ght, and| the str|
|0000a5e0| 65 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 | 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 |eets of |the news|
|0000a5f0| 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 65 | 72 65 20 62 65 67 69 6e |group we|re begin|
|0000a600| 6e 69 6e 67 0a 74 6f 20 | 66 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 |ning.to |fill wit|
|0000a610| 68 20 74 72 6f 6c 6c 73 | 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 75 72 |h trolls| and lur|
|0000a620| 6b 65 72 73 2d 2d 20 6d | 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e |kers-- m|ore than|
|0000a630| 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 | 20 65 76 65 72 20 73 65 | she had| ever se|
|0000a640| 65 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 | 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 0a |en befor|e. She.|
|0000a650| 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 | 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 63 6c |ignored |them, cl|
|0000a660| 69 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 | 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 |imbed th|e stairs|
|0000a670| 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 | 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e | to her |room, an|
|0000a680| 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 74 | 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 |d shut t|he door |
|0000a690| 62 65 68 69 6e 64 0a 68 | 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 |behind.h|er. No |
|0000a6a0| 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 | 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 |one else| was the|
|0000a6b0| 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 | 20 6d 75 74 65 6c 79 20 |re. She| mutely |
|0000a6c0| 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 | 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 63 |made her|self a c|
|0000a6d0| 75 70 20 6f 66 20 63 6f | 66 66 65 65 2c 0a 74 68 |up of co|ffee,.th|
|0000a6e0| 65 6e 20 73 61 74 20 64 | 6f 77 6e 2c 20 72 65 66 |en sat d|own, ref|
|0000a6f0| 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f | 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 |using to| think, |
|0000a700| 74 6f 20 63 61 72 65 2e | 0a 09 53 68 65 20 77 61 |to care.|..She wa|
|0000a710| 73 20 77 61 6b 65 6e 65 | 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 |s wakene|d by the|
|0000a720| 20 64 69 6d 20 6d 6f 72 | 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 67 | dim mor|ning lig|
|0000a730| 68 74 2c 20 66 69 6c 74 | 65 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f |ht, filt|ering do|
|0000a740| 77 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 | 67 68 0a 63 6f 75 6e 74 |wn throu|gh.count|
|0000a750| 6c 65 73 73 20 62 6c 61 | 63 6b 20 77 69 72 65 73 |less bla|ck wires|
|0000a760| 2d 2d 20 74 68 61 74 2c | 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 |-- that,| and the|
|0000a770| 20 75 6e 73 74 65 61 64 | 79 20 66 6f 6f 74 73 74 | unstead|y footst|
|0000a780| 65 70 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 | 6e 67 20 75 70 20 68 65 |eps comi|ng up he|
|0000a790| 72 0a 73 74 61 69 72 77 | 61 79 2e 20 20 47 72 61 |r.stairw|ay. Gra|
|0000a7a0| 62 62 69 6e 67 20 61 20 | 66 6c 61 6d 65 74 68 72 |bbing a |flamethr|
|0000a7b0| 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 20 73 74 6f |ower, An|drea sto|
|0000a7c0| 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 | 74 65 61 6c 74 68 69 6c |od and s|tealthil|
|0000a7d0| 79 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 | 6f 76 65 72 0a 74 6f 20 |y moved |over.to |
|0000a7e0| 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 72 | 61 6e 63 65 2e 0a 09 22 |the entr|ance..."|
|0000a7f0| 53 74 75 72 6d 20 75 6e | 64 20 64 72 61 6e 67 21 |Sturm un|d drang!|
|0000a800| 22 0a 09 49 74 20 77 61 | 73 20 52 69 63 6b 20 4d |"..It wa|s Rick M|
|0000a810| 6f 65 6e 20 63 75 72 73 | 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 |oen curs|ing, and|
|0000a820| 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 | 61 73 20 61 20 68 65 6c | there w|as a hel|
|0000a830| 70 6c 65 73 73 20 72 61 | 67 65 20 69 6e 20 68 69 |pless ra|ge in hi|
|0000a840| 73 0a 74 6f 6e 65 20 74 | 68 61 74 20 66 72 69 67 |s.tone t|hat frig|
|0000a850| 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 | 65 72 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 |htened h|er. And|
|0000a860| 72 65 61 20 6f 70 65 6e | 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 |rea open|ed the d|
|0000a870| 6f 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 | 68 69 6d 3b 20 68 65 20 |oor for |him; he |
|0000a880| 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 | 20 69 6e 2c 0a 61 6c 6d |stumbled| in,.alm|
|0000a890| 6f 73 74 20 66 61 6c 6c | 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f |ost fall|ing into|
|0000a8a0| 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d | 63 68 61 69 72 20 73 68 | the arm|chair sh|
|0000a8b0| 65 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 | 73 74 20 76 61 63 61 74 |e had ju|st vacat|
|0000a8c0| 65 64 2e 20 20 48 69 73 | 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 61 |ed. His| face wa|
|0000a8d0| 73 0a 68 61 67 67 61 72 | 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 |s.haggar|d as he |
|0000a8e0| 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 | 70 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 |looked u|p at her|
|0000a8f0| 2c 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f | 69 63 65 20 68 6f 61 72 |, his vo|ice hoar|
|0000a900| 73 65 20 61 73 20 68 65 | 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 0a |se as he| spoke..|
|0000a910| 09 22 50 61 6d 20 4b 6f | 72 64 61 20 6a 75 73 74 |."Pam Ko|rda just|
|0000a920| 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 20 | 74 68 65 20 72 61 6e 6b | joined |the rank|
|0000a930| 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 | 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 |s of the| vanishe|
|0000a940| 64 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 27 73 20 68 65 |d."..And|rea's he|
|0000a950| 61 64 20 73 6e 61 70 70 | 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e |ad snapp|ed up in|
|0000a960| 20 68 6f 72 72 6f 72 2e | 20 20 22 4e 6f 21 22 20 | horror.| "No!" |
|0000a970| 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 | 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 72 | She cou|ldn't br|
|0000a980| 69 6e 67 0a 68 65 72 73 | 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 61 |ing.hers|elf to a|
|0000a990| 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 6f | 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 71 |sk the o|bvious q|
|0000a9a0| 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e | 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 |uestion.| She di|
|0000a9b0| 64 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 | 64 20 74 6f 2e 0a 09 22 |dn't nee|d to..."|
|0000a9c0| 59 65 70 2e 20 20 57 65 | 27 76 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 |Yep. We|'ve lost|
|0000a9d0| 20 74 68 65 20 46 41 51 | 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e 64 72 | the FAQ|."..Andr|
|0000a9e0| 65 61 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c | 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 |ea slowl|y lowere|
|0000a9f0| 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 | 61 70 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 |d her we|apon to |
|0000aa00| 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f | 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 |the floo|r, then |
|0000aa10| 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 | 70 20 61 0a 63 68 61 69 |pulled u|p a.chai|
|0000aa20| 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 | 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6e |r and sa|t down n|
|0000aa30| 65 78 74 20 74 6f 20 68 | 69 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 |ext to h|im. She|
|0000aa40| 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 64 | 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 | refused| to show|
|0000aa50| 20 61 6e 79 20 77 65 61 | 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 69 6e | any wea|kness in|
|0000aa60| 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 0a 6f | 66 20 52 69 63 6b 20 4d | front.o|f Rick M|
|0000aa70| 6f 65 6e 2c 20 65 76 65 | 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 |oen, eve|n under |
|0000aa80| 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 | 61 6e 63 65 73 20 61 73 |circumst|ances as|
|0000aa90| 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c | 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 | terribl|e as the|
|0000aaa0| 73 65 2e 20 20 52 65 61 | 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 |se. Rea|ching ou|
|0000aab0| 74 0a 68 65 72 20 68 61 | 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 |t.her ha|nd, she |
|0000aac0| 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 | 72 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 63 |found he|r cold c|
|0000aad0| 6f 66 66 65 65 20 63 75 | 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 |offee cu|p of the|
|0000aae0| 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 | 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 6e | night b|efore an|
|0000aaf0| 64 20 64 72 61 69 6e 65 | 64 20 69 74 0a 61 74 20 |d draine|d it.at |
|0000ab00| 61 20 67 75 6c 70 2e 0a | 09 22 41 6e 64 72 65 61 |a gulp..|."Andrea|
|0000ab10| 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 | 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 72 |?" He d|idn't tr|
|0000ab20| 79 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 | 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 |y to put| a hand |
|0000ab30| 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 | 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 3b |on her s|houlder;|
|0000ab40| 20 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 | 0a 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 | he knew|.better |
|0000ab50| 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 | 74 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 |than tha|t. "Jus|
|0000ab60| 74 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 | 65 72 3a 20 20 4e 6f 6c |t rememb|er: Nol|
|0000ab70| 69 74 65 20 74 65 20 62 | 61 73 74 61 72 64 65 73 |ite te b|astardes|
|0000ab80| 20 63 61 72 62 6f 72 75 | 6e 64 6f 72 75 6d 2e 22 | carboru|ndorum."|
|0000ab90| 0a 09 53 68 65 20 6c 6f | 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 |..She lo|oked up |
|0000aba0| 69 6e 20 65 78 61 73 70 | 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c |in exasp|eration,|
|0000abb0| 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e | 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 | fightin|g back t|
|0000abc0| 65 61 72 73 2e 20 20 22 | 52 69 63 6b 2c 20 5f 77 |ears. "|Rick, _w|
|0000abd0| 69 6c 6c 5f 0a 79 6f 75 | 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 45 |ill_.you| speak E|
|0000abe0| 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 66 | 6f 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 3f |nglish f|or once?|
|0000abf0| 22 0a 09 48 65 20 73 6d | 69 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 |"..He sm|iled in |
|0000ac00| 67 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 | 61 6d 75 73 65 6d 65 6e |genuine |amusemen|
|0000ac10| 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e | 27 74 20 6c 65 74 20 74 |t. "Don|'t let t|
|0000ac20| 68 65 20 62 61 73 74 61 | 72 64 73 20 67 72 69 6e |he basta|rds grin|
|0000ac30| 64 20 79 6f 75 0a 64 6f | 77 6e 2e 22 0a 09 41 6e |d you.do|wn."..An|
|0000ac40| 64 72 65 61 20 74 72 69 | 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d |drea tri|ed to sm|
|0000ac50| 69 6c 65 20 62 61 63 6b | 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 |ile back|, but sh|
|0000ac60| 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f | 6f 20 77 65 61 72 79 2e |e was to|o weary.|
|0000ac70| 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 62 | 6f 74 68 0a 77 65 72 65 | They b|oth.were|
|0000ac80| 2e 20 20 53 65 76 65 72 | 61 6c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e |. Sever|al silen|
|0000ac90| 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 | 73 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 |t minute|s passed|
|0000aca0| 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 | 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 | before |she fina|
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|0000acc0| 0a 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 61 | 62 6c 65 20 65 66 66 6f |.noticea|ble effo|
|0000acd0| 72 74 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 | 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 |rt-- and| walked |
|0000ace0| 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 | 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f |slowly t|o the do|
|0000acf0| 6f 72 2e 0a 09 52 69 63 | 6b 20 66 6f 63 75 73 65 |or...Ric|k focuse|
|0000ad00| 64 20 61 20 72 75 65 66 | 75 6c 2c 20 68 61 6c 66 |d a ruef|ul, half|
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|0000ad30| 4d 61 66 0a 67 61 72 6e | 6f 73 20 6d 65 72 6f 20 |Maf.garn|os mero |
|0000ad40| 6d 61 6e 20 64 65 20 6b | 69 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f |man de k|i for no|
|0000ad50| 74 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e | 67 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 |t wantin|g to joi|
|0000ad60| 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 2c 20 62 |n you, A|ndrea, b|
|0000ad70| 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 | 20 61 72 65 0a 79 6f 75 |ut where| are.you|
|0000ad80| 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 | 0a 09 53 68 65 20 6c 6f | going?"|..She lo|
|0000ad90| 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 | 6b 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d |oked bac|k at him|
|0000ada0| 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 | 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 |, trying| not to |
|0000adb0| 6c 65 74 20 64 65 73 70 | 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 |let desp|eration |
|0000adc0| 73 65 65 70 20 69 6e 74 | 6f 0a 68 65 72 20 76 6f |seep int|o.her vo|
|0000add0| 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 41 | 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 2e |ice. "A|nywhere.|
|0000ade0| 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 69 | 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 | Does i|t matter|
|0000adf0| 20 6e 6f 77 3f 20 20 49 | 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6c | now? I| can't l|
|0000ae00| 65 74 20 69 74 20 65 6e | 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 |et it en|d like t|
|0000ae10| 68 69 73 2c 0a 77 69 74 | 68 6f 75 74 20 61 74 20 |his,.wit|hout at |
|0000ae20| 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 72 | 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 |least tr|ying to |
|0000ae30| 64 6f 20 5f 73 6f 6d 65 | 74 68 69 6e 67 5f 2e 22 |do _some|thing_."|
|0000ae40| 20 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 | 74 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e | Withou|t waitin|
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|0000ae60| 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 | 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 | she ste|pped out|
|0000ae70| 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f | 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a | the doo|r...****|
|0000ae80| 0a 09 49 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 41 6e |..In the| end, An|
|0000ae90| 64 72 65 61 20 64 65 73 | 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 |drea des|perately|
|0000aea0| 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 | 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 | grabbed| the fir|
|0000aeb0| 73 74 20 72 65 67 75 6c | 61 72 20 73 68 65 20 6d |st regul|ar she m|
|0000aec0| 65 74 0a 69 6e 20 74 68 | 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 |et.in th|e street|
|0000aed0| 2d 2d 20 61 20 79 6f 75 | 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 |-- a you|ng man w|
