The P Project o ec Gu Gutenberg enbe g EBook Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom by Co Cory y Doc

Doctorow o ow ** Th This is a COPYR COPYRIGHTED GHTED P Project o ec Gu Gutenberg enbe g eBook eBook, De Details a Be Below ow ** ** P Please ea e follow o ow the he copy copyright gh gu guidelines de ne in n this h le. e ** Copy Copyright gh 2003 Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow Th This heade header should hou d be the he rst thing h ng seen een when v viewing ew ng this h P Project o ec Gu Gutenberg enbe g le. e P Please ea e do no not remove emove it. Do no not change o or ed edit the he heade header w without hou w written en pe permission. m on P Please ea e read ead the he "legal ega small ma p print," n and o other he information n o ma on abou about the he eBook and P Project o ec Gu Gutenberg enbe g a at the he bo bottom om o of this h le. e Included nc uded is important mpo an information n o ma on abou about you your specic pec c rights gh and restrictions e c on in n how the he le e may be u used. ed You can a also o nd ou out abou about how to o make a dona donation on to oP Project o ec Gu Gutenberg, enbe g and how to o ge get involved. nvo ved **We **Welcome come To The Wo World do of F Free ee P Plain a n Van Vanilla aE Electronic ec on c Tex Texts** ** **eBook **eBooks Readab Readable e By Bo Both h Human Humans and By Compu Computers, e S Since nce 1971** *****The *****These e eBook eBooks We Were eP Prepared epa ed By Thou Thousands and o of Vo Volunteers!***** un ee ***** T Title: e Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom Au Author: ho Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow Re Release ea e Da Date: e May May, 2005 [EBook EBook #8086C #8086C] [Yes, Ye we a are e mo more e than han one yea year ahead o of schedule] chedu e [This Th le e wa was rst po posted ed on June une 13 13, 2003 2003] Ed Edition: on 10 Language Language: Eng English h Cha Character ac e set e encod encoding: ng US-ASC US-ASCII *** START OF THE PRO PROJECT ECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EBOOK, DOWN AND OUT IN N MAG MAGIC CK KINGDOM NGDOM *** Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow Copy Copyright gh 2003 Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow doc doctorow@craphound.com o ow@c aphound com h http://www.craphound.com/down p www c aphound com down To Tor Book Books, January anua y 2003 ISBN: SBN 0765304368 -- ======= B Blurbs: u b ======= He sparkles! pa k e He zze zzes! He doe does back backips p and b breaks eak the he furniture! u n u e Sc Science ence c ction on need needs Co Cory y Doc Doctorow! o ow B Bruce uce S Sterling e ng Au Author, ho The Hacke Hacker C Crackdown ackdown and D Distraction ac on # In n the he true ue spirit p o of Wa Walt D Disney, ney Doc Doctorow o ow ha has ripped pped a pa part o of ou our common cu culture, ue m mixed xed it w with hab brilliant an story, o y and bu burned ned into n o ou our cu culture u e a new set e o of meme memes that ha w will be w with hu us for o a gene generation a on a at least. ea Law Lawrence ence Le Lessig g Au Author, ho The Fu Future u eo of Ideas dea # Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow doe doesn't n just u w write e abou about the he future u u e - I think h nk he lives ve there. he e Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom isn't n just u a really ea y good read, ead it's a also, o like ke the he be best k kind nd o of c ction, on a k kind nd o of gu guide de book book. See the he Tomo Tomorrowland ow and o of Tomo Tomorrow ow today, oday and wh while e you you're e there, he e why no not d drop op by F Frontierland, on e and and the he Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion on a as we well? ? (It's the he Man Mansion on that's ha the he haun haunted ed hea heart o of this h book book.) Co Cory y make makes me feel ee no nostalgic a g c for o the he future u u e-ad dizzying, zzy ng ye yet rather a he p pleasant ea an sensation, en a on a as if I'm m spiraling p a ng down the he tracks ack o of Space Moun Mountain a n ove over and ove over aga again. n V Visit the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom and live ve forever! o eve Ke Kelly yL Link nk Au Author, ho S Stranger ange Th Things ng Happen # Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom is the he mo most en entertaining e a n ng and exc exciting ng science c ence c ction on story o y I've ve read ead in n the he last a few ew yea years. I love ove page- turners, u ne e especially pec a y when they hey a are ea as unu unusual ua a as this h nove novel. I p predict ed c b big g things h ng for o Down and Ou Out -- it cou could d ea easily y become a b breakout eakou gen genree- bu buster. e Ma Mark kF Frauenfelder auen e de Con Contributing bu ng Ed Editor, o W Wired ed Magaz Magazine ne # Imagine mag ne you woke up one day and Wa Walt D Disney ney had taken aken ove over the he wo world. d No Not on only y that, ha bu but money money's been abo abolished hed and somebody's omebody deve developed oped the he Cu Cure e for o Dea Death. h We Welcome come to o the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society--and e y--and make sure u e you you're e strapped apped in n tight, gh becau because e it's go going ng to o be a w wild d ride. de In n a wo world d whe where e eve everyone's yone w wishes he can come true, ue one man returns e u n to o the he o original, g na c crumbling umb ng c city yo of d dreams--Disney eam --D ney Wo World. d Here He e in n the he spiritual p ua cen center e o of the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society e y he struggles ugg e to o nd and p preserve e e ve the he o original, g na human face ace o of the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom aga against n the he young young, po post-human -human and increasingly nc ea ng y a alien en inheritors nhe o o of the he Ea Earth. h Now that ha any expe experience ence can be simulated, mu a ed human relationships e a on h p become eve ever mo more e fragile; ag e and to o Julius, u u the he co corny, ny mechan mechanical ca gho ghosts o of the he Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion on have come to o seem eem like ke a p precious ec ou link nk to o a pa past when we cou could d tell e the he real ea from om the he simulated, mu a ed the he true ue from om the he false. a e Co Cory y Doc Doctorow--cultural o ow--cu u a c critic, c D Disneyphile, neyph e and u ultimate ma e Ea Early y Adop Adopter e --u --uses e language anguage w with