|0000aee0| 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 | 20 59 61 6c 65 20 73 77 |earing a| Yale sw|
|0000aef0| 65 61 74 73 68 69 72 74 | 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 66 |eatshirt| and a f|
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|0000af10| 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 | 6d 65 2d 2d 20 64 6f 20 | "Tell |me-- do |
|0000af20| 5f 79 6f 75 5f 20 6b 6e | 6f 77 20 77 68 6f 20 4a |_you_ kn|ow who J|
|0000af30| 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 | 6b 20 69 73 3f 22 20 20 |ohn Nova|k is?" |
|0000af40| 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 | 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 0a |Before h|e could.|
|0000af50| 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 | 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 |speak, s|he press|
|0000af60| 65 64 20 61 20 66 69 6e | 67 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 |ed a fin|ger agai|
|0000af70| 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 | 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 |nst his |throat. |
|0000af80| 20 22 41 6e 64 20 69 66 | 20 79 6f 75 20 65 76 65 | "And if| you eve|
|0000af90| 6e 20 5f 73 74 61 72 74 | 5f 0a 74 6f 20 72 65 65 |n _start|_.to ree|
|0000afa0| 6c 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e | 20 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 |l off an| endless|
|0000afb0| 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f | 72 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 | metapho|r, I'm g|
|0000afc0| 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 | 6b 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 |oing to |kill you|
|0000afd0| 2e 22 0a 09 54 68 65 20 | 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 6d 61 |."..The |young ma|
|0000afe0| 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 | 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 65 |n smiled| apologe|
|0000aff0| 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e | 20 20 22 42 75 74 20 64 |tically.| "But d|
|0000b000| 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 | 20 73 65 65 2c 20 69 6e |on't you| see, in|
|0000b010| 20 74 68 65 0a 71 75 65 | 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 | the.que|stion of|
|0000b020| 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 | 20 74 68 65 20 4e 6f 76 | whether| the Nov|
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|0000b040| 20 61 72 65 20 73 6f 6d | 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 | are som|e things|
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|0000b0e0| 09 22 4c 69 73 74 65 6e | 2c 20 46 69 73 68 2d 62 |."Listen|, Fish-b|
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|0000b100| 68 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2e | 22 20 20 41 6e 64 72 65 |heology.|" Andre|
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|0000b140| 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 | 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 |u can't |tell me |
|0000b150| 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 | 20 68 65 6c 70 66 75 6c |anything| helpful|
|0000b160| 2c 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 | 6d 65 0a 74 6f 20 73 6f |, point |me.to so|
|0000b170| 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 | 6f 20 63 61 6e 2e 22 0a |meone wh|o can.".|
|0000b180| 09 22 4f 69 6c 43 61 6e | 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 79 |."OilCan|," the y|
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|0000b1c0| 0a 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 | 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 |.road. |"Should |
|0000b1d0| 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6d 61 79 | 62 65 2e 20 20 53 61 79 |know may|be. Say|
|0000b1e0| 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 75 | 74 2e 2e 2e 20 63 61 6e | more bu|t... can|
|0000b1f0| 27 74 20 62 72 65 61 74 | 68 65 2e 22 0a 09 53 68 |'t breat|he."..Sh|
|0000b200| 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 | 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e |e droppe|d him an|
|0000b210| 64 20 72 61 6e 20 6f 66 | 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 |d ran of|f in the|
|0000b220| 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 | 6f 6e 20 68 65 20 68 61 | directi|on he ha|
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|0000b240| 0a 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 | 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c |.Within |minutes,|
|0000b250| 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6d | 65 20 75 70 6f 6e 20 61 | she cam|e upon a|
|0000b260| 20 36 27 36 22 20 63 6f | 6c 6f 73 73 75 73 20 61 | 6'6" co|lossus a|
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|0000b280| 61 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 | 6e 67 0a 64 6f 77 6e 20 |ad walki|ng.down |
|0000b290| 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 | 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 |the stre|et toget|
|0000b2a0| 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 | 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 |her. Th|ey were |
|0000b2b0| 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 | 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 |involved| in some|
|0000b2c0| 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 | 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e | sort of| argumen|
|0000b2d0| 74 0a 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 | 69 6e 67 20 6d 75 63 68 |t.involv|ing much|
|0000b2e0| 20 6c 61 75 67 68 74 65 | 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 | laughte|r and th|
|0000b2f0| 65 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 | 6e 74 20 65 78 63 68 61 |e freque|nt excha|
|0000b300| 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 70 | 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 6e |nge of p|oints an|
|0000b310| 64 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 | 73 2e 0a 3e 46 72 6f 6d |d insult|s..>From|
|0000b320| 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 20 63 6f 75 | what An|drea cou|
|0000b330| 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2c | 20 69 74 20 69 6e 76 6f |ld tell,| it invo|
|0000b340| 6c 76 65 64 20 44 79 6c | 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 |lved Dyl|an and a|
|0000b350| 20 64 75 63 6b 2e 0a 09 | 22 43 68 61 64 21 20 20 | duck...|"Chad! |
|0000b360| 4c 61 72 61 21 22 20 73 | 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 |Lara!" s|he calle|
|0000b370| 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 | 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2c 20 |d breath|lessly, |
|0000b380| 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 | 20 77 61 73 20 77 69 74 |once she| was wit|
|0000b390| 68 69 6e 0a 65 61 72 73 | 68 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 |hin.ears|hot. Th|
|0000b3a0| 65 79 20 70 61 75 73 65 | 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f |ey pause|d and lo|
|0000b3b0| 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 | 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 |oked bac|k at her|
|0000b3c0| 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 | 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 |, then s|topped a|
|0000b3d0| 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 68 | 65 72 0a 63 61 74 63 68 |nd let h|er.catch|
|0000b3e0| 20 75 70 2e 0a 09 22 48 | 65 6c 6c 6f 20 74 68 65 | up..."H|ello the|
|0000b3f0| 72 65 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 | 65 61 2c 22 20 74 68 65 |re, Andr|ea," the|
|0000b400| 20 43 61 62 61 6c 20 73 | 63 6f 72 65 6b 65 65 70 | Cabal s|corekeep|
|0000b410| 65 72 20 67 72 65 65 74 | 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 |er greet|ed her. |
|0000b420| 20 22 4e 6f 2c 0a 6e 6f | 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 | "No,.no|, take a|
|0000b430| 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 | 74 6f 20 63 61 74 63 68 | second |to catch|
|0000b440| 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 72 | 65 61 74 68 2e 20 20 42 | your br|eath. B|
|0000b450| 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 6d | 65 2c 20 4c 61 72 61 20 |elieve m|e, Lara |
|0000b460| 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 65 | 72 65 6e 27 74 0a 74 61 |and I we|ren't.ta|
|0000b470| 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 | 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 |lking ab|out anyt|
|0000b480| 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 | 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 |hing tha|t can't |
|0000b490| 77 61 69 74 2e 22 0a 09 | 4c 61 72 61 20 72 61 69 |wait."..|Lara rai|
|0000b4a0| 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 | 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20 61 |sed an e|yebrow a|
|0000b4b0| 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 | 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 |t him. |"If you'|
|0000b4c0| 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 | 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f |re willi|ng to co|
|0000b4d0| 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 0a | 74 72 75 63 65 20 69 6e |me to a.|truce in|
|0000b4e0| 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 64 | 6f 6c 65 73 63 65 6e 74 | this ad|olescent|
|0000b4f0| 20 77 61 72 2e 2e 2e 22 | 0a 09 22 49 6e 64 69 67 | war..."|.."Indig|
|0000b500| 6f 20 47 69 72 6c 73 2c | 20 27 47 68 6f 73 74 27 |o Girls,| 'Ghost'|
|0000b510| 2e 20 20 42 61 72 65 6c | 79 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 |. Barel|y worth |
|0000b520| 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e | 74 2e 22 0a 09 22 42 69 |the poin|t.".."Bi|
|0000b530| 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a | 09 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 |te me.".|.Andrea |
|0000b540| 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e | 2e 20 20 22 43 68 61 64 |broke in|. "Chad|
|0000b550| 2e 2e 2e 20 77 68 6f 20 | 69 73 20 4a 6f 68 6e 20 |... who |is John |
|0000b560| 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f 22 0a | 09 43 68 61 64 20 4f 72 |Novak?".|.Chad Or|
|0000b570| 7a 65 6c 20 67 72 69 6d | 61 63 65 64 2e 20 20 22 |zel grim|aced. "|
|0000b580| 4f 68 20 68 65 6c 6c 2c | 20 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 |Oh hell,| not you|
|0000b590| 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a | 09 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f |, too.".|."No, no|
|0000b5a0| 2e 2e 2e 20 20 49 20 6d | 65 61 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 |... I m|ean lite|
|0000b5b0| 72 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 | 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 |rally. |I want a|
|0000b5c0| 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f |n answer|, and no|
|0000b5d0| 74 20 61 0a 6d 65 74 61 | 70 68 6f 72 2e 22 20 20 |t a.meta|phor." |
|0000b5e0| 53 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 | 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 |She kept| her voi|
|0000b5f0| 63 65 20 73 74 65 61 64 | 79 2c 20 72 65 66 75 73 |ce stead|y, refus|
|0000b600| 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 | 6c 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 |ing to p|lead. "|
|0000b610| 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 69 73 0a 6c 69 6e 6b |All this| is.link|
|0000b620| 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 | 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f |ed to hi|m someho|
|0000b630| 77 3b 20 62 75 74 20 75 | 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 20 6b |w; but u|ntil I k|
|0000b640| 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 6f 20 | 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 |now who |and what|
|0000b650| 20 68 65 20 69 73 2c 20 | 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 | he is, |I can't |
|0000b660| 65 76 65 6e 0a 62 65 67 | 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 74 |even.beg|in to st|
|0000b670| 65 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 | 69 64 69 6f 74 69 63 20 |em this |idiotic |
|0000b680| 65 78 6f 64 75 73 20 6f | 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c |exodus o|f the el|
|0000b690| 69 74 65 2e 22 0a 09 43 | 68 61 64 20 73 70 6f 6b |ite."..C|had spok|
|0000b6a0| 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | 74 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 |e though|tfully. |
|0000b6b0| 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 | 6d 65 73 20 69 64 69 6f | "Someti|mes idio|
|0000b6c0| 63 79 20 69 73 20 6f 75 | 72 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f |cy is ou|r only o|
|0000b6d0| 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a | 09 4c 61 72 61 20 64 69 |ption.".|.Lara di|
|0000b6e0| 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 69 73 | 73 20 61 20 62 65 61 74 |dn't mis|s a beat|
|0000b6f0| 2e 20 20 22 5f 4f 75 74 | 62 72 65 61 6b 5f 2c 20 |. "_Out|break_, |
|0000b700| 44 75 73 74 69 6e 20 48 | 6f 66 66 6d 61 6e 2e 22 |Dustin H|offman."|
|0000b710| 0a 09 22 4f 6e 65 20 70 | 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 4d |.."One p|oint. M|
|0000b720| 61 78 2e 22 0a 09 22 4e | 65 65 64 20 49 20 69 6e |ax.".."N|eed I in|
|0000b730| 76 69 74 65 20 79 6f 75 | 20 74 6f 20 62 69 74 65 |vite you| to bite|
|0000b740| 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 09 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 69 6e | me?"..A|ndrea in|
|0000b750| 74 65 72 72 75 70 74 65 | 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e |terrupte|d again.|
|0000b760| 20 20 22 4f 69 6c 43 61 | 6e 2e 2e 2e 20 64 6f 20 | "OilCa|n... do |
|0000b770| 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 | 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 20 |you know| who he |
|0000b780| 69 73 3f 22 0a 09 48 65 | 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 |is?"..He| nodded |
|0000b790| 61 62 73 65 6e 74 6c 79 | 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 |absently| in her |
|0000b7a0| 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f | 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c |directio|n. "Wel|
|0000b7b0| 6c 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f | 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 |l, of co|urse I d|
|0000b7c0| 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 0a | 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 |o. You.|don't ge|
|0000b7d0| 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 | 69 67 68 20 69 6e 20 74 |t this h|igh in t|
|0000b7e0| 68 65 20 6f 6d 6e 69 73 | 63 69 65 6e 74 20 43 61 |he omnis|cient Ca|
|0000b7f0| 62 61 6c 20 28 74 68 65 | 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f |bal (the|re is no|
|0000b800| 20 6f 6d 6e 69 73 63 69 | 65 6e 74 0a 43 61 62 61 | omnisci|ent.Caba|
|0000b810| 6c 29 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 | 74 6f 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 |l), not |to menti|
|0000b820| 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 6e 64 | 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6c 66 |on spend|ing half|
|0000b830| 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 | 66 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e | your li|fe aroun|
|0000b840| 64 20 61 20 6d 65 6d 62 | 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 |d a memb|er of th|
|0000b850| 65 20 4c 5e 32 0a 45 6e | 74 69 74 79 2c 20 77 69 |e L^2.En|tity, wi|
|0000b860| 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6b 6e | 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 |thout kn|owing th|
|0000b870| 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 | 20 74 6f 20 5f 74 68 61 |e answer| to _tha|
|0000b880| 74 5f 20 6f 6e 65 2e 22 | 20 20 48 65 20 61 62 72 |t_ one."| He abr|
|0000b890| 75 70 74 6c 79 20 72 6f | 75 6e 64 65 64 20 6f 6e |uptly ro|unded on|
|0000b8a0| 0a 4c 61 72 61 2e 20 20 | 22 48 65 79 2c 20 68 6f |.Lara. |"Hey, ho|
|0000b8b0| 6e 65 79 2c 20 77 61 6e | 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f |ney, wan|t to kno|
|0000b8c0| 77 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 69 | 6c 6c 65 64 20 4b 65 6e |w who ki|lled Ken|