h the he reckless eck e condence o of the he Bea Beat poe poets. Ye Yet beh behind nd the he dazz dazzling ng p prose o e and v vibrant b an cha characters ac e lie e ideas dea we should hou d a all pay heed to. o The future u u e rushes u he on like ke a p plummeting umme ng roller o e coa coaster, e and it's ha hard d to o see ee whe where e we we're e go going. ng Bu But a at least ea w with h this h book Doc Doctorow o ow ha has g given ven u us a map o of the he pa park. k Ka Karl Sch Schroeder oede Au Author, ho Pe Permanence manence # Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow is the he mo most interesting n e e ng new SF w writer e I've ve come ac across o in n yea years.? ? He starts a ou out a at the he po point n whe where eo older de SF w writers' e speculations pecu a on end end.? ? It's a d distinct nc p pleasure ea u e to og give ve h him m some ome Whu Whufe. e Rudy Rucke Rucker Au Author, ho Spaceland Space and # Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow rocks! ock I check h his b blog og abou about ten en times me a day day, becau because e he he's a always way one o of the he rst to o no notice ce a ma major o incursion ncu on from om the he social-technological-pop-cultural oc a - echno og ca -pop-cu u a future, u u e and h his vo voice ce is a compe compelling ng veh vehicle c e for o new news from om the he future. u u e Down and Ou Out in n The Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom is abou about a wo world d that ha is v visible b e in n its ou outlines ne today, oday if you know whe where e to o look, ook from om reputation epu a on systems y em to o pee peer-to-peer - o-pee adhoc adhocracies. ac e Doc Doctorow o ow know knows whe where e to o look, ook and how to o wo word-paint d-pa n the he rest e o of u us into n o the he p picture. c u e Howa Howard d Rhe Rheingold ngo d Au Author, ho Sma Smart Mob Mobs # Doc Doctorow o ow is mo more e than han just u a sick ck m mind nd looking ook ng to o twist w the he pe perceptions cep on o of those ho e who whose e realities ea e remain ema n unco uncorrupted up ed - though hough that ha should hou d be enough recommendation ecommenda on to o read ead h his wo work. k *Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom* ngdom* is b black ack comed comedic, c sci- c - p prophecy ophecy on the he dange dangers o of surrendering u ende ng ou our con consensual en ua ha hallucination uc na on to o the he regime. eg me Fun to o read, ead bu but d difcult cu to o sleep eep a afterwards. e wa d Doug Douglas a Ru Rushkoff hko Au Author ho o of Cybe Cyberia a and Med Media aV Virus! u # "Wow! Wow D Disney ney imagineering mag nee ng mee meets nano nanotechnology, echno ogy the he reputation epu a on economy economy, and Ray Ku Kurzweil's zwe transhuman an human future. uue A As much fun un a as Nea Neal S Stephenson's ephen on Snow C Crash, a h and a as packed w with hm mind nd bend bending ng ideas dea abou about social oc a change changes ca cascading cad ng from om the he frontiers on e o of science." c ence T Tim mO O'Reilly Re y Pub Publisher he and Founde Founder, O O'Reilly Re y and A Associates oc a e # Doc Doctorow o ow ha has c created ea ed a rich ch and exc exciting ng v vision on o of the he future, u u e and then hen w wrote o e a pagepage-turner u ne o of a story o y in n it. I cou couldn't dn pu put the he book down down. B Bruce uce Schne Schneier e Au Author, ho Sec Secrets e and L Lies e # Co Cory y Doc Doctorow o ow is one o of ou our be best new w writers: e smart, ma da daring, ng savvy, avvy en entertaining, e a n ng amb ambitious, ou p plugged-in, ugged- n and a as good a gu guide de to o the he w wired ed wo world do of the he twenty-rst wen y- cen century u y that ha stretches e che ou out be before o eu us a as you you're e go going ng to o nd nd. Ga Gardner dne Dozo Dozois Ed Editor, o A Asimov's mov SF # Co Cory y Doc Doctorow's o ow "Down Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom" ngdom tells e ag gripping, pp ng fast-paced a -paced story o y that ha h hinges nge on thought-provoking hough -p ovok ng ex extrapolation apo a on from om today's oday technical echn ca realities. ea e Th This is the he sort o o of book that ha cap captures u e and dene denes the he spirit p o of a turning u n ng po point n in n human h history o y when ou our tools oo remake emake ou ourselves e ve and ou our wo world. d M Mitch ch Kapo Kapor Founde Founder, Lo Lotus, u Inc., nc coco-founder ounde E Electronic ec on c F Frontier on e Founda Foundation on -- ======================= A no note e abou about this h book book: ======================= "Down Down and Ou Out in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom" ngdom is my rst nove novel. It's an ac actual, ua nono-foolin' oo n wo words-on-paper d -on-pape book book, pub published hed by the he good peop people ea at To Tor Book Books in n New Yo York kC City. y You can buy this h book in n stores oe o or on online, ne by following o ow ng links nk like ke this h one one: h http://www.craphound.com/down/buy.php p www c aphound com down buy php So So, wha what's w with h this h le? e? Good que question. on I'm m releasing e ea ng the he en entire e text ex o of this h book a as a free, ee freely ee y redistributable ed bu ab e e-book e-book. You can down download oad it, pu put it on a P2P ne net, pu put it on you your site, e ema email it to o a friend, end and and, if you you're e add addicted c ed to o dead trees, ee you can even p print n it. Why am I do doing ng this h thing? h ng? We Well, it's a long ong story, o y bu but to o shorten ho en it up up: rst-time - me nove novelists have a tough ough row ow to o hoe hoe. Ou Our pub publishers he don don't have a lot o o of p promotional omo ona budge budget to o throw h ow a at unknown factors ac o like ke u us. Mo Mostly, y we rise e and fall a ba based ed on wo word-of-mouth. d-o -mou h I'm m no not bad a at wo word-ofd-o - mou mouth. h I have a b blog, og Bo Boing ng Bo Boing ng (http://boingboing.net), h p bo ngbo ng ne whe where e I do a * *lot* o *o of wo word-of-mouthing. d-o -mou h ng I compu compulsively ve y tell e friends end and strangers ange abou about things h ng that ha I like. ke And telling e ng peop people e abou about stuff u I like ke is *way* *way*, *way* ea easier e if I can just u send end it to o 'em. em Way ea easier. e Wha What's mo more, e P2P ne nets k kick ck a all k kinds nd o of a ass. Mo Most o of the he book books, mu music c and movies mov e eve ever released e ea ed a are e no not ava available ab e for o sale, a e anywhe anywhere e in n the he wo world. d In n the he b brief e time me that ha P2P ne nets have ou ourished, hed the he ad-hoc ma masses e o of the he Internet n e ne have managed to o pu put just u abou about *eve *everything* y h ng* on online. ne Wha What's mo more, e they've hey ve done it for o cheape cheaper than han any o other he a archiving/revival ch v ng ev va e effort o eve ever. I'm m a stone one infovore n ovo e and this h k kinda nda Internet n e ne m mishegas hega g gives ve me a serious e ou frisson on o of futurosity. u u o y Yeah Yeah, there he e a are e legal ega p problems. ob em Yeah Yeah, it's ha hard d to o gu gure e ou out how peop people ea are e gonna make money do doing ng it. Yeah Yeah, there he e is a lot o o of social oc a upheava upheaval and a serious e ou threat h ea to o innovation, nnova on freedom, eedom bu business, ne and wha whatnot. no It's you your ba basic c end-o end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it - he-wo d-a -we-know- scenario, cena o and a as a science c ence c ction on w writer, e end-o end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it - he-wo d-a -we-know- scenaria cena a a are e my stock-inock- n- trade. ade I'm me especially pec a y g grateful a e u to o my pub publisher, he To Tor Book Books (http://www.tor.com) h p www o com and my ed editor, o Pa Patrick ck N Nielsen e en Hayden (http://nielsenhayden.com/electrolite) h p n e enhayden com e ec o e for o be being ng hep enough to o let e me try y ou out this h expe experiment. men A All that ha said, a d he here's e the he dea deal: I'm m releasing e ea ng this h book unde under a license cen e deve developed oped by the he C Creative ea ve Common Commons p project o ec (http://creativecommons.org/). h p c ea vecommon o g Th This is a p project o ec that ha lets e peop people e like ke me roll o our own license ou cen e ag agreements eemen for o the he d distribution bu on o of ou our c creative ea ve wo work k unde under terms e m similar m a to o those ho e emp employed oyed by the he F Free/Open ee Open Sou Source ce So Software wa e movemen movement. It's a g great ea p project, o ec and I'm mp proud oud to o be a pa part o of it. He Here's e a summary umma y o of the he license: cen e h http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/1.0 p c ea vecommon o g cen e by-nd-nc 1 0 A Attribution. bu on The licensor cen o pe permits m o others he to o copy copy, d distribute, bu e d display, p ay and pe perform o m the he wo work. k In n return, e u n licensees cen ee mu must g give ve the he o original g na au author ho c credit. ed No De Derivative va ve Wo Works. k The licensor cen o pe permits m o others he to o copy copy, d distribute, bu e d display p ay and pe perform o m on only y una unaltered e ed cop copies e o of the he wo work k -- no not de derivative va ve wo works k ba based ed on it. 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Th This L License cen e may no not be mod modied ed w without hou the he mu mutual ua w written en ag agreement eemen o of the he L Licensor cen o and You You. -- ======== PROLOGUE ======== I lived ved long ong enough to o see ee the he cu cure e for o dea death; h to o see ee the he rise eo of the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society, e y to o learn ea n ten en languages; anguage to o compo compose e three h ee symphonies; ymphon e to o realize ea ze my boyhood d dream eam o of taking ak ng up residence e dence in nD Disney ney Wo World; d to o see ee the he dea death ho of the he wo workplace kp ace and o of wo work. k I neve never thought hough I'd d live ve to o see ee the he day when Keep A-Mov A-Movin' n Dan wou would d dec decide de to o deadhead un until the he hea heat dea death ho of the he Un Universe. ve e Dan wa was in nh his second econd o or third h db blush u ho of you youth h when I rst me met h him, m sometime ome me late-XXI. a e-XX He wa was a rangy angy cowpoke cowpoke, appa apparent en 25 o or so, o a all rawhide awh de squint-lines qu n - ne and sunburned unbu ned neck, boo neck boots wo worn n thin h n and innitely nn e y com comfortable. o ab e I wa was in n the he m middle dd e o of my Chem thesis, he my fourth ou h Doc Doctorate, o a e and he wa was taking ak ng a b break eak from om Sav Saving ng the he Wo World, d ch chilling ng on campu campus in n To Toronto on o and co core-dumping e-dump ng for o some ome poo poor An Anthro h o ma major. o We hooked up a at the he G Grad ad S Students' uden Un Union on -- the he GSU GSU, o or Gazoo for o those ho e who knew -- on a bu busy yF Friday day n night, gh spring-ish. p ng- h I wa was gh ghting ng a co coral-slow a - ow ba battle e for o a stool oo a at the he scratched c a ched ba bar, inching nch ng my way c closer o e eve every y time me the he p press e o of bod bodies e shifted, h ed and he had one o of the he few ew seats, ea surrounded u ounded by a litter e o of c cigarette ga e e junk unk and emp empties, e c clearly ea y encamped encamped. Some du duration a on into n o my foray, o ay he cocked h his head a at me and raised a ed a sunun- b bleached eached eyeb eyebrow. ow "You You ge get any c closer, o e son, on and we we're e go going ng to o have to o ge get a p pre-nup." e-nup I wa was appa apparent en forty o yo or so, o and I thought hough abou about b bridling d ng a at be being ng ca called ed son, on bu but I looked ooked into n oh his eye eyes and dec decided ded that ha he had enough realtime ea me that ha he cou could d ca call me son on any anytime me he wan wanted. ed I backed o off a little e and apo apologized. og zed He struck uck a c cig g and b blew ew a pungen pungent, strong ong p plume ume ove over the he ba bartender's ende head head. "Don't Don wo worry y abou about it. I'm mp probably obab y a little e ove over accu accustomed omed to o pe personal ona space." pace I cou couldn't dn remember emembe the he last a time me I'd d hea heard d anyone on-wo on-world d talk a k abou about pe personal ona space. pace W With h the he mo mortality a y rate a ea at ze zero o and the he b birth-rate h- a e a at non-ze non-zero, o the he wo world d wa was inexorably nexo ab y acc accreting e ng a den dense e ca carpet pe o of peop people, e even w with h the he m migratory g a o y and deadhead d drains a n on the he popu population. a on "You've You ve been jaunting?" aun ng? I a asked ked -- h his eye eyes we were e too oo sharp ha p for o h him m to o have m missed ed an instant's n an expe experience ence to o deadhead deadheading. ng He chuck