|0000b8d0| 6e 65 64 79 3f 22 0a 09 | 53 68 65 20 73 6e 6f 72 |nedy?"..|She snor|
|0000b8e0| 74 65 64 20 64 69 73 64 | 61 69 6e 66 75 6c 6c 79 |ted disd|ainfully|
|0000b8f0| 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 73 74 | 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66 |. "Last| line of|
|0000b900| 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 | 69 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 | the mov|ie, and |
|0000b910| 68 65 20 67 6f 74 0a 42 | 65 73 74 20 41 63 74 6f |he got.B|est Acto|
|0000b920| 72 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 | 2c 20 43 68 61 64 2c 20 |r for it|, Chad, |
|0000b930| 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 61 73 | 74 20 79 65 61 72 3f 20 |just las|t year? |
|0000b940| 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 | 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 | I can't| believe|
|0000b950| 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 | 65 6e 20 5f 79 6f 75 5f | that ev|en _you_|
|0000b960| 0a 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f | 66 66 65 72 20 70 6f 69 |.would o|ffer poi|
|0000b970| 6e 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 | 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 09 |nts for |that."..|
|0000b980| 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 | 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 |"You're |pretty s|
|0000b990| 61 72 63 61 73 74 69 63 | 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a |arcastic| for a j|
|0000b9a0| 69 67 67 6c 69 6e 67 20 | 66 69 67 6d 65 6e 74 20 |iggling |figment |
|0000b9b0| 6f 66 20 6f 75 72 0a 69 | 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69 |of our.i|maginati|
|0000b9c0| 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 09 22 59 | 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 |on.".."Y|ou're pr|
|0000b9d0| 65 74 74 79 20 74 61 6c | 6b 61 74 69 76 65 20 66 |etty tal|kative f|
|0000b9e0| 6f 72 20 61 20 70 65 74 | 20 64 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a |or a pet| duck.".|
|0000b9f0| 09 22 42 69 74 65 2e 20 | 20 4d 65 2e 22 0a 09 22 |."Bite. | Me.".."|
|0000ba00| 51 75 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a | 09 22 45 78 63 75 73 65 |Quack.".|."Excuse|
|0000ba10| 20 6d 65 2e 2e 2e 20 4a | 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 | me... J|ohn Nova|
|0000ba20| 6b 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 |k?" And|rea was |
|0000ba30| 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e | 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 |beginnin|g to fee|
|0000ba40| 6c 0a 64 65 73 70 65 72 | 61 74 65 2e 0a 09 22 4f |l.desper|ate..."O|
|0000ba50| 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 | 2e 22 20 20 43 68 61 64 |h, right|." Chad|
|0000ba60| 20 4f 72 7a 65 6c 20 74 | 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 | Orzel t|urned ba|
|0000ba70| 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 | 72 2c 20 77 72 69 6e 6b |ck to he|r, wrink|
|0000ba80| 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 | 20 62 72 6f 77 0a 74 68 |ling his| brow.th|
|0000ba90| 6f 75 67 68 74 66 75 6c | 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4a 6f |oughtful|ly. "Jo|
|0000baa0| 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b | 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 |hn Novak| was the|
|0000bab0| 20 48 75 6d 62 6c 65 73 | 74 20 4d 61 6e 20 6f 6e | Humbles|t Man on|
|0000bac0| 20 74 68 65 20 4e 65 74 | 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 74 | the Net|-- and t|
|0000bad0| 68 65 0a 70 72 6f 75 64 | 65 73 74 20 6d 61 6e 20 |he.proud|est man |
|0000bae0| 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 75 | 73 20 65 76 65 72 20 6b |any of u|s ever k|
|0000baf0| 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 48 65 | 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2c 20 |new. He| lived, |
|0000bb00| 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 64 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 |breathed|, and dr|
|0000bb10| 65 61 6d 65 64 20 74 68 | 69 73 0a 6e 65 77 73 67 |eamed th|is.newsg|
|0000bb20| 72 6f 75 70 2d 2d 20 61 | 6e 64 20 70 6f 73 74 65 |roup-- a|nd poste|
|0000bb30| 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 66 74 | 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 |d so oft|en that |
|0000bb40| 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 | 20 65 6c 73 65 20 6a 75 |everyone| else ju|
|0000bb50| 64 67 65 64 20 74 68 65 | 69 72 20 70 6f 73 74 0a |dged the|ir post.|
|0000bb60| 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 | 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 4e |frequenc|y on a N|
|0000bb70| 6f 76 61 6b 20 49 6e 64 | 65 78 2e 20 20 48 65 20 |ovak Ind|ex. He |
|0000bb80| 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 | 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 74 |was the |cornerst|
|0000bb90| 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 | 68 65 20 43 61 62 61 6c |one of t|he Cabal|
|0000bba0| 20 28 74 68 65 72 65 20 | 69 73 0a 6e 6f 20 43 61 | (there |is.no Ca|
|0000bbb0| 62 61 6c 29 2e 20 20 4e | 6f 20 62 6f 6e 65 68 65 |bal). N|o bonehe|
|0000bbc0| 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 | 20 6f 75 74 2d 66 6c 61 |ad could| out-fla|
|0000bbd0| 6d 65 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 | 6e 6f 20 72 65 67 75 6c |me him, |no regul|
|0000bbe0| 61 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 | 20 6f 75 74 2d 61 72 67 |ar could| out-arg|
|0000bbf0| 75 65 0a 68 69 6d 2c 20 | 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 70 |ue.him, |and no p|
|0000bc00| 69 74 69 61 62 6c 65 20 | 6e 65 77 62 69 65 20 63 |itiable |newbie c|
|0000bc10| 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e | 76 69 6e 63 65 20 68 69 |ould con|vince hi|
|0000bc20| 6d 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 77 | 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 73 |m to low|er his s|
|0000bc30| 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 73 | 2e 20 20 48 65 0a 72 65 |tandards|. He.re|
|0000bc40| 66 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 74 |fused to| tolerat|
|0000bc50| 65 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 | 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 |e ignora|nce in a|
|0000bc60| 6e 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 2c | 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e |ny form,| from an|
|0000bc70| 79 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e | 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 |yone, an|d that w|
|0000bc80| 61 73 0a 74 68 61 74 2e | 22 0a 09 41 6e 64 72 65 |as.that.|"..Andre|
|0000bc90| 61 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 | 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 |a paused| to take|
|0000bca0| 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 | 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f | it all |in. "So|
|0000bcb0| 2e 2e 2e 20 77 68 79 20 | 69 73 6e 27 74 20 68 65 |... why |isn't he|
|0000bcc0| 20 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f | 77 3f 22 0a 09 43 68 61 | here no|w?"..Cha|
|0000bcd0| 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 | 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 |d shrugg|ed. "He|
|0000bce0| 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 20 | 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d | left a |long tim|
|0000bcf0| 65 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 77 | 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 77 |e ago, w|hen he w|
|0000bd00| 61 73 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 | 74 68 61 74 0a 27 70 6f |as told |that.'po|
|0000bd10| 70 75 6c 61 72 20 64 65 | 6d 61 6e 64 27 20 72 65 |pular de|mand' re|
|0000bd20| 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 61 | 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 69 6e |quired a| lowerin|
|0000bd30| 67 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 | 6e 64 61 72 64 73 20 6f |g of sta|ndards o|
|0000bd40| 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 | 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 |n the gr|oup. He|
|0000bd50| 20 73 61 69 64 0a 69 6e | 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 | said.in| the end|
|0000bd60| 2c 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 | 6c 64 20 73 75 72 65 6c |, it wou|ld surel|
|0000bd70| 79 20 6c 65 61 64 20 74 | 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 |y lead t|o the di|
|0000bd80| 73 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f | 6e 20 6f 66 20 72 61 73 |ssolutio|n of ras|
|0000bd90| 66 77 72 2d 6a 20 61 6e | 64 20 69 74 73 0a 73 75 |fwr-j an|d its.su|
|0000bda0| 72 72 65 6e 64 65 72 20 | 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c |rrender |to the l|
|0000bdb0| 65 65 63 68 65 73 2e 22 | 0a 09 22 41 6e 64 20 79 |eeches."|.."And y|
|0000bdc0| 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b | 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 |ou think| that th|
|0000bdd0| 69 73 20 69 73 20 69 74 | 3f 20 20 54 68 65 20 5f |is is it|? The _|
|0000bde0| 65 6e 64 5f 20 6f 66 20 | 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 |end_ of |the news|
|0000bdf0| 67 72 6f 75 70 3f 22 0a | 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 77 |group?".|Andrea w|
|0000be00| 61 73 20 61 70 70 61 6c | 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 |as appal|led. "Y|
|0000be10| 6f 75 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 | 74 6c 79 20 62 65 6c 69 |ou hones|tly beli|
|0000be20| 65 76 65 20 77 65 27 72 | 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 |eve we'r|e in the|
|0000be30| 20 6c 61 73 74 20 64 61 | 79 73 20 6f 66 0a 72 61 | last da|ys of.ra|
|0000be40| 73 66 77 72 2d 6a 3f 22 | 0a 09 22 43 6f 75 6c 64 |sfwr-j?"|.."Could|
|0000be50| 20 62 65 2c 20 63 6f 75 | 6c 64 20 62 65 2e 22 20 | be, cou|ld be." |
|0000be60| 20 53 75 64 64 65 6e 6c | 79 20 68 65 20 77 68 69 | Suddenl|y he whi|
|0000be70| 72 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 | 4c 61 72 61 20 61 67 61 |rled on |Lara aga|
|0000be80| 69 6e 2c 20 61 0a 63 68 | 61 6c 6c 65 6e 67 65 20 |in, a.ch|allenge |
|0000be90| 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 | 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 |in his v|oice. "|
|0000bea0| 54 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 | 79 20 64 61 79 20 74 6f |The happ|y day to|
|0000beb0| 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 77 68 | 65 6e 20 66 6c 65 73 68 | come wh|en flesh|
|0000bec0| 20 6d 65 6c 74 73 20 61 | 74 20 73 6f 0a 6d 61 6e | melts a|t so.man|
|0000bed0| 79 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 | 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 |y degree|s and th|
|0000bee0| 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 | 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d |e night |of the m|
|0000bef0| 6f 6f 6e 20 68 61 73 20 | 73 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 |oon has |so many |
|0000bf00| 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 | 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 2e 2e |hundred |hours...|
|0000bf10| 22 0a 09 4c 61 72 61 20 | 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 |"..Lara |raised h|
|0000bf20| 65 72 20 65 79 65 62 72 | 6f 77 20 73 75 63 63 69 |er eyebr|ow succi|
|0000bf30| 6e 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 | 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 |nctly. |"I'd hav|
|0000bf40| 65 20 74 6f 20 67 75 65 | 73 73 2e 2e 2e 20 20 27 |e to gue|ss... '|
|0000bf50| 48 61 70 70 79 0a 44 61 | 79 73 27 3f 22 0a 09 22 |Happy.Da|ys'?".."|
|0000bf60| 54 68 65 20 61 62 73 75 | 72 64 69 73 74 20 70 6c |The absu|rdist pl|
|0000bf70| 61 79 20 6f 72 20 74 68 | 65 20 54 56 20 73 68 6f |ay or th|e TV sho|
|0000bf80| 77 3f 22 0a 09 22 44 6f | 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 73 |w?".."Do|n't be s|
|0000bf90| 69 6c 6c 79 2c 20 43 68 | 61 64 2e 20 20 50 6f 69 |illy, Ch|ad. Poi|
|0000bfa0| 6e 74 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 | 61 73 65 3f 22 0a 09 22 |nts, ple|ase?".."|
|0000bfb0| 4d 6d 6d 2e 20 20 46 6f | 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6d |Mmm. Fo|r you, m|
|0000bfc0| 79 20 64 65 61 72 2c 20 | 6f 6e 65 20 70 6f 69 6e |y dear, |one poin|
|0000bfd0| 74 2e 22 0a 09 22 57 6f | 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 |t.".."Wo|uld you |
|0000bfe0| 73 68 6f 77 20 6f 75 72 | 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 73 74 |show our| contest|
|0000bff0| 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 | 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 |ant the |size of |
|0000c000| 74 68 65 20 27 42 69 74 | 65 20 4d 65 27 20 68 65 |the 'Bit|e Me' he|
|0000c010| 20 6a 75 73 74 0a 77 6f | 6e 2c 20 50 68 69 6c 3f | just.wo|n, Phil?|
|0000c020| 22 0a 09 22 57 69 6c 6c | 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f |".."Will| you two|
|0000c030| 20 73 74 6f 70 20 66 6f | 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 | stop fo|r just a|
|0000c040| 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 3f | 22 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | minute?|" Andrea|
|0000c050| 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 65 | 64 2e 20 20 22 52 61 73 | demande|d. "Ras|
|0000c060| 66 77 72 2d 6a 0a 69 73 | 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 |fwr-j.is| falling|
|0000c070| 20 74 6f 20 70 69 65 63 | 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e | to piec|es aroun|
|0000c080| 64 20 6f 75 72 20 65 61 | 72 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 |d our ea|rs, with|
|0000c090| 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 | 62 69 65 73 20 64 65 73 | the old|bies des|
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|0000dc20| 79 6f 75 72 20 63 68 61 | 72 61 63 74 65 72 73 20 |your cha|racters |
|0000dc30| 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 72 65 | 74 74 79 20 69 6d 70 72 |some pre|tty impr|
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|0000dcb0| 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 | 73 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 |thought |she'd be|
|0000dcc0| 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f | 20 70 75 74 20 77 65 69 | able to| put wei|
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|0000dd70| 2e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 | 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 |.." Her| voice t|
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|0000e0f0| 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 | 6f 75 72 20 72 65 61 73 |ce, and |our reas|
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|0000e120| 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 77 | 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 69 |uality w|ith thei|
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|0000e140| 72 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 | 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 |rificati|on of op|
|0000e150| 69 6e 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 | 46 6f 72 20 79 65 61 72 |inion. |For year|
|0000e160| 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 0a | 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 |s, they.|have bee|
|0000e170| 6e 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 | 20 74 6f 20 73 65 69 7a |n trying| to seiz|
|0000e180| 65 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2c | 20 74 6f 20 64 65 76 6f |e power,| to devo|
|0000e190| 75 72 20 72 61 73 66 77 | 72 2d 6a 20 61 6e 64 20 |ur rasfw|r-j and |
|0000e1a0| 64 72 61 67 20 69 74 20 | 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 0a |drag it |down to.|
|0000e1b0| 74 68 65 69 72 20 6c 65 | 76 65 6c 2e 0a 09 22 53 |their le|vel..."S|
|0000e1c0| 6f 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 | 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 |o I have| given t|
|0000e1d0| 68 65 6d 20 77 68 61 74 | 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 6f |hem what| they so|
|0000e1e0| 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 | 74 65 6c 79 20 64 65 73 | despera|tely des|
|0000e1f0| 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 49 | 20 68 61 76 65 0a 72 65 |ired. I| have.re|
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|0000e210| 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 | 69 72 20 67 72 6f 75 70 |from the|ir group|
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|0000e230| 73 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 | 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 |sult to |them. A|
|0000e240| 73 20 74 68 65 0a 66 69 | 6e 61 6c 20 69 6d 70 6c |s the.fi|nal impl|
|0000e250| 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 | 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 |ication |of their|
|0000e260| 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 73 | 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 | demands|, I have|
|0000e270| 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 72 | 72 61 6e 67 65 64 20 74 | even ar|ranged t|
|0000e280| 68 61 74 20 75 6e 68 6f | 6c 69 65 73 74 20 6f 66 |hat unho|liest of|
|0000e290| 0a 61 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6c | 69 61 6e 63 65 73 3a 20 |.all all|iances: |
|0000e2a0| 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 | 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 |the merg|er with |
|0000e2b0| 61 66 72 6a 2e 20 20 54 | 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 |afrj. T|hey are |
|0000e2c0| 66 72 65 65 20 74 6f 20 | 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 |free to |make of |
|0000e2d0| 69 74 20 77 68 61 74 0a | 74 68 65 79 20 77 69 6c |it what.|they wil|
|0000e2e0| 6c 2e 2e 2e 20 61 6e 64 | 20 6d 61 79 20 74 68 65 |l... and| may the|
|0000e2f0| 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 20 | 69 74 21 22 20 20 48 69 |y enjoy |it!" Hi|
|0000e300| 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 | 65 72 65 20 66 69 65 72 |s eyes w|ere fier|
|0000e310| 63 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 | 66 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 |ce. "I |fear the|
|0000e320| 79 0a 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e | 6f 74 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 |y.will n|ot enjoy|
|0000e330| 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 | 2e 22 0a 09 22 4e 6f 21 | it long|.".."No!|
|0000e340| 22 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 65 78 63 6c 61 69 6d |" Andrea| exclaim|
|0000e350| 65 64 2c 20 68 6f 72 72 | 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 |ed, horr|or in he|
|0000e360| 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 | 20 22 59 6f 75 2e 2e 2e |r face. | "You...|
|0000e370| 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 0a | 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 65 | you've.|destroye|
|0000e380| 64 20 72 61 73 66 77 72 | 2d 6a 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 |d rasfwr|-j? How|
|0000e390| 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 | 6f 75 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 | could y|ou? You|
|0000e3a0| 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 6d | 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 | spent m|ore time|
|0000e3b0| 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 | 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 0a | on it t|han any.|
|0000e3c0| 6f 74 68 65 72 20 5f 74 | 77 6f 5f 20 70 65 6f 70 |other _t|wo_ peop|
|0000e3d0| 6c 65 21 20 20 59 6f 75 | 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 |le! You| were th|
|0000e3e0| 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 | 72 64 20 62 79 20 77 68 |e standa|rd by wh|
|0000e3f0| 69 63 68 20 65 76 65 72 | 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 |ich ever|yone els|
|0000e400| 65 0a 63 61 6c 63 75 6c | 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 |e.calcul|ated the|
|0000e410| 69 72 20 70 6f 73 74 69 | 6e 67 20 69 6e 64 65 78 |ir posti|ng index|
|0000e420| 21 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 | 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 |! Your |whole li|
|0000e430| 66 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 | 6f 75 72 65 64 20 69 6e |fe was p|oured in|
|0000e440| 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 0a | 67 72 6f 75 70 21 20 20 |to that.|group! |
|0000e450| 43 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 | 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 |Couldn't| you hav|
|0000e460| 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 | 74 6f 20 72 65 64 65 65 |e tried |to redee|
|0000e470| 6d 20 69 74 20 69 6e 73 | 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 |m it ins|tead of |
|0000e480| 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 69 | 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 6f |abandoni|ng it to|
|0000e490| 0a 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 | 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 09 |.destruc|tion?"..|
|0000e4a0| 54 68 65 20 48 75 6d 62 | 6c 65 73 74 20 4d 61 6e |The Humb|lest Man|
|0000e4b0| 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 | 4e 65 74 20 73 6d 69 6c | on the |Net smil|
|0000e4c0| 65 64 20 67 65 6e 74 6c | 79 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 |ed gentl|y. "How|
|0000e4d0| 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 | 61 6e 6b 6c 65 2c 0a 41 |'s that |ankle,.A|
|0000e4e0| 6e 64 72 65 61 3f 22 0a | 09 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 |ndrea?".|.Andrea |
|0000e4f0| 77 61 73 20 74 61 6b 65 | 6e 20 61 62 61 63 6b 2e |was take|n aback.|
|0000e500| 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2e | 2e 2e 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 | "Well.|.. almos|
|0000e510| 74 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 | 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f |t fine, |thank yo|
|0000e520| 75 2e 22 20 20 46 6f 72 | 20 61 0a 6d 6f 6d 65 6e |u." For| a.momen|
|0000e530| 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 61 | 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 75 |t, she a|lmost su|
|0000e540| 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 | 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 |spected |him of t|
|0000e550| 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f | 20 65 76 61 64 65 20 74 |rying to| evade t|
|0000e560| 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 | 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 09 22 57 |he quest|ion..."W|
|0000e570| 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 27 6d | 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 |ell, I'm| afraid |
|0000e580| 77 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 | 20 6e 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 |we allow| no one |
|0000e590| 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 | 73 20 63 72 75 74 63 68 |who need|s crutch|
|0000e5a0| 65 73 20 6f 66 20 61 6e | 79 20 73 6f 72 74 0a 70 |es of an|y sort.p|
|0000e5b0| 61 73 74 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 2e |ast this| point..|
|0000e5c0| 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 | 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 |. but wh|en you c|
|0000e5d0| 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c | 65 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 |an compl|etely su|
|0000e5e0| 70 70 6f 72 74 20 79 6f | 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 |pport yo|urself, |
|0000e5f0| 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 61 6b | 65 0a 79 6f 75 20 74 68 |I'll tak|e.you th|
|0000e600| 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 | 65 20 76 61 6c 6c 65 79 |rough th|e valley|
|0000e610| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f | 77 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 | and sho|w you ex|
|0000e620| 61 63 74 6c 79 20 68 6f | 77 20 49 20 70 72 6f 70 |actly ho|w I prop|
|0000e630| 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 | 65 64 65 65 6d 20 74 68 |ose to r|edeem th|
|0000e640| 65 0a 6e 65 77 73 67 72 | 6f 75 70 2e 22 0a 09 53 |e.newsgr|oup."..S|
|0000e650| 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 | 63 68 65 64 20 61 67 61 |he stret|ched aga|
|0000e660| 69 6e 20 67 69 6e 67 65 | 72 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 |in ginge|rly. "T|
|0000e670| 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c | 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 |hat woul|d have b|
|0000e680| 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 72 74 | 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 75 67 |een sort| of toug|
|0000e690| 68 0a 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 | 69 66 20 49 27 64 20 62 |h.on me |if I'd b|
|0000e6a0| 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 6d 79 | 20 61 6e 6b 6c 65 2c 20 |roken my| ankle, |
|0000e6b0| 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 | 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 09 54 |wouldn't| it?"..T|
|0000e6c0| 68 65 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b | 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 |he Novak| shrugge|
|0000e6d0| 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 20 | 61 73 73 75 6d 65 20 74 |d. "We |assume t|
|0000e6e0| 68 61 74 20 61 6e 79 6f | 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 |hat anyo|ne who h|
|0000e6f0| 61 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 | 6c 79 20 6f 6e 0a 6f 74 |as to re|ly on.ot|
|0000e700| 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 | 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 |hers for| support|
|0000e710| 20 69 73 20 61 20 6c 65 | 65 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 | is a le|ech and |
|0000e720| 61 20 6c 6f 6f 74 65 72 | 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 |a looter|. It's |
|0000e730| 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 73 | 6f 20 66 61 72 2e 22 0a |worked s|o far.".|
|0000e740| 09 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 | 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 |.Andrea |managed |
|0000e750| 61 20 73 61 72 64 6f 6e | 69 63 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 |a sardon|ic smile|
|0000e760| 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 | 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c |. "I th|ink I'll|
|0000e770| 20 62 65 20 6a 75 73 74 | 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 0a 4c | be just| fine..L|
|0000e780| 65 74 27 73 20 67 6f 2e | 22 0a 09 22 56 65 72 79 |et's go.|".."Very|
|0000e790| 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 20 | 20 48 65 20 77 61 6c 6b | well." | He walk|
|0000e7a0| 65 64 20 62 65 73 69 64 | 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6d |ed besid|e her, m|
|0000e7b0| 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 | 68 65 72 20 73 6c 6f 77 |atching |her slow|
|0000e7c0| 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 75 | 6e 74 69 6c 0a 74 68 65 | pace, u|ntil.the|
|0000e7d0| 79 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 | 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 |y reache|d the hi|
|0000e7e0| 67 68 20 6f 75 74 63 72 | 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 72 6f |gh outcr|op of ro|
|0000e7f0| 63 6b 20 77 68 65 72 65 | 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 |ck where| the gat|
|0000e800| 65 77 61 79 20 68 61 64 | 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c |eway had| initial|
|0000e810| 6c 79 0a 66 6f 72 6d 65 | 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 72 |ly.forme|d. Andr|
|0000e820| 65 61 20 67 61 73 70 65 | 64 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c |ea gaspe|d audibl|
|0000e830| 79 3b 20 74 68 65 6e 20 | 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f |y; then |she stoo|
|0000e840| 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 | 66 6f 72 20 73 65 76 65 |d there |for seve|
|0000e850| 72 61 6c 20 6d 69 6e 75 | 74 65 73 0a 69 6e 20 73 |ral minu|tes.in s|
|0000e860| 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 | 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 |ilence. | Finally|
|0000e870| 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f | 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 |, she lo|oked ove|
|0000e880| 72 20 61 74 20 4a 6f 68 | 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 |r at Joh|n Novak |
|0000e890| 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e 73 | 70 65 61 6b 61 62 6c 65 |with uns|peakable|
|0000e8a0| 0a 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 | 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 |.wonder |in her e|
|0000e8b0| 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 49 | 74 27 73 2e 2e 2e 20 69 |yes. "I|t's... i|
|0000e8c0| 74 27 73 20 72 61 73 66 | 77 72 2d 6a 2e 22 0a 09 |t's rasf|wr-j."..|
|0000e8d0| 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 | 64 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f |He smile|d in pro|
|0000e8e0| 75 64 20 73 61 74 69 73 | 66 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e |ud satis|faction.|
|0000e8f0| 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c | 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 65 | "Well,| not pre|
|0000e900| 63 69 73 65 6c 79 2e 20 | 20 49 74 27 73 0a 72 61 |cisely. | It's.ra|
|0000e910| 73 66 77 72 2d 6a 20 61 | 73 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f |sfwr-j a|s it sho|
|0000e920| 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 | 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 |uld be, |in accor|
|0000e930| 64 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f | 20 6d 79 20 73 74 61 6e |dance to| my stan|
|0000e940| 64 61 72 64 73 2c 20 61 | 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 |dards, a|nd built|
|0000e950| 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 | 0a 63 68 6f 73 65 6e 20 | from my|.chosen |
|0000e960| 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c | 73 2e 2e 2e 20 68 65 72 |material|s... her|
|0000e970| 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 6c 6f 6e 65 6c 79 |e in thi|s lonely|
|0000e980| 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c | 20 76 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c | virtual| valley,|
|0000e990| 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6e | 6f 20 62 6f 6e 65 68 65 | which n|o bonehe|
|0000e9a0| 61 64 0a 77 69 6c 6c 20 | 65 76 65 72 20 64 69 73 |ad.will |ever dis|
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|0000ea40| 68 69 65 72 61 72 63 68 | 79 2e 20 20 42 75 74 20 |hierarch|y. But |
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|0000ebe0| 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 | 6e 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 | place, |no one i|
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|0000ee00| 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 | 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 |t everyt|hing of |
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|0000ee40| 6b 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 | 79 20 74 6f 6c 6c 20 6f |k a heav|y toll o|
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|0000ee90| 72 61 73 66 77 72 2d 6a | 69 61 6e 20 6d 75 73 74 |rasfwr-j|ian must|
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|0000eeb0| 0a 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 73 | 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e |.Novak s|hrugged.|
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|0000ef20| 22 20 20 41 6e 64 72 65 | 61 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e |" Andre|a couldn|
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|0000ef80| 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 | 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f |lked dow|n the lo|
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|0000efa0| 74 2e 61 6e 74 69 73 2c | 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 |t.antis,| anyone |
|0000efb0| 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 | 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 |who can |support |
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|0000f010| 2d 2d 20 77 68 65 74 68 | 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 |-- wheth|er on th|
|0000f020| 65 0a 69 6d 70 65 6e 64 | 69 6e 67 20 6f 69 6c 20 |e.impend|ing oil |