chuckled. ed "No No sir, no not me me. I'm m into n o the he k kind nd o of macho shitheadery h heade y that ha you on only y come ac across o on-wo on-world. d Jaunting's aun ng for o p play; ay I need wo work." k The ba bar-glass -g a tinkled nk ed a coun counterpoint. e po n I took ook a momen moment to o con conjure u e a HUD w with hh his Whu Whufe e score co e on it. I had to o resize e ze the he w window ndow -- he had too oo many ze zeroes oe to o t on my standard anda d d display. p ay I tried ed to o ac act coo cool, bu but he caugh caught the he upwa upwards d ick ck o of my eye eyes and then hen their he involuntary nvo un a y w widening. den ng He tried ed a little e awaw-shucksery, huck e y gave it up and let e ap prideful de u g grin n show. how "I try y no not to o pay it much m mind. nd Some peop people, e they hey ge get ove overly yg grateful." a e u He mu must've ve seen een my eye eyes ick ck up aga again, n to o pu pull h his Whu Whufe e h history. o y "Wait, Wa don don't go do doing ng that ha -- I'll tell e you abou about it, you really ea y go got to o know know. "Damn, Damn you know know, it's so o ea easy y to o ge get u used ed to o life ew without hou hyperlinks. hype nk You You'd d think h nk you you'd d really ea y m miss 'em, em bu but you don don't." And it c clicked cked for o me me. He wa was a m missionary ona y -- one o of those ho e fringenge- dwe dwellers e who ac act a as em emissary a y from om the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society e y to o the he ben benighted gh ed co corners ne o of the he wo world d whe where, e for o wha whatever eve reasons, ea on they hey wan want to od die, e starve, a ve and choke on pe petrochem ochem wa waste. e It's amaz amazing ng that ha these he e commun communities e survive u v ve mo more e than han a gene generation; a on in n the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society e yp proper, ope we u usually ua y ou outlive ve ou our de detractors. ac o The m missionaries ona e don don't have such uch a h high gh success ucce rate a e -- you have to o be aw awfully u y conv convincing nc ng to o ge get through h ough to o a cu culture u e that's ha a already eady successfully ucce u y resisted e ed nea nearly y a cen century's u y wo worth ho of p propaganda opaganda -- bu but when you conve convert a who whole ev village, age you acc accrue ue a all the he Whu Whufe e they hey have to og give. ve Mo More eo often, en m missionaries ona e end up ge getting ng refreshed e e hed from om a backup a after e they hey a aren't en hea heard d from om for o a decade o or so. o I'd d neve never me met one in n the he e esh h be before. o e "How How many successful ucce u m missions on have you had? had?" I a asked. ked "Figured F gu ed it ou out, huh? I've ve just u come o off my fth h in n twenty wen y yea years -- coun counterrevolutionaries e evo u ona e h hidden dden ou out in n the he o old d Cheyenne Moun Mountain a n NORAD site, e still there he e a gene generation a on later." a e He sandpapered andpape ed h his wh whiskers ke w with hh his nge ngertips. p "Their The pa parents en wen went to og ground ound a after e their he life's e savings av ng van vanished, hed and they hey had no u use e for o tech ech any mo more e advanced than han a rie. e P Plenty en y o of those, ho e though." hough He spun pun a fascinating a c na ng ya yarn n then, hen how he slowly ow y ga gained ned the he accep acceptance ance o of the he moun mountain-dwellers, a n-dwe e and then hen their he trust, u and then hen be betrayed ayed it in n subtle, ub e benecen benecent way ways: introducing n oduc ng F Free ee Ene Energy gy to o their he g greenhouses, eenhou e then hen a geng gengineered nee ed c crop op o or two, wo then hen cu curing ng a coup couple e dea deaths, h slowly ow y inching nch ng them hem toward owa d the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society, e y un until they hey cou couldn't dn remember emembe why they hey hadn hadn't wan wanted ed to o be a pa part o of it from om the he start. a Now they hey we were e mo mostly yo off-world, -wo d exp exploring o ng toy oy frontiers on e w with h un unlimited m ed ene energy gy and un unlimited m ed supplies upp e and deadhead deadheading ng through h ough the he du dull times me en route. ou e "I gue guess it'd d be too oo much o of a shock hock for o them hem to o stay ay on-wo on-world. d They think h nk o of u us a as the he enemy enemy, you know -- they hey had a all k kinds nd o of p plans an d drawn awn up for o when we invaded nvaded them hem and took ook them hem away away; ho hollow ow suicide u c de teeth, ee h boobybooby-traps, ap fall-back-and-rendezvous a -back-and- endezvou po points n for o the he survivors. u v vo They just u can can't ge get ove over ha hating ng u us, even though hough we don don't even know they hey ex exist. O Off-world, -wo d they hey can p pretend e end that ha they're hey e still living v ng rough ough and ha hard." d He rubbed ubbed his ch h chin n aga again, n h his ha hard d ca calluses ue g grating a ng ove over h his wh whiskers. ke "But Bu for o me me, the he real ea rough ough life e is right gh he here, e on-wo on-world. d The little e enc enclaves, ave each one is like ke an a alternate e na e h history o yo of human humanity y -- wha what if we we'd d taken aken the he F Free ee Ene Energy, gy bu but no not deadhead deadheading? ng? Wha What if we we'd d taken aken deadhead deadheading, ng bu but on only y for o the he c critically ca y ill, no not for o peop people e who d didn't dn wan want to o be bo bored ed on long ong bu bus-rides? - de ? O Or no hype hyperlinks, nk no adhoc adhocracy, acy no Whu Whufe? e? Each one is d different e en and wonde wonderful." u I have a stupid up d hab habit o of a arguing gu ng for o the he sake ake o of, and I found ound my myself e saying, ay ng "Wonderful? Wonde u ? Oh sure, u e no nothing h ng ne ner than, han oh oh, let's e see, ee dy dying, ng starving, a v ng freezing, eez ng b broiling, o ng k killing, ng c cruelty ue y and ignorance gno ance and pa pain n and m misery. e y I know I sure u em miss it." Keep A-Mov A-Movin' n Dan snorted. no ed "You You think h nk a junkie unk e m misses e sobriety?" ob e y? I knocked on the he ba bar. "Hello! He o The There ea aren't en any junkies unk e anymo anymore!" e He struck uck ano another he c cig. g "But Bu you know wha what a junkie unk e _ _is_, _ right? gh ? Junkies unk e don don't m miss sobriety, ob e y becau because e they hey don don't remember emembe how sharp ha p eve