|0000f030| 63 72 69 73 69 73 2c 20 | 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 73 |crisis, |the exis|
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|0000f060| 64 72 65 64 0a 71 75 65 | 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a |dred.que|stion.".|
|0000f070| 09 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 | 65 65 6d 73 20 6d 6f 72 |."That s|eems mor|
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|0000f0a0| 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f | 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 | She po|inted at|
|0000f0b0| 20 61 6e 0a 6f 6c 64 65 | 72 20 43 61 62 61 6c 20 | an.olde|r Cabal |
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|0000f0f0| 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 69 6e | 67 0a 63 68 61 69 72 20 |reclinin|g.chair |
|0000f100| 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 | 20 65 61 72 73 20 70 6c |with his| ears pl|
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|0000f120| 4a 6f 65 20 53 68 61 77 | 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 |Joe Shaw|. He wa|
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|0000f150| 77 72 2d 6a 20 6f 75 74 | 0a 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 69 |wr-j out|.of insi|
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|0000f1a0| 6f 75 72 0a 6d 6f 76 65 | 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 09 |our.move|ment."..|
|0000f1b0| 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 57 68 | 79 20 69 73 20 68 65 20 |"Oh. Wh|y is he |
|0000f1c0| 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 | 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 68 |living w|ay out h|
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|0000f1e0| 65 20 65 61 72 20 70 6c | 75 67 73 3f 22 0a 09 22 |e ear pl|ugs?".."|
|0000f1f0| 53 70 6f 69 6c 65 72 20 | 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 |Spoiler |protecti|
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|0000f2a0| 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 | 63 65 6e 74 65 72 73 20 |see the |centers |
|0000f2b0| 66 6f 72 20 44 69 73 63 | 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f |for Disc|ussion o|
|0000f2c0| 66 0a 46 75 74 75 72 65 | 20 50 6c 6f 74 73 2c 20 |f.Future| Plots, |
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|0000f2e0| 72 65 74 61 74 69 6f 6e | 2c 20 50 72 6f 73 65 20 |retation|, Prose |
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|0000f360| 68 61 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 | 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 |han on t|he old g|
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|0000f3a0| 6e 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 | 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 61 |nd see t|hat area|
|0000f3b0| 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 | 65 72 65 3f 22 20 20 54 | over th|ere?" T|
|0000f3c0| 68 65 20 48 75 6d 62 6c | 65 73 74 20 4d 61 6e 20 |he Humbl|est Man |
|0000f3d0| 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4e | 65 74 0a 70 6f 69 6e 74 |on the N|et.point|
|0000f3e0| 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 | 72 65 67 69 6f 6e 20 74 |ed to a |region t|
|0000f3f0| 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 | 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 74 |hat was |surely t|
|0000f400| 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 | 63 6f 6c 6f 72 66 75 6c |he most |colorful|
|0000f410| 2c 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 | 75 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 0a |, cheerf|ul, and.|
|0000f420| 68 79 70 65 72 61 63 74 | 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 61 |hyperact|ive in a|
|0000f430| 6c 74 2e 61 6e 74 69 73 | 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 |lt.antis|. "That|
|0000f440| 27 73 20 72 65 73 65 72 | 76 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 |'s reser|ved for |
|0000f450| 74 61 6e 67 65 6e 74 69 | 61 6c 20 73 75 62 6a 65 |tangenti|al subje|
|0000f460| 63 74 73 2d 2d 20 6f 6e | 65 73 0a 74 68 61 74 20 |cts-- on|es.that |
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|0000f4a0| 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 2e | 20 20 51 75 69 74 65 20 |s works.| Quite |
|0000f4b0| 61 20 62 69 74 0a 6f 66 | 20 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 72 |a bit.of| our mor|
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|0000f510| 65 79 20 6d 65 65 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 69 |ey meet |the stri|
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|0000f530| 65 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 | 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 |eing int|eresting|
|0000f540| 2c 0a 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c | 69 67 65 6e 74 2c 20 63 |,.intell|igent, c|
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|0000f560| 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 | 76 65 6c 79 2e 22 0a 09 |, and li|vely."..|
|0000f570| 22 53 75 63 68 20 61 73 | 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 72 |"Such as|?" Andr|
|0000f580| 65 61 20 71 75 65 72 69 | 65 64 2e 0a 09 54 68 65 |ea queri|ed...The|
|0000f590| 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 73 | 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 | Novak s|miled. |
|0000f5a0| 22 42 61 62 79 6c 6f 6e | 20 35 2c 22 20 68 65 20 |"Babylon| 5," he |
|0000f5b0| 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 09 54 | 68 65 79 20 77 61 6c 6b |said...T|hey walk|
|0000f5c0| 65 64 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 | 41 20 68 61 6c 66 2d 6d |ed on. |A half-m|
|0000f5d0| 69 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 73 | 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 |ile or s|o down t|
|0000f5e0| 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2c | 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 |he road,| Andrea |
|0000f5f0| 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 0a | 61 62 72 75 70 74 6c 79 |stopped.|abruptly|
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|0000f610| 68 61 74 20 67 61 72 62 | 61 67 65 20 64 6f 69 6e |hat garb|age doin|
|0000f620| 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 |g in the| middle |
|0000f630| 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 | 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 0a |of your |private.|
|0000f640| 75 74 6f 70 69 61 3f 22 | 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 |utopia?"| There |
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|0000f660| 61 72 61 6e 63 65 73 2c | 20 61 20 6a 75 6e 6b 79 |arances,| a junky|
|0000f670| 61 72 64 20 74 77 6f 20 | 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 |ard two |hundred |
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|0000f690| 66 74 2e 0a 09 22 4f 68 | 2c 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 |ft..."Oh|, that's|
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|0000f6d0| 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 6f | 6c 64 20 72 61 73 66 77 |to the.o|ld rasfw|
|0000f6e0| 72 2d 6a 20 67 72 6f 75 | 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f |r-j grou|p for mo|
|0000f6f0| 6e 74 68 73 20 6e 6f 77 | 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 |nths now|, just t|
|0000f700| 6f 20 61 64 64 20 74 6f | 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6e |o add to| the ban|
|0000f710| 64 77 69 64 74 68 20 63 | 6c 75 74 74 65 72 2e 0a |dwidth c|lutter..|
|0000f720| 4e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 | 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f |Now that| the who|
|0000f730| 6c 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 | 20 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e |le place| has gon|
|0000f740| 65 20 70 65 72 6d 61 6e | 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 74 6f |e perman|ently to|
|0000f750| 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 | 73 2c 20 68 65 27 6c 6c | the dog|s, he'll|
|0000f760| 20 64 75 6d 70 20 61 6c | 6c 0a 74 68 65 20 72 65 | dump al|l.the re|
|0000f770| 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 | 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 68 |st on th|em and h|
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|0000f790| 2e 20 20 54 73 68 65 6e | 27 73 20 74 61 6b 65 6e |. Tshen|'s taken|
|0000f7a0| 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6d 6f | 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 | over mo|st of th|
|0000f7b0| 65 0a 76 65 6e 74 75 72 | 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 |e.ventur|e with c|
|0000f7c0| 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 | 62 6c 65 20 7a 65 73 74 |onsidera|ble zest|
|0000f7d0| 2c 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 | 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 |, I unde|rstand. |
|0000f7e0| 20 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 | 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 | Look, t|here's t|
|0000f7f0| 68 65 20 4c 6f 79 0a 6e | 6f 77 2e 2e 2e 20 20 41 |he Loy.n|ow... A|
|0000f800| 68 6f 79 20 74 68 65 72 | 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6f |hoy ther|e, you o|
|0000f810| 6c 64 20 70 69 72 61 74 | 65 21 22 0a 09 4c 6f 79 |ld pirat|e!"..Loy|
|0000f820| 6e 61 72 20 44 61 6e 6e | 65 73 6b 6a 6f 6c 64 20 |nar Dann|eskjold |
|0000f830| 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 | 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 |looked u|p and wa|
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|0000f850| 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 | 65 20 77 61 73 0a 77 6f |them. H|e was.wo|
|0000f860| 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e | 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 72 |rking on| some pr|
|0000f870| 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 74 68 | 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 |oject th|at seeme|
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|0000f8a0| 6c 6f 6e 0a 66 69 73 68 | 6e 65 74 2c 20 74 68 72 |lon.fish|net, thr|
|0000f8b0| 65 65 20 72 61 74 68 65 | 72 20 62 65 64 72 61 67 |ee rathe|r bedrag|
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|0000f8d0| 61 6e 64 20 66 69 76 65 | 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 |and five| hundred|
|0000f8e0| 20 70 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 | 6f 66 0a 69 6e 64 69 61 | pounds |of.india|
|0000f8f0| 72 75 62 62 65 72 2e 20 | 20 41 20 66 61 6d 69 6c |rubber. | A famil|
|0000f900| 69 61 72 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b | 69 6e 67 20 72 65 64 68 |iar-look|ing redh|
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|0000f930| 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e | 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 |assistan|ce and c|
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|0000f970| 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 4a | 6f 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 | up at J|ohn Nova|
|0000f980| 6b 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 | 73 20 4c 61 72 61 20 6b |k. "Doe|s Lara k|
|0000f990| 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 0a | 4c 6f 79 2d 2d 20 61 6e |now the.|Loy-- an|
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|0000f9b0| 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 | 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 |are they| doing?"|
|0000f9c0| 0a 09 54 68 65 20 4e 6f | 76 61 6b 20 63 6c 65 61 |..The No|vak clea|
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|0000f9e0| 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 | 4c 61 72 61 20 61 6e 64 | "Well, |Lara and|
|0000f9f0| 20 4c 6f 79 6e 61 72 20 | 61 72 65 20 73 6f 72 74 | Loynar |are sort|
|0000fa00| 20 6f 66 0a 6c 69 6b 65 | 20 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 | of.like| twisted|
|0000fa10| 20 73 69 62 6c 69 6e 67 | 73 2e 2e 2e 20 77 65 6c | sibling|s... wel|
|0000fa20| 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 2c 20 74 | 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 |l, no, t|here's a|
|0000fa30| 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 6c | 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f |dmittedl|y more o|
|0000fa40| 66 20 74 68 65 0a 27 63 | 6f 6e 73 6f 72 74 27 20 |f the.'c|onsort' |
|0000fa50| 65 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 | 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 |element |than tha|
|0000fa60| 74 2e 2e 2e 20 6b 69 6e | 64 72 65 64 20 73 70 69 |t... kin|dred spi|
|0000fa70| 72 69 74 73 2c 20 49 20 | 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 |rits, I |suppose |
|0000fa80| 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 | 74 20 73 61 79 2c 0a 74 |you migh|t say,.t|
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|0000faa0| 72 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 | 2e 20 20 55 6d 2e 20 20 |re to it|. Um. |
|0000fab0| 4c 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 | 73 74 20 73 61 79 20 74 |Let's ju|st say t|
|0000fac0| 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 | 20 61 20 63 65 72 74 61 |hey have| a certa|
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|0000fae0| 20 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 | 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 27 | unity t|hat can'|
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|0000fb80| 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 | 61 6e 64 20 6c 61 75 67 |er head |and laug|
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|0000fba0| 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 | 57 68 65 6e 0a 73 68 65 |light. |When.she|
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|0000fbe0| 20 22 42 75 74 20 68 6f | 77 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c | "But ho|w can al|
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|0000fc40| 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 | 67 61 76 65 20 61 20 64 |t." He |gave a d|
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|0000fce0| 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 71 | 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 |hnical q|uestions|
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|0000fd40| 20 20 54 68 65 20 4e 6f | 76 61 6b 20 74 75 72 6e | The No|vak turn|
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|0000fd90| 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 | 68 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 | "Well, |have you|
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|0000fe00| 61 70 70 72 65 63 69 61 | 74 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 |apprecia|te all t|
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|0000fe50| 79 2e 20 20 42 75 74 20 | 49 20 68 61 76 65 0a 74 |y. But |I have.t|
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|0000feb0| 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 | 20 70 6c 65 61 73 61 6e | however| pleasan|
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|0000fff0| 77 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e | 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 |will wan|t to rea|
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|00010010| 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 | 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 6f |any idea| how sho|
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|00010050| 0a 09 53 68 65 20 73 70 | 72 65 61 64 20 68 65 72 |..She sp|read her|
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|00010080| 73 61 79 3f 20 20 54 68 | 65 72 65 20 68 61 73 20 |say? Th|ere has |
|00010090| 74 6f 0a 62 65 20 73 6f | 6d 65 20 61 64 65 71 75 |to.be so|me adequ|
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|000101a0| 69 6d 61 74 65 64 20 76 | 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 3f 22 |imated v|ersion?"|
|000101b0| 0a 09 22 41 6c 6c 20 72 | 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6c |.."All r|ight, al|
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|000101d0| 76 61 6b 20 73 6e 61 72 | 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 |vak snar|led. "C|