everything y h ng wa was, how the he pa pain n made the he joy oy sweeter. wee e We can can't remember emembe wha what it wa was like ke to o wo work k to o ea earn n ou our keep keep; to o wo worry y that ha there he e m might gh no not be _enough_ _enough_, that ha we m might gh ge get sick ck o or ge get h hit by a bu bus. We don don't remember emembe wha what it wa was like ke to o take ake chance chances, and we sure u ea as shit h don don't remember emembe wha what it felt e like ke to o have them hem pay o off." He had a po point. n He Here e I wa was, on only y in n my second econd o or third h d adu adulthood, hood and a already eady ready eady to o toss o it a all in n and do something, ome h ng _any _anything_, h ng_ e else. e He had a po point n -- bu but I wa wasn't n abou about to o adm admit it. "So So you say. ay I say, ay I take ake a chance when I strike ke up a conve conversation a on in n a ba bar, when I fall a in n love. ove . . And wha what abou about the he deadhead deadheads? ? Two peop people e I know know, they hey just u wen went deadhead for o ten en thousand hou and yea years! Te Tell me that's ha no not taking ak ng a chance chance!" T Truth u h be told, od a almost mo eve everyone yone I'd d known in n my e eighty-some gh y- ome yea years we were e deadhead deadheading ng o or jaunting aun ng o or just u _gone_ _gone_. Lone Lonely y day days, then. hen "Brother, B o he that's ha comm committing ng ha half-assed -a ed suicide. u c de The way we we're e go going, ng they'll hey be lucky ucky if someone omeone doe doesn't n just u switch w ch 'em em o off when it come comes time me to o reanimate. ean ma e In n ca case e you haven haven't no noticed, ced it's ge getting ng a little ec crowded owded a around ound he here." e I made p pish-tosh h- o h sounds ound and w wiped ped o off my forehead o ehead w with h a ba bar-napkin -napk n -- the he Gazoo wa was bea beastly y ho hot on summer umme n nights. gh "Uh-huh, Uh-huh just u like ke the he wo world d wa was ge getting ng a little ec crowded owded a hund hundred ed yea years ago ago, be before o eF Free ee Ene Energy. gy L Like ke it wa was ge getting ng too oo g greenhousey, eenhou ey too oo nukey nukey, too oo ho hot o or too oo co cold. d We xed it then, hen we we'll x it aga again n when the he time me come comes. I'm m gonna be he here e in n ten en thousand hou and yea years, you damn be betcha, cha bu but I think h nk I'll do it the he long ong way a around." ound He cocked h his head aga again, n and gave it some ome thought. hough If it had been any o of the he o other he g grad ad students, uden I'd d have a assumed umed he wa was g grepping epp ng for o some ome bo bolstering e ng factoids ac o d to o support uppo h his nex next sally. a y Bu But w with hh him, m I just u knew he wa was thinking h nk ng abou about it, the he o old-fashioned d- a h oned way way. "I think h nk that ha if I'm m still he here e in n ten en thousand hou and yea years, I'm m go going ng to o be c crazy azy a as he hell. Ten thousand hou and yea years, pa pal! Ten thousand hou and yea years ago ago, the he state-of-the-art a e-o - he-a wa was a goa goat. You really ea y think h nk you you're e go going ng to o be any anything h ng recognizably ecogn zab y human in n a hund hundred ed cen centuries? u e ? Me Me, I'm m no not interested n e e ed in n be being ng a po post-person. -pe on I'm m go going ng to o wake up one day day, and I'm m go going ng to o say, ay 'Well, We I gue guess I've ve seen een abou about enough enough,' and that'll ha be my last a day day." I had seen een whe where e he wa was go going ng w with h this, h and I had stopped opped pay paying ng a attention en on wh while e I readied ead ed my response. e pon e I p probably obab y should hou d have pa paid d mo more ea attention. en on "But Bu why? Why no not just u deadhead for o a few ew cen centuries, u e see ee if there's he e any anything h ng that ha takes ake you your fancy, ancy and if no not, back to o sleep eep for o a few ew mo more? e? Why do any anything h ng so o _na _nal_?" _? He emba embarrassed a ed me by mak making ng a show how o of thinking h nk ng it ove over aga again, n mak making ng me feel ee like ke I wa was just u a ha half-pissed -p ed g glib b po poltroon. oon "I suppose uppo e it's becau because e no nothing h ng e else e is. I've ve a always way known that ha someday, omeday I wa was go going ng to o stop op mov moving, ng stop op seeking, eek ng stop op k kicking, ck ng and have done w with h it. The There'll e come a day when I don don't have any anything h ng left e to o do do, excep except stop." op # On campu campus, they hey ca called ed h him m Keep-A-Mov Keep-A-Movin' n Dan Dan, becau because eo of h his cowboy v vibe be and becau because eo of h his lifestyle, e y e and he somehow omehow g grew ew to o take ake ove over eve every y conve conversation a on I had for o the he nex next six x mon months. h Ip pinged nged h his Whu Whufe e a few ew times, me and no noticed ced that ha it wa was c climbing mb ng steadily ead y upwa upward da as he accumu accumulated a ed mo more ee esteem eem from om the he peop people e he me met. I'd dp pretty e y much p pissed ed away mo most o of my Whu Whufe e -- a all the he savings av ng from om the he symphonies ymphon e and the he rst three h ee theses he e -- d drinking nk ng my myself e stupid up d a at the he Gazoo Gazoo, hogg hogging ng library b a y terminals, e m na pe pestering e ng p profs, o un until I'd d expended a all the he respect e pec anyone had eve ever a afforded o ded me me. A All excep except Dan Dan, who who, for o some ome reason, ea on stood ood me to o regular egu a bee beers and mea meals and mov movies. e I go got to o feeling ee ng like ke I wa was someone omeone special pec a -- no not eve everyone yone had a chum a as exo exotic ca as Keep-A-Mov Keep-A-Movin' n Dan Dan, the he legendary egenda y m missionary ona y who v visited ed the he on only yp places ace left e that ha we were ec closed o ed to o the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society. e y I can can't say ay for o sure u e why he hung a around ound w with h me me. He men mentioned oned once o or twice w ce that ha he he'd d liked ked my symphonies, ymphon e and he he'd d read ead my E Ergonomics gonom c thesis he on app applying y ng theme-park heme-pa k c crowd-control owd-con o techniques echn que in nu urban ban settings, e ng and liked ked wha what I had to o say ay there. he e Bu But I think h nk it came down to ou us hav having ng a good time me need needling ng each o other. he I'd d talk a k to oh him m abou about the he va vast ca carpet pe o of the he future u u e un unrolling o ng be before o eu us, o of the he ce certainty a n y that ha we wou would d encoun encounter e a alien en intelligences n e gence some ome day day, o of the he un unimaginable mag nab e frontiers on e open to o each o of u us. He He'd d tell e me that ha deadhead deadheading ng wa was a strong ong indicator nd ca o that ha one one's pe personal ona reservoir e e vo o of introspection n o pec on and c creativity ea v y wa was d dry; y and that ha w without hou struggle, ugg e there he e is no real ea v victory. c o y Th This wa was a good gh ght, one we cou could d have a thousand hou and times me w without hou resolving. e o v ng I'd d ge get h him m to o concede that ha Whu Whufe e recaptured ecap u ed the he true ue e essence ence o of money money: in n the he o old d day days, if you we were eb broke oke bu but respected, e pec ed you wou wouldn't dn starve; a ve con contrariwise, a w e if you we were e rich ch and ha hated, ed no sum um cou could d buy you security ecu y and peace peace. By mea measuring u ng the he thing h ng that ha money really ea y represented ep e en ed -- you your pe personal ona cap capital a w with h you your friends end and ne neighbors ghbo -- you mo more e accu accurately a e y gauged you your success. ucce And then hen he he'd d lead ead me down a subtle, ub e ca carefully e u y ba baited ed trail a that ha led ed to o my a allowing ow ng that ha wh while, e ye yes, we m might gh someday omeday encoun encounter e a alien en species pec e w with hw wild d and fabulous abu ou way ways, that ha right gh now now, there he e wa was a slightly gh y dep depressing e ng homogene homogeneity y to o the he wo world. d On a ne spring p ng day day, I de defended ended my thesis he to o two wo embod embodied ed human humans and one p prof o who whose e body wa was ou out for o an ove overhaul, hau who whose e con consciousness c ou ne wa was p present e en v via a speakerphone peake phone from om the he compu computer e whe where e it wa was resting. e ng They a all liked ked it. I co collected ec ed my sheepskin heep k n and wen went ou out hun hunting ng for o Dan in n the he sweet, wee owe ower-stinking - nk ng streets. ee He He'd d gone gone. The An Anthro h o ma major o he he'd d been torturing o u ng w with hh his wa war-stories - o e said a d that ha they'd hey d w wrapped apped up that ha mo morning, n ng and he he'd d headed to o the he wa walled ed c city yo of T Tijuana, uana to o take ake h his shot ho w with h the he de descendants cendan o of a p platoon a oon o of US Ma Marines ne who who'd d settled e ed there he e and cu cut themselves hem e ve o off from om the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society. e y So I wen went to oD Disney ney Wo World. d In n de deference e ence to o Dan Dan, I took ook the he ight gh in n realtime, ea me in n the he m minuscule nu cu e cab cabin n reserved e e ved for o those ho e o of u us who stubbornly ubbo n y refused e u ed to o be frozen ozen and stacked acked like ke co cordwood dwood for o the he two wo hou hour ight. gh I wa was the he on only y one taking ak ng the he trip p in n realtime, ea me bu but a ight gh a attendant endan du dutifully u y served e ved me a u urine-sample-sized ne- amp e- zed o orange ange juice u ce and a rubbery, ubbe y pungen pungent, chee cheese e ome omelet. e I stared a ed ou out the he w windows ndow a at the he innite nn e c clouds oud wh while e the he au autopilot op o banked a around ound the he turbulence, u bu ence and wonde wondered ed when I'd d see ee Dan nex next. ========= CHAPTER 1 ========= My g girlfriend end wa was 15 pe percent cen o of my age age, and I wa was o old-fashioned d- a h oned enough that ha it bugged me me. He Her name wa was L Lil, and she he wa was second-generation econd-gene a on D Disney ney Wo World, d he her pa parents en be being ng among the he o original g na ad-hoc ad-hocracy acy that ha took ook ove over the he managemen management o of L Liberty be y Squa Square e and Tom Sawye Sawyer Island. and She wa was, qu quite e literally, e a y raised a ed in n Wa Walt D Disney ney Wo World d and it showed. howed It showed. howed She wa was nea neat and e efcient c en in n he her eve every y little e thing, h ng from om he her shining h n ng red ed ha hair to o he her ca careful e u accoun accounting ng o of each gea gear and cog in n the he an animatronics ma on c that ha we were e in n he her cha charge. ge He Her folks o k we were e in n canop canopic c jars a in nK Kissimmee, mmee deadhead deadheading ng for o a few ew cen centuries. u e On a muggy Wedne Wednesday, day we dang dangled ed ou our feet ee ove over the he edge o of the he L Liberty be y Be Belle's e riverboat ve boa p pier, e wa watching ch ng the he listless e Con Confederate ede a e ag ove over Fort Langho Fo Langhorn n on Tom Sawye Sawyer Island and by moon moonlight. gh The Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom wa was a all c closed o ed up and eve every y last a gue guest had been cha chased ed ou out the he ga gate e unde underneath nea h the he Ma Main nS Street ee train a n station, a on and we we were e ab able e to ob breathe ea he a heavy sigh gh o of relief, e e shuck huck pa parts o of ou our co costumes, ume and relax e ax together oge he wh while e the he c cicadas cada sang. ang I wa was mo more e than han a cen century u yo old, d bu but there he e wa was still a k kind nd o of mag magic c in n hav having ng my a arm ma around ound the he wa warm, m ne shoulders hou de o of a g girl by moon moonlight, gh h hidden dden from om the he hu hustle eo of the he c cleaning ean ng teams eam by the he turnstiles, un e b breathing ea h ng the he wa warm, m mo moist a air. L Lil p plumped umped he her head aga against n my shoulder hou de and gave me a bu buttery e y k kiss unde under my jaw. aw "Her He name wa was McG McGill," I sang, ang gen gently. y "But Bu she he ca called ed he herself e L Lil," she he sang, ang wa warm mb breath ea h on my co collarbones. a bone "And And eve everyone yone knew he her a as Nancy Nancy," I sang. ang I'd d been startled a ed to o know that ha she he knew the he Bea Beatles. e They They'd d been o old d new news in n my you youth, h a after e a all. Bu But he her pa parents en had g given ven he her a thorough ho ough -- if ec eclectic ec c -- educa education. on "Want Wan to o do a wa walk-through?" k- h ough? she he a asked. ked It wa was one o of he her