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|000101f0| 0a 73 6b 69 70 20 74 68 | 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 73 |.skip th|e scenes|
|00010200| 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 | 6f 75 20 6d 65 65 74 20 | where y|ou meet |
|00010210| 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 72 | 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 |all your| old fri|
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|00010250| 61 6e 64 20 52 69 63 6b | 20 61 6e 64 20 48 61 77 |and Rick| and Haw|
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|00010280| 0a 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e | 65 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 20 |.everyon|e else. |
|00010290| 20 45 76 65 72 79 62 6f | 64 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 | Everybo|dy on th|
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|000102c0| 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 | 64 2c 0a 73 6f 20 6e 6f |mentione|d,.so no|
|000102d0| 20 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 67 | 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 | one's g|oing to |
|000102e0| 63 6f 6d 70 6c 61 69 6e | 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 6f |complain| if we o|
|000102f0| 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 | 73 68 6c 6f 63 6b 20 72 |mit the |shlock r|
|00010300| 65 75 6e 69 6f 6e 20 62 | 69 74 73 2e 22 0a 09 22 |eunion b|its.".."|
|00010310| 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 66 69 | 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 54 68 |Okay, fi|ne." Th|
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|00010370| 63 75 74 20 6f 75 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 76 65 |cut out |the love|
|00010380| 20 73 63 65 6e 65 73 20 | 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e | scenes |as well.|
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|000103b0| 20 20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 | 5f 4e 6f 77 5f 20 49 20 | "Oh. |_Now_ I |
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|000103f0| 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 2c | 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e |"No, no,| really.|
|00010400| 2e 2e 20 69 74 27 73 20 | 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 |.. it's |a questi|
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|00010430| 6d 6d 69 74 2e 22 20 20 | 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a 09 |mmit." |..****..|
|00010440| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 27 73 | 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 |Andrea's| first s|
|00010450| 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 | 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 |ight of |the old |
|00010460| 72 61 73 66 77 72 2d 6a | 20 77 61 73 20 61 73 20 |rasfwr-j| was as |
|00010470| 70 61 69 6e 66 75 6c 20 | 61 73 20 68 65 72 0a 66 |painful |as her.f|
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|00010490| 61 6c 74 2e 61 6e 74 69 | 73 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 |alt.anti|s had be|
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|000104b0| 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e | 63 65 2d 69 6e 73 70 69 | The on|ce-inspi|
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|000104d0| 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 64 69 | 73 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 |human di|scourse |
|000104e0| 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e | 20 64 65 6c 69 62 65 72 |had been| deliber|
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|00010510| 6c 61 6d 65 77 61 72 73 | 20 73 70 69 72 61 6c 6c |lamewars| spirall|
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|00010530| 6c 2c 20 6c 61 79 69 6e | 67 20 77 61 73 74 65 20 |l, layin|g waste |
|00010540| 74 6f 20 76 61 73 74 20 | 74 72 61 63 74 73 20 6f |to vast |tracts o|
|00010550| 66 0a 6e 65 77 73 67 72 | 6f 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 |f.newsgr|oup and |
|00010560| 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 | 63 6f 75 6e 74 6c 65 73 |leaving |countles|
|00010570| 73 20 63 61 73 75 61 6c | 74 69 65 73 20 73 70 72 |s casual|ties spr|
|00010580| 61 77 6c 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 |awled to| either |
|00010590| 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 4d 69 | 73 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 74 |side..Mi|sformatt|
|000105a0| 65 64 20 70 6f 73 74 73 | 20 63 6f 6c 6c 69 64 65 |ed posts| collide|
|000105b0| 64 20 63 6c 75 6d 73 69 | 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 |d clumsi|ly with |
|000105c0| 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 | 65 72 2c 20 77 68 69 6c |each oth|er, whil|
|000105d0| 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 | 74 6c 65 73 73 0a 72 65 |e contex|tless.re|
|000105e0| 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 20 | 66 6c 65 77 20 6f 66 66 |sponses |flew off|
|000105f0| 20 69 6e 20 72 61 6e 64 | 6f 6d 20 64 69 72 65 63 | in rand|om direc|
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|00010620| 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e | 67 2e 20 20 4c 6f 6f 74 |groundin|g. Loot|
|00010630| 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 | 6c 65 65 63 68 65 73 20 |ers and |leeches |
|00010640| 64 69 64 20 74 68 65 69 | 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 |did thei|r best t|
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|00010660| 61 74 20 6c 69 74 74 6c | 65 0a 73 6b 69 6c 6c 20 |at littl|e.skill |
|00010670| 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 73 | 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 |and sens|e was le|
|00010680| 66 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 | 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2d |ft on th|e group-|
|00010690| 2d 20 62 75 74 20 46 6c | 61 76 69 6f 27 73 20 69 |- but Fl|avio's i|
|000106a0| 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 | 65 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 72 |mpressiv|ely thor|
|000106b0| 6f 75 67 68 0a 70 72 6f | 67 72 61 6d 20 6f 66 20 |ough.pro|gram of |
|000106c0| 62 61 72 62 61 72 69 7a | 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 61 |barbariz|ation ha|
|000106d0| 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 | 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c |d taken |its toll|
|000106e0| 2e 20 20 42 61 74 74 6c | 65 73 20 77 72 61 63 6b |. Battl|es wrack|
|000106f0| 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 | 74 72 65 65 74 73 0a 6f |ed the s|treets.o|
|00010700| 76 65 72 20 73 75 63 68 | 20 69 73 73 75 65 73 20 |ver such| issues |
|00010710| 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 | 64 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 |as the i|dentity |
|00010720| 6f 66 20 4f 73 61 6e 27 | 67 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 |of Osan'|gar and |
|00010730| 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 | 54 68 6f 6d 20 77 61 73 |whether |Thom was|
|00010740| 20 45 6c 61 79 6e 65 27 | 73 0a 66 61 74 68 65 72 | Elayne'|s.father|
|00010750| 2e 20 20 4e 65 61 72 6c | 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 |. Nearl|y all of|
|00010760| 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 | 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 77 | the old| order w|
|00010770| 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2d | 2d 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 |as gone-|- vanish|
|00010780| 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 72 65 76 69 |ed with |the revi|
|00010790| 6c 65 64 0a 65 6c 69 74 | 65 2e 0a 09 41 6e 64 72 |led.elit|e...Andr|
|000107a0| 65 61 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 | 64 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f |ea walke|d cautio|
|000107b0| 75 73 6c 79 20 61 63 72 | 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 |usly acr|oss the |
|000107c0| 6e 65 77 73 67 72 6f 75 | 70 20 62 6f 75 6e 64 61 |newsgrou|p bounda|
|000107d0| 72 79 2c 20 64 6f 64 67 | 69 6e 67 0a 74 68 65 20 |ry, dodg|ing.the |
|000107e0| 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e | 61 6c 20 72 61 6e 64 6f |occasion|al rando|
|000107f0| 6d 20 66 6c 61 6d 65 20 | 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 69 |m flame |and tryi|
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|00010810| 66 20 73 69 67 68 74 2e | 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 |f sight.| She ha|
|00010820| 64 20 6e 6f 0a 69 64 65 | 61 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 |d no.ide|a of how|
|00010830| 20 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 | 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 | or wher|e to sta|
|00010840| 72 74 20 64 65 66 65 6e | 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 |rt defen|ding the|
|00010850| 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f | 66 20 72 61 74 69 6f 6e | cause o|f ration|
|00010860| 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e | 64 0a 6e 65 74 69 71 75 |ality an|d.netiqu|
|00010870| 65 74 74 65 20 69 6e 20 | 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 |ette in |this was|
|00010880| 74 65 6c 61 6e 64 2c 20 | 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 |teland, |but she |
|00010890| 68 61 64 20 73 77 6f 72 | 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 74 20 |had swor|n to at |
|000108a0| 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 72 | 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 |least tr|y. For |
|000108b0| 77 61 6e 74 0a 6f 66 20 | 61 6e 79 20 62 65 74 74 |want.of |any bett|
|000108c0| 65 72 20 69 64 65 61 73 | 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 |er ideas|, she de|
|000108d0| 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f |cided to| look fo|
|000108e0| 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 | 67 75 6c 61 72 73 20 77 |r any re|gulars w|
|000108f0| 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 | 20 28 62 79 0a 73 6f 6d |ho might| (by.som|
|00010900| 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 | 29 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e |e chance|) have n|
|00010910| 6f 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 | 65 64 20 61 6c 74 2e 61 |ot reach|ed alt.a|
|00010920| 6e 74 69 73 20 79 65 74 | 2e 0a 09 41 73 20 69 74 |ntis yet|...As it|
|00010930| 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 | 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 | happene|d, she f|
|00010940| 6f 75 6e 64 20 44 79 6c | 61 6e 2e 0a 09 48 65 20 |ound Dyl|an...He |
|00010950| 77 61 73 20 73 65 61 74 | 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 |was seat|ed on th|
|00010960| 65 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 | 2d 6f 75 74 20 73 68 65 |e burned|-out she|
|00010970| 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 | 62 75 6c 6c 64 6f 7a 65 |ll of a |bulldoze|
|00010980| 72 2c 20 73 74 61 69 6e | 65 64 0a 61 73 68 2d 67 |r, stain|ed.ash-g|
|00010990| 72 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d | 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f |ray from| head to|
|000109a0| 20 66 6f 6f 74 2e 20 20 | 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 | foot. |There wa|
|000109b0| 73 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f | 6e 67 20 73 6d 65 6c 6c |s a stro|ng smell|
|000109c0| 20 6f 66 20 67 61 73 6f | 6c 69 6e 65 20 61 6c 6c | of gaso|line all|
|000109d0| 0a 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 | 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 |.about h|im, and |
|000109e0| 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 | 69 6e 64 69 73 74 69 6e |several |indistin|
|000109f0| 67 75 69 73 68 61 62 6c | 79 20 63 68 61 72 72 65 |guishabl|y charre|
|00010a00| 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 | 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 61 74 |d forms |lying at|
|00010a10| 20 68 69 73 20 66 65 65 | 74 2e 0a 53 68 65 20 74 | his fee|t..She t|
|00010a20| 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 66 65 | 77 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 |ook a fe|w steps |
|00010a30| 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 | 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 66 |closer t|o him, f|
|00010a40| 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 | 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e |eeling s|urprisin|
|00010a50| 67 6c 79 20 74 65 6e 74 | 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 |gly tent|ative, a|
|00010a60| 6e 64 0a 72 65 61 64 79 | 20 74 6f 20 64 75 63 6b |nd.ready| to duck|
|00010a70| 20 61 6e 79 20 66 6c 61 | 6d 65 73 20 68 65 20 6d | any fla|mes he m|
|00010a80| 69 67 68 74 20 68 75 72 | 6c 2e 0a 09 48 65 20 67 |ight hur|l...He g|
|00010a90| 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 75 | 70 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 |lanced u|p at her|
|00010aa0| 3b 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 | 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 |; his ey|es were |
|00010ab0| 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 | 20 67 6c 61 7a 65 64 2e |slightly| glazed.|
|00010ac0| 20 20 22 54 68 65 0a 68 | 65 6c 6c 3f 2e 2e 2e 20 | "The.h|ell?... |
|00010ad0| 20 4f 68 2c 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 2c 20 69 74 27 | Oh, And|rea, it'|
|00010ae0| 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 | 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 |s you. |I though|
|00010af0| 74 20 74 68 65 20 4e 6f | 76 61 6b 20 68 61 64 20 |t the No|vak had |
|00010b00| 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 | 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 0a |already |claimed.|
|00010b10| 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 | 68 69 73 20 6c 69 74 74 |you for |his litt|
|00010b20| 6c 65 20 7a 6f 6f 20 6f | 66 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 |le zoo o|ff in th|
|00010b30| 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 52 | 6f 63 6b 69 65 73 2e 22 |e cyberR|ockies."|
|00010b40| 0a 09 22 48 65 20 64 69 | 64 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 |.."He di|d. I ca|
|00010b50| 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2e | 22 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 |me back.|" As sh|
|00010b60| 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 | 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 |e steppe|d closer|
|00010b70| 2c 20 61 20 73 74 61 72 | 74 6c 65 64 20 62 61 64 |, a star|tled bad|
|00010b80| 67 65 72 0a 73 63 75 74 | 74 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 |ger.scut|tled off|
|00010b90| 20 44 79 6c 61 6e 27 73 | 20 6c 61 70 20 61 6e 64 | Dylan's| lap and|
|00010ba0| 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 | 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 | vanishe|d into t|
|00010bb0| 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e | 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 57 |he darkn|ess. "W|
|00010bc0| 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 | 74 20 79 6f 75 3f 0a 44 |hat abou|t you?.D|
|00010bd0| 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 | 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f |idn't he| come fo|
|00010be0| 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a | 09 44 79 6c 61 6e 20 67 |r you?".|.Dylan g|
|00010bf0| 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 2e 20 | 20 22 57 65 20 73 70 6f |rinned. | "We spo|
|00010c00| 6b 65 2e 20 20 41 6c 61 | 73 2c 20 6f 75 72 20 76 |ke. Ala|s, our v|
|00010c10| 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 | 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 |iews on |how to h|
|00010c20| 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 | 65 0a 73 69 74 75 61 74 |andle th|e.situat|
|00010c30| 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 66 66 | 65 72 65 64 20 73 6c 69 |ion diff|ered sli|
|00010c40| 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 | 42 65 73 69 64 65 73 2c |ghtly. |Besides,|
|00010c50| 20 49 27 64 20 6f 6e 6c | 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 66 | I'd onl|y be a f|