favorite avo e du duties, e exp exploring o ng eve every y inch nch o of the he rides de in n he her ca care ew with h the he lights gh on on, a after e the he ho horde de o of tourists ou had gone gone. We bo both h liked ked to o see ee the he underpinnings unde p nn ng o of the he mag magic. c Maybe that ha wa was why I kep kept p picking ck ng a at the he relationship. e a on h p "I'm m a little e pooped pooped. Le Let's sit a wh while e longer, onge if you don don't m mind." nd She heaved a d dramatic ama c sigh. gh "Oh, Oh a all right. gh O Old d man man." She reached eached up and gen gently y tweaked weaked my n nipple, pp e and I gave a satisfying a y ng little e jump. ump I think h nk the he age d difference e ence bo bothered he ed he her, too, oo though hough she he teased ea ed me for o letting e ng it ge get to o me me. "I think h nk I'll be ab able e to o manage a totter o e through h ough the he Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion, on if you just u g give ve me a momen moment to o rest e my bu bursitis." I felt e he her smile m e aga against n my shirt. h She loved oved the he Man Mansion; on loved oved to o turn u n on the he ba ballroom oom gho ghosts and dance their he wa waltz zw with h them hem on the he du dusty y oo oor, loved oved to o try y and stare a e down the he ma marble b e bu busts in n the he library b a y that ha followed o owed you your gaze a as you pa passed. ed I liked ked it too, oo bu but I really ea y liked ked just u sitting ng there he e w with h he her, wa watching ch ng the he wa water e and the he trees. ee I wa was just u ge getting ng ready eady to o go when I hea heard d a soft o _p _ping_ ng_ inside n de my coch cochlea. ea "Damn," Damn I said. a d "I've ve go got a ca call." "Tell Te them hem you you're e bu busy," y she he said. a d "I w will," I said, a d and an answered we ed the he ca call subvocally. ubvoca y "Julius u u he here." e "Hi, H Julius. u u It's Dan Dan. You go got a m minute?" nu e? I knew a thousand hou and Dan Dans, bu but I recognized ecogn zed the he vo voice ce immediately, mmed a e y though hough it'd d been ten en yea years since nce we last a go got d drunk unk a at the he Gazoo together. oge he I mu muted ed the he subvocal ubvoca and said, a d "Lil, L I've ve go got to o take ake this. h Do you m mind?" nd? "Oh, Oh _no_ _no_, no not a at a all," she he sarcased a ca ed a at me me. She sat a up and pu pulled ed ou out he her c crack ack p pipe pe and lit up up. "Dan," Dan I subvocalized, ubvoca zed "long ong time me no speak." peak "Yeah, Yeah buddy buddy, it sure u e ha has been been," he said, a d and h his vo voice ce c cracked acked on a sob. ob I turned u ned and gave L Lil such uch a look, ook she he d dropped opped he her p pipe. pe "How How can I he help?" p? she he said, a d softly o y bu but swiftly. w y I waved he her o off and switched w ched the he phone to o full-vocal u -voca mode mode. My vo voice ce sounded ounded unna unnaturally u a y loud oud in n the he c cricket-punctuated cke -punc ua ed ca calm. m "Where Whe e you a at, Dan? Dan?" I a asked. ked "Down Down he here, e in nO Orlando. ando I'm m stuck uck ou out on P Pleasure ea u e Island." and "All A right," gh I said. a d "Meet Mee me a at, uh uh, the he Adven Adventurer's ue C Club, ub up upstairs a on the he couch by the he doo door. I'll be there he e in n ---" I shot ho a look ook a at L Lil, who knew the he ca castmember-only membe -on y roads oad be better e than han I. She a ashed hed ten en nge ngers a at me me. "Ten Ten m minutes." nu e "Okay," Okay he said. a d "Sorry." So y He had h his vo voice ce back unde under con control. o I switched w ched o off. "What's Wha up? up?" L Lil a asked. ked "I'm m no not sure. u e An o old d friend end is in n town. own He sounds ound like ke he he's go got a p problem." ob em L Lil po pointed n ed a nge nger a at me and made a trigger-squeezing gge - queez ng ge gesture. ue "There," The e she he said. a d "I've ve just u dumped the he be best route ou e to oP Pleasure ea u e Island and to o you your pub public cd directory. ec o y Keep me in n the he loop, oop okay? okay?" I set e o off for o the he u utilidoor doo en entrance ance nea near the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents e den and boo booted ed down the he stairs a to o the he hum o of the he unde underground g ound tunnel-system. unne - y em I took ook the he slidewalk dewa k to o ca cast pa parking k ng and z zipped pped my little e ca cart ou out to oP Pleasure ea u e Island. and # I found ound Dan sitting ng on the he LL-shaped haped couch unde underneath nea h rows ow o of faked-up aked-up trophy ophy shots ho w with h humo humorous ou cap captions. on Down Downstairs, a ca castmembers membe we were e wo working k ng the he an animatronic ma on c ma masks k and idols, do cha chattering e ng w with h the he gue guests. Dan wa was appa apparent en fty yp plus, u a little e paunchy and stubbled. ubb ed He had raccoon-mask accoon-ma k bag bags unde under h his eye eyes and he slumped umped listlessly. e yA As I app approached, oached I p pinged nged h his Whu Whufe e and wa was startled a ed to o see ee that ha it had d dropped opped to o nea nearly y ze zero. o "Jesus," e u I said, ad a as I sat a down nex next to oh him. m "You You look ook like ke he hell, Dan Dan." He nodded nodded. "Appearances Appea ance can be decep deceptive," ve he said. a d "But Bu in n this h ca case, e they're hey e bang-on bang-on." "You You wan want to o talk a k abou about it?" ? Ia asked. ked "Somewhere Somewhe e e else, e huh? I hea hear they hey ring ng in n the he New Yea Year eve every yn night gh a at m midnight; dn gh I think h nk that'd ha d be a little e too oo much for o me right gh now now." I led ed h him m ou out to o my ca cart and c cruised u ed back to o the he p place ace I shared ha ed w with hL Lil, ou out in nK Kissimmee. mmee He smoked moked e eight gh c cigarettes ga e e on the he twenty wen y m minute nu e ride, de hamme hammering ng one a after e ano another he into n oh his mou mouth, h lling ng my runabout unabou w with h stinging ng ng c clouds. oud I kep kept g glancing anc ng a at h him m in n the he rear-view. ea -v ew He had h his eye eyes c closed, o ed and in n repose epo e he looked ooked dead dead. I cou could d ha hardly d y be believe eve that ha this h wa was my v vibrant b an ac action-hero on-he o pa pal o of yo yore. e Su Surreptitiously, ep ou y I ca called ed L Lil's phone phone. "I'm mb bringing ng ng h him m home home," I subvocalized. ubvoca zed "He's He