|00010c60| 69 72 65 20 68 61 7a 61 | 72 64 20 69 6e 0a 75 74 |ire haza|rd in.ut|
|00010c70| 6f 70 69 61 2e 20 20 48 | 65 72 65 2c 20 49 27 6d |opia. H|ere, I'm|
|00010c80| 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 | 6f 6d 65 20 5f 72 65 61 | doing s|ome _rea|
|00010c90| 6c 5f 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e | 22 0a 09 22 49 2e 2e 2e |l_ good.|".."I...|
|00010ca0| 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 | 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 20 | can see| that." |
|00010cb0| 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 | 6e 63 65 64 20 61 72 6f | She gla|nced aro|
|00010cc0| 75 6e 64 20 61 20 62 69 | 74 20 61 6e 78 69 6f 75 |und a bi|t anxiou|
|00010cd0| 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 | 73 0a 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 |sly. "I|s.anyone|
|00010ce0| 20 65 6c 73 65 20 6c 65 | 66 74 3f 20 20 41 6e 79 | else le|ft? Any|
|00010cf0| 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 | 6f 6c 64 62 69 65 73 2c | of the |oldbies,|
|00010d00| 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f | 22 0a 09 22 4e 61 64 69 | I mean?|".."Nadi|
|00010d10| 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 | 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 |e. I'm |the last|
|00010d20| 20 68 6f 6c 64 6f 75 74 | 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 20 | holdout|." His |
|00010d30| 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 6e | 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 |eyes wen|t out of|
|00010d40| 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 | 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 22 41 | focus a|gain.."A|
|00010d50| 6e 64 20 66 72 61 6e 6b | 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 |nd frank|ly, I th|
|00010d60| 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c | 20 62 65 20 67 6f 69 6e |ink I'll| be goin|
|00010d70| 67 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e | 20 61 20 62 6c 61 7a 65 |g out in| a blaze|
|00010d80| 20 6f 66 20 67 6c 6f 72 | 79 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 | of glor|y myself|
|00010d90| 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 0a | 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 | pretty.|soon. T|
|00010da0| 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 6f | 6e 6c 79 20 73 6f 20 6c |here's o|nly so l|
|00010db0| 6f 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 61 | 6e 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 69 |ong a ma|n can li|
|00010dc0| 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 66 6c | 61 6d 65 73 20 61 6c 6f |ve on fl|ames alo|
|00010dd0| 6e 65 2e 22 0a 09 22 54 | 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 65 |ne.".."T|hat's re|
|00010de0| 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 | 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 6f |ally the| only so|
|00010df0| 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 | 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 |lution y|ou can s|
|00010e00| 65 65 3f 22 20 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 20 66 6f 75 |ee?" An|drea fou|
|00010e10| 6e 64 20 69 74 0a 68 61 | 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 |nd it.ha|rd to be|
|00010e20| 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 | 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 72 |lieve th|at her r|
|00010e30| 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f | 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f |eturn to| the gro|
|00010e40| 75 70 20 77 61 73 20 63 | 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c |up was c|ompletel|
|00010e50| 79 20 69 6e 20 76 61 69 | 6e 2e 0a 09 44 79 6c 61 |y in vai|n...Dyla|
|00010e60| 6e 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c | 65 64 20 64 72 69 6c 79 |n chuckl|ed drily|
|00010e70| 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 77 20 | 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 |. "Now |that the|
|00010e80| 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 27 73 | 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 | Novak's| stolen |
|00010e90| 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 | 63 65 6e 74 0a 70 6f 73 |every de|cent.pos|
|00010ea0| 74 65 72 20 65 78 63 65 | 70 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c |ter exce|pt my pl|
|00010eb0| 65 61 73 61 6e 74 20 73 | 65 6c 66 3f 20 20 49 20 |easant s|elf? I |
|00010ec0| 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f | 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 |think so|. You c|
|00010ed0| 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 64 | 65 65 6d 20 61 20 6e 65 |an't red|eem a ne|
|00010ee0| 77 73 67 72 6f 75 70 0a | 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 75 63 |wsgroup.|from suc|
|00010ef0| 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c | 6c 20 62 61 73 65 2c 20 |h a smal|l base, |
|00010f00| 73 77 65 65 74 68 65 61 | 72 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 |sweethea|rt. May|
|00010f10| 62 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 | 64 65 63 61 64 65 20 6f |be in a |decade o|
|00010f20| 72 20 73 6f 20 68 65 27 | 6c 6c 20 62 72 69 6e 67 |r so he'|ll bring|
|00010f30| 0a 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 | 65 20 43 61 62 61 6c 20 |.back th|e Cabal |
|00010f40| 74 6f 20 72 65 62 75 69 | 6c 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 |to rebui|ld on my|
|00010f50| 20 61 73 68 65 73 2e 20 | 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 | ashes. | Until t|
|00010f60| 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f | 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 |hen, tho|ugh, thi|
|00010f70| 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 | 69 73 0a 67 6f 69 6e 67 |s place |is.going|
|00010f80| 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 6c | 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 | to hell| in a hu|
|00010f90| 6e 64 72 65 64 20 6d 69 | 6c 65 2d 70 65 72 2d 68 |ndred mi|le-per-h|
|00010fa0| 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 | 62 61 73 6b 65 74 2e 22 |our hand|basket."|
|00010fb0| 0a 09 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 |..Andrea| checked|
|00010fc0| 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 74 | 63 68 20 67 6c 6f 6f 6d | her wat|ch gloom|
|00010fd0| 69 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 | 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 |ily. "W|e'll see|
|00010fe0| 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 | 69 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 |. He sa|id he'd |
|00010ff0| 62 65 0a 73 65 6e 64 69 | 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 65 73 |be.sendi|ng a mes|
|00011000| 73 61 67 65 20 61 74 20 | 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 |sage at |about th|
|00011010| 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c | 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c |is time,| to tell|
|00011020| 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e | 65 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 | everyon|e who's |
|00011030| 62 65 65 6e 20 61 73 6b | 69 6e 67 0a 27 57 68 6f |been ask|ing.'Who|
|00011040| 20 69 73 20 4a 6f 68 6e | 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f 27 | is John| Novak?'|
|00011050| 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 68 | 6f 20 68 65 20 69 73 20 | just wh|o he is |
|00011060| 61 6e 64 20 77 68 79 20 | 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 6e |and why |he's don|
|00011070| 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 | 65 27 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 |e what h|e's done|
|00011080| 2e 0a 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 | 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 |..We'll |see how |
|00011090| 74 68 61 74 20 61 66 66 | 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 65 |that aff|ects the|
|000110a0| 6d 2e 22 0a 09 44 79 6c | 61 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 |m."..Dyl|an laugh|
|000110b0| 65 64 20 63 79 6e 69 63 | 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 |ed cynic|ally. "|
|000110c0| 4f 68 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 | 65 76 65 20 6d 65 2c 20 |Oh, beli|eve me, |
|000110d0| 68 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 49 | 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 77 |honey, I| can't w|
|000110e0| 61 69 74 2e 22 0a 09 45 | 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 68 |ait."..E|ven as h|
|000110f0| 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2c | 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 73 |e spoke,| the wes|
|00011100| 74 65 72 6e 20 73 6b 79 | 20 67 72 65 77 20 62 72 |tern sky| grew br|
|00011110| 69 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 | 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f |ight wit|h one co|
|00011120| 6c 6f 73 73 61 6c 2c 0a | 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 |lossal,.|incoming|
|00011130| 20 70 6f 73 74 2e 20 20 | 49 74 73 20 67 6f 6c 64 | post. |Its gold|
|00011140| 65 6e 20 63 6f 72 64 20 | 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b |en cord |led back|
|00011150| 20 74 6f 20 61 6c 74 2e | 61 6e 74 69 73 2c 20 61 | to alt.|antis, a|
|00011160| 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 | 65 20 73 71 75 61 6c 6f |nd in th|e squalo|
|00011170| 72 0a 6f 66 20 64 65 62 | 61 73 65 64 20 72 61 73 |r.of deb|ased ras|
|00011180| 66 77 72 2d 6a 2c 20 65 | 76 65 72 79 20 65 79 65 |fwr-j, e|very eye|
|00011190| 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 | 65 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 | could s|ee it. |
|000111a0| 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 | 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 |It had a| simple |
|000111b0| 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 0a | 68 65 61 64 65 72 3a 20 |subject.|header: |
|000111c0| 57 48 4f 20 49 53 20 4a | 4f 48 4e 20 4e 4f 56 41 |WHO IS J|OHN NOVA|
|000111d0| 4b 3f 20 20 41 73 20 74 | 68 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 |K? As t|hey watc|
|000111e0| 68 65 64 2c 20 69 74 20 | 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 |hed, it |opened u|
|000111f0| 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 | 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 65 20 |p, and a|n image |
|00011200| 6f 66 0a 74 68 65 20 4e | 6f 76 61 6b 27 73 20 67 |of.the N|ovak's g|
|00011210| 72 65 61 74 20 62 65 61 | 72 64 65 64 20 66 61 63 |reat bea|rded fac|
|00011220| 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6d 65 64 | 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 |e loomed| over th|
|00011230| 65 20 72 75 62 62 6c 65 | 2e 20 20 44 69 73 74 61 |e rubble|. Dista|
|00011240| 6e 74 20 73 63 72 65 61 | 6d 73 20 6f 66 0a 66 65 |nt screa|ms of.fe|
|00011250| 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 | 61 74 72 65 64 20 72 6f |ar and h|atred ro|
|00011260| 73 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 | 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 |se from |all arou|
|00011270| 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e | 20 20 44 79 6c 61 6e 20 |nd them.| Dylan |
|00011280| 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 | 66 69 65 72 63 65 6c 79 |grinned |fiercely|
|00011290| 20 61 6e 64 0a 72 75 62 | 62 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 | and.rub|bed his |
|000112a0| 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f | 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 0a |hands to|gether..|
|000112b0| 09 54 68 65 20 69 6d 61 | 67 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 |.The ima|ge spoke|
|000112c0| 2e 20 20 22 54 68 69 73 | 20 69 73 20 4a 6f 68 6e |. "This| is John|
|000112d0| 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 73 | 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 2e | Novak s|peaking.|
|000112e0| 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 | 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 | I have| a messa|
|000112f0| 67 65 2c 0a 61 64 64 72 | 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 6f |ge,.addr|essed to|
|00011300| 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 63 | 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 69 | every c|urrent i|
|00011310| 6e 68 61 62 69 74 61 6e | 74 20 6f 66 20 72 65 63 |nhabitan|t of rec|
|00011320| 2e 61 72 74 73 2e 73 66 | 2e 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e |.arts.sf|.written|
|00011330| 2e 72 6f 62 65 72 74 2d | 20 0a 6a 6f 72 64 61 6e |.robert-| .jordan|
|00011340| 2e 2e 2e 20 6f 72 20 73 | 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 |... or s|hould I |
|00011350| 73 61 79 2c 20 61 6c 74 | 2e 66 61 6e 2e 72 6f 62 |say, alt|.fan.rob|
|00011360| 65 72 74 2e 6a 6f 72 64 | 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 6e 64 |ert.jord|an. And|
|00011370| 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 20 | 75 70 2c 0a 62 6f 6e 65 | listen |up,.bone|
|00011380| 68 65 61 64 73 2c 20 62 | 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 |heads, b|ecause I|
|00011390| 27 6d 20 64 65 66 69 6e | 69 74 65 6c 79 20 4e 4f |'m defin|itely NO|
|000113a0| 54 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 | 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 74 |T going |to say t|
|000113b0| 68 69 73 20 74 77 69 63 | 65 2e 22 20 0a 09 46 69 |his twic|e." ..Fi|
|000113c0| 66 74 79 20 70 61 67 65 | 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c |fty page|s later,|
|000113d0| 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 | 69 72 65 20 72 75 69 6e | the ent|ire ruin|
|000113e0| 65 64 20 67 72 6f 75 70 | 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d |ed group| was com|
|000113f0| 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 | 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2e 0a |pletely |silent..|
|00011400| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 62 | 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 |Andrea b|linked t|
|00011410| 77 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 | 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 |wice and| shook h|
|00011420| 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2c | 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 |er head,| trying |
|00011430| 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 | 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 |to recov|er from |
|00011440| 74 68 65 0a 73 68 65 6c | 6c 2d 73 68 6f 63 6b 2e |the.shel|l-shock.|
|00011450| 0a 09 22 49 20 64 69 64 | 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 |.."I did|n't know|
|00011460| 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 | 5f 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c | it was |_possibl|
|00011470| 65 5f 20 74 6f 20 75 73 | 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f |e_ to us|e the wo|
|00011480| 72 64 20 27 66 75 63 6b | 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d |rd 'fuck|' that m|
|00011490| 61 6e 79 0a 77 61 79 73 | 2c 22 20 44 79 6c 61 6e |any.ways|," Dylan|
|000114a0| 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f | 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 09 22 | said so|ftly..."|
|000114b0| 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 | 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 |Well, I |suppose |
|000114c0| 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 6f | 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 69 74 |we can o|nly wait|
|000114d0| 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 | 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 | to see |how they|
|000114e0| 20 72 65 61 63 74 2e 2e | 2e 22 20 41 6e 64 72 65 | react..|." Andre|
|000114f0| 61 0a 6f 66 66 65 72 65 | 64 20 64 6f 75 62 74 66 |a.offere|d doubtf|
|00011500| 75 6c 6c 79 2e 0a 09 46 | 69 76 65 20 73 65 63 6f |ully...F|ive seco|
|00011510| 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 | 72 2c 20 61 20 64 65 61 |nds late|r, a dea|
|00011520| 66 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 | 6f 77 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d |fening h|owl of m|
|00011530| 61 73 73 20 72 61 67 65 | 20 77 65 6e 74 20 75 70 |ass rage| went up|