in n rough ough shape. hape No Not sure u e wha what it's a all abou about." "I'll make up the he couch couch," she he said. a d "And And ge get some ome co coffee ee together. oge he Love you you." "Back Back a atcha, cha k kid," d I said. ad A As we app approached oached the he tacky acky little e swaybacked waybacked ranch-house, anch-hou e he opened h his eye eyes. "You're You e a pa pal, Jules." u e I waved h him mo off. "No, No really. ea y I tried ed to o think h nk o of who I cou could d ca call, and you we were e the he on only y one one. I've ve m missed ed you you, bud bud." "Lil L said a d she'd he d pu put some ome co coffee ee on on," I said. a d "You You sound ound like ke you need it." L Lil wa was wa waiting ng on the he sofa, o a a folded o ded b blanket anke and an ex extra ap pillow ow on the he side de table, ab e a po pot o of co coffee ee and some ome D Disneyland ney and Be Beijing ng mug mugs be beside de them. hem She stood ood and ex extended ended he her hand hand. "I'm mL Lil," she he said. a d "Dan," Dan he said. a d "It's a p pleasure." ea u e I knew she he wa was p pinging ng ng h his Whu Whufe e and I caugh caught he her look ook o of surprised u p ed d disapproval. app ova U Us o oldsters d e who p predate eda e Whu Whufe e know that ha it's important; mpo an bu but to o the he k kids, d it's the he _wo _world_. d_ Someone w without hou any is au automatically oma ca y suspect. u pec I wa watched ched he her recover ecove qu quickly, ck y smile, m e and surreptitiously u ep ou y w wipe pe he her hand on he her jeans. ean "Coffee?" Co ee? she he said. a d "Oh, Oh yeah yeah," Dan said, a d and slumped umped on the he sofa. o a She pou poured ed h him m a cup and set e it on a coa coaster e on the he co coffee ee table. ab e "I'll let e you boy boys ca catch ch up up, then," hen she he said, a d and started a ed for o the he bed bedroom. oom "No," No Dan said. a d "Wait. Wa If you don don't m mind. nd I think h nk it'd d he help p if I cou could d talk a k to o someone. omeone . . younge younger, too." oo She set e he her face ace in n the he look ook o of ch chirpy py he helpfulness p u ne that ha a all the he secondecond- gen ca castmembers membe have a at their he instant n an d disposal po a and settled e ed into n o an a armchair. mcha She pu pulled ed ou out he her p pipe pe and lit a rock. ock I wen went through h ough my c crack ack pe period od be before o e she he wa was bo born, n just u a after e they hey made it deca decaf, and I a always way felt e o old d when I saw aw he her and he her friends end light gh up up. Dan surprised u p ed me by ho holding d ng ou out a hand to o he her and taking ak ng the he p pipe. pe He toked oked heav heavily, y then hen pa passed ed it back back. Dan c closed o ed h his eye eyes aga again, n then hen g ground ound h his sts into n o them, hem sipped pped h his co coffee. ee It wa was c clear ea he wa was trying y ng to o gu gure e ou out whe where e to o start. a "I believed be eved that ha I wa was b braver ave than han I really ea y am am, is wha what it bo boils down to," o he said. a d "Who Who doe doesn't?" n ? I said. a d "I really ea y thought hough I cou could d do it. I knew that ha someday omeday I'd d run un ou out o of things h ng to o do do, things h ng to o see. ee I knew that ha I'd d n nish h some ome day day. You remember, emembe we u used ed to oa argue gue abou about it. I swore wo e I'd d be done done, and that ha wou would d be the he end o of it. And now I am am. The There e isn't n a single ng e p place ace left e on-wo on-world d that ha isn't n pa part o of the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society. e y The There e isn't n a single ng e thing h ng left e that ha I wan want any pa part o of." "So So deadhead for o a few ew cen centuries," u e I said. a d "Put Pu the he dec decision on o off." "No!" No he shouted, hou ed startling a ng bo both ho of u us. "I'm m _done_ _done_. It's _ove _over_." _ "So So do it," L Lil said. a d "I _can _can't_," _ he sobbed, obbed and bu buried ed h his face ace in nh his hand hands. He c cried ed like ke a baby baby, in ng great, ea snoring no ng sobs ob that ha shook hook h his who whole e body body. L Lil wen went into n o the he k kitchen chen and go got some ome tissue, ue and pa passed ed it to o me me. I sat a a alongside ong de h him m and awkwa awkwardly d y pa patted ed h his back back. "Jesus," e u he said, a d into n oh his pa palms. m "Jesus." e u "Dan?" Dan? I said, a d qu quietly. e y He sat a up and took ook the he tissue, ue w wiped ped o off h his face ace and hand hands. "Thanks," Thank he said. a d "I've ve tried ed to o make a go o of it, really ea y I have have. I've ve spent pen the he last a e eight gh yea years in n Istanbul, anbu w writing ng pape papers on my m missions, on abou about the he commun communities. e Id did d some ome followup o owup studies, ud e interviews. n e v ew No one wa was interested. n e e ed No Not even me me. I smoked moked a lot o o of ha hash. h It d didn't dn he help. p So So, one mo morning n ng I woke up and wen went to o the he bazaa bazaar and said a d good bye to o the he friends end I'd d made there. he e Then I wen went to o a pha pharmacy macy and had the he man make me up a lethal e ha injection. n ec on He w wished hed me good luck uck and I wen went back to o my rooms. oom I sat a there he e w with h the he hypo a all a afternoon, e noon then hen I dec decided ded to o sleep eep on it, and I go got up the he nex next mo morning n ng and d did d it a all ove over aga again. n I looked ooked inside n de my myself, e and I saw aw that ha I d didn't dn have the he gu guts. I just u d didn't dn have the he gu guts. I've ve stared a ed down the he ba barrels e o of a hund hundred ed gun guns, had a thousand hou and kn knives ve p pressed e ed up aga against n my throat, h oa bu but I d didn't dn have the he gu guts to op press e that ha bu button." on "You You we were e too oo late," ae L Lil said. a d We bo both h turned u ned to o look ook a at he her. "You You we were e a decade too oo late. a e Look a at you you. You You're e pa pathetic. he c If you k killed ed you yourself e right gh now now, you you'd d just u be a wa washed-up hed-up loser o e who cou couldn't dn hack it. If you you'd d done it ten en yea years ea earlier, e you wou would've d ve been go going ng ou out on top op -- a champ champion, on retiring e ng pe permanently." manen y She set e he her mug down w with h a ha harder-than-necessary de - han-nece a y c clunk. unk Some Sometimes, me