|00011540| 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6c | 6c 0a 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 | from al|l.corner|
|00011550| 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 | 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 0a |s of the| group..|
|00011560| 09 22 49 27 64 20 73 61 | 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 |."I'd sa|y that a|
|00011570| 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 | 68 61 74 2c 22 20 44 79 |nswers t|hat," Dy|
|00011580| 6c 61 6e 20 67 72 69 6d | 61 63 65 64 2e 20 20 41 |lan grim|aced. A|
|00011590| 20 62 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 | 20 74 72 6f 6c 6c 73 0a | band of| trolls.|
|000115a0| 63 68 61 72 67 65 64 20 | 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 |charged |past the|
|000115b0| 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 | 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 79 |m about |twenty y|
|000115c0| 61 72 64 73 20 61 77 61 | 79 2c 20 73 6d 61 73 68 |ards awa|y, smash|
|000115d0| 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 | 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 |ing what|ever hap|
|000115e0| 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f | 0a 62 65 20 69 6e 20 74 |pened to|.be in t|
|000115f0| 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 | 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 |heir way|. They |
|00011600| 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c | 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 62 79 |were fol|lowed by|
|00011610| 20 61 20 66 61 72 20 6d | 6f 72 65 20 6f 72 67 61 | a far m|ore orga|
|00011620| 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 67 72 | 6f 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 |nized gr|oup that|
|00011630| 0a 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 | 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 |.caught |sight of|
|00011640| 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f | 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 | the two| regular|
|00011650| 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 | 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 |s and be|gan to s|
|00011660| 74 61 6c 6b 20 77 61 72 | 69 6c 79 20 64 6f 77 6e |talk war|ily down|
|00011670| 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c | 65 79 2e 0a 09 22 44 61 | the all|ey..."Da|
|00011680| 6d 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 | 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 |mn. Her|e comes |
|00011690| 66 61 66 6e 69 72 20 61 | 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e |fafnir a|gain, an|
|000116a0| 64 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e | 6b 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 |d I thin|k he mea|
|000116b0| 6e 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e | 65 73 73 0a 74 68 69 73 |ns busin|ess.this|
|000116c0| 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 20 | 20 53 74 61 6e 64 69 6e | time." | Standin|
|000116d0| 67 2c 20 44 79 6c 61 6e | 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 |g, Dylan| stretch|
|000116e0| 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c | 79 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c |ed lazil|y. "Wel|
|000116f0| 6c 2c 20 68 65 79 2c 20 | 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 |l, hey, |might as|
|00011700| 20 77 65 6c 6c 0a 67 6f | 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 69 | well.go| out whi|
|00011710| 6c 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 | 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 |le doing| all of |
|00011720| 55 73 65 6e 65 74 20 61 | 20 66 61 76 6f 72 2e 22 |Usenet a| favor."|
|00011730| 0a 09 54 68 65 20 67 72 | 65 61 74 20 61 66 72 6a |..The gr|eat afrj|
|00011740| 20 62 6f 6e 65 68 65 61 | 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 | bonehea|d approa|
|00011750| 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 | 20 74 68 72 65 77 20 64 |ched and| threw d|
|00011760| 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 | 67 61 75 6e 74 6c 65 74 |own the |gauntlet|
|00011770| 0a 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 | 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2d 73 |.with a |window-s|
|00011780| 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 72 | 6f 61 72 2e 20 20 22 48 |haking r|oar. "H|
|00011790| 65 79 2c 20 62 61 64 67 | 65 72 20 62 6f 79 2d 2d |ey, badg|er boy--|
|000117a0| 20 41 73 6d 6f 64 65 61 | 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6b 69 | Asmodea|n was ki|
|000117b0| 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 | 61 0a 57 49 4e 45 20 43 |lled in |a.WINE C|
|000117c0| 45 4c 4c 41 52 21 22 0a | 09 22 57 69 6e 65 20 63 |ELLAR!".|."Wine c|
|000117d0| 65 6c 6c 61 72 2e 20 20 | 42 65 61 75 74 69 66 75 |ellar. |Beautifu|
|000117e0| 6c 2e 22 20 20 41 20 66 | 69 65 72 63 65 2c 20 66 |l." A f|ierce, f|
|000117f0| 69 78 65 64 20 67 72 69 | 6e 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 |ixed gri|n appear|
|00011800| 65 64 20 6f 6e 0a 44 79 | 6c 61 6e 27 73 20 73 6f |ed on.Dy|lan's so|
|00011810| 6f 74 2d 73 74 61 69 6e | 65 64 20 66 61 63 65 2e |ot-stain|ed face.|
|00011820| 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f | 75 27 6c 6c 20 65 78 63 | "If yo|u'll exc|
|00011830| 75 73 65 20 6d 65 2c 20 | 6d 69 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 |use me, |milady, |
|00011840| 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 | 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 |I believ|e I have|
|00011850| 0a 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 | 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 |.busines|s down t|
|00011860| 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 | 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 |he stree|t." He |
|00011870| 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 | 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 65 |started |off, the|
|00011880| 6e 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 | 2e 20 20 22 49 6e 63 69 |n paused|. "Inci|
|00011890| 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 | 2c 0a 79 6f 75 20 63 61 |dentally|,.you ca|
|000118a0| 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 46 | 6c 61 76 69 6f 20 77 68 |n tell F|lavio wh|
|000118b0| 65 6e 20 6e 65 78 74 20 | 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 20 |en next |you see |
|000118c0| 68 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 | 20 49 20 73 77 65 61 72 |him that| I swear|
|000118d0| 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 66 6c | 61 6d 65 20 68 69 6d 20 | I'll fl|ame him |
|000118e0| 64 65 61 64 0a 66 6f 72 | 20 72 65 73 75 72 72 65 |dead.for| resurre|
|000118f0| 63 74 69 6e 67 20 5f 74 | 68 61 74 5f 20 6f 6e 65 |cting _t|hat_ one|
|00011900| 2e 22 0a 09 53 68 65 20 | 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 |."..She |watched |
|00011910| 68 69 6d 20 67 6f 2c 20 | 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 |him go, |then shr|
|00011920| 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 73 | 69 67 68 65 64 2e 2e 2e |ugged, s|ighed...|
|00011930| 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e | 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 | and ran| for her|
|00011940| 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 0a 09 | 54 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 | life...|Ten minu|
|00011950| 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 | 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 |tes late|r she wa|
|00011960| 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 | 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 |s standi|ng at th|
|00011970| 65 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 | 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 |e border| again, |
|00011980| 77 68 65 72 65 0a 52 69 | 63 6b 2c 20 46 6c 61 76 |where.Ri|ck, Flav|
|00011990| 69 6f 2c 20 48 61 77 6b | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4a 6f |io, Hawk|, and Jo|
|000119a0| 68 6e 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b | 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 61 |hn Novak| were wa|
|000119b0| 69 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f | 72 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 |iting fo|r her. |
|000119c0| 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 | 67 72 6f 75 70 0a 62 65 |The news|group.be|
|000119d0| 6c 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 | 61 6e 20 65 6d 70 74 79 |low was |an empty|
|000119e0| 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 | 68 65 65 74 2c 20 77 69 | black s|heet, wi|
|000119f0| 74 68 20 6f 63 63 61 73 | 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 66 6c |th occas|ional fl|
|00011a00| 69 63 6b 65 72 73 20 76 | 69 73 69 62 6c 65 20 69 |ickers v|isible i|
|00011a10| 6e 20 74 68 65 0a 73 74 | 72 65 65 74 73 20 61 73 |n the.st|reets as|
|00011a20| 20 66 6c 61 6d 65 77 61 | 72 73 20 62 65 67 61 6e | flamewa|rs began|
|00011a30| 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 72 | 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 | to spar|k. They|
|00011a40| 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 | 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c | could s|ee the l|
|00011a50| 61 73 74 20 63 6f 6e 76 | 75 6c 73 69 6f 6e 73 0a |ast conv|ulsions.|
|00011a60| 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e | 67 2d 2d 20 6c 69 67 68 |beginnin|g-- ligh|
|00011a70| 74 73 20 64 61 72 74 69 | 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 |ts darti|ng throu|
|00011a80| 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 | 74 72 65 65 74 73 2c 20 |gh the s|treets, |
|00011a90| 74 72 6f 6c 6c 73 20 63 | 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 |trolls c|harging |
|00011aa0| 6c 69 6b 65 0a 61 6e 69 | 6d 61 6c 73 20 74 72 61 |like.ani|mals tra|
|00011ab0| 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e 20 | 61 20 6d 61 7a 65 2e 20 |pped in |a maze. |
|00011ac0| 20 41 6e 64 20 73 75 64 | 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 | And sud|denly a |
|00011ad0| 67 72 65 61 74 20 70 69 | 6c 6c 61 72 20 6f 66 20 |great pi|llar of |
|00011ae0| 66 69 72 65 20 77 65 6e | 74 20 75 70 0a 66 72 6f |fire wen|t up.fro|
|00011af0| 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 | 44 79 6c 61 6e 20 68 61 |m where |Dylan ha|
|00011b00| 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 | 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 2e |d been s|tanding.|
|00011b10| 2e 2e 20 61 20 73 65 6c | 66 2d 69 6d 6d 6f 6c 61 |.. a sel|f-immola|
|00011b20| 74 69 6e 67 20 70 79 72 | 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 |ting pyr|e that w|
|00011b30| 69 70 65 64 0a 6f 75 74 | 20 74 68 65 20 65 71 75 |iped.out| the equ|
|00011b40| 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 | 6f 66 20 66 69 76 65 20 |ivalent |of five |
|00011b50| 63 69 74 79 20 62 6c 6f | 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 0a 09 |city blo|cks. ..|
|00011b60| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 6d | 6f 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 |Andrea m|oistened|
|00011b70| 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 | 73 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c | her lip|s. "All|
|00011b80| 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 | 20 45 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 | right. | Enough |
|00011b90| 63 6c 6f 73 75 72 65 2e | 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 0a |closure.| Let's.|
|00011ba0| 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 62 | 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 |all go b|ack to a|
|00011bb0| 6c 74 2e 61 6e 74 69 73 | 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 09 |lt.antis| now."..|
|00011bc0| 22 41 62 6f 75 74 20 66 | 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 |"About f|ucking t|
|00011bd0| 69 6d 65 2c 22 20 67 72 | 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 74 68 |ime," gr|owled th|
|00011be0| 65 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 2e | 20 20 22 49 20 5f 74 6f |e Novak.| "I _to|
|00011bf0| 6c 64 5f 20 79 6f 75 20 | 73 6f 2e 22 0a 09 22 42 |ld_ you |so.".."B|
|00011c00| 65 20 6e 69 63 65 2c 20 | 4a 6f 68 6e 2c 22 20 48 |e nice, |John," H|
|00011c10| 61 77 6b 20 77 61 72 6e | 65 64 2c 20 74 61 6b 69 |awk warn|ed, taki|
|00011c20| 6e 67 20 41 6e 64 72 65 | 61 27 73 20 61 72 6d 2e |ng Andre|a's arm.|
|00011c30| 0a 09 22 57 65 6c 63 6f | 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 |.."Welco|me to th|
|00011c40| 65 20 43 61 62 61 6c 2c | 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 2d |e Cabal,| Andrea-|
|00011c50| 2d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 | 65 20 79 65 73 2c 20 74 |- becaus|e yes, t|
|00011c60| 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 | 74 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 |here mos|t defini|
|00011c70| 74 65 6c 79 0a 49 53 20 | 61 20 43 61 62 61 6c 2c |tely.IS |a Cabal,|
|00011c80| 22 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 | 20 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 2e |" smiled| Flavio.|
|00011c90| 0a 09 22 4e 6f 76 75 73 | 20 6f 72 64 6f 20 73 61 |.."Novus| ordo sa|
|00011ca0| 65 63 75 6c 6f 72 75 6d | 2c 22 20 6d 75 73 65 64 |eculorum|," mused|
|00011cb0| 20 52 69 63 6b 2e 0a 09 | 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 | Rick...|"Let's g|
|00011cc0| 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 22 | 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 20 |o home,"| sighed |
|00011cd0| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 2e 20 | 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6f |Andrea. | "It's o|
|00011ce0| 76 65 72 2e 22 0a 09 41 | 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 |ver."..A| second |
|00011cf0| 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 | 68 65 79 20 6c 65 66 74 |before t|hey left|
|00011d00| 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 | 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6c |, she ca|st one l|
|00011d10| 61 73 74 2c 20 72 65 6c | 75 63 74 61 6e 74 20 67 |ast, rel|uctant g|
|00011d20| 6c 61 6e 63 65 0a 62 61 | 63 6b 2e 20 20 46 61 72 |lance.ba|ck. Far|
|00011d30| 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 | 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 | in the |distance|
|00011d40| 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 |, on the| edge of|
|00011d50| 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 | 2d 64 61 72 6b 20 6e 65 | the now|-dark ne|
|00011d60| 77 73 67 72 6f 75 70 2c | 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c |wsgroup,| a small|
|00011d70| 0a 66 6c 61 6d 65 20 77 | 61 73 20 77 61 76 69 6e |.flame w|as wavin|
|00011d80| 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 77 69 6e 64 2d 2d 20 |g in the| wind-- |
|00011d90| 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 69 | 61 6e 74 6c 79 20 73 74 |the defi|antly st|
|00011da0| 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 20 66 | 6c 61 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 |ubborn f|lame of |
|00011db0| 44 79 6c 61 6e 27 73 0a | 54 6f 72 63 68 2e 20 20 |Dylan's.|Torch. |
|00011dc0| 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e | 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c |She foun|d hersel|
|00011dd0| 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e | 67 20 69 6e 20 73 70 69 |f smilin|g in spi|
|00011de0| 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 | 72 73 65 6c 66 3b 20 74 |te of he|rself; t|
|00011df0| 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 | 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 0a |hen she |stepped.|
|00011e00| 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 65 |through |the gate|
|00011e10| 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 | 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 |way and |was gone|
|00011e20| 2e 0a 0a 0a 09 09 09 09 | 54 48 45 20 45 4e 44 0a |........|THE END.|
|00011e30| 0a 0a 0a | |... | |
+--------+-------------------------+-------------------------+--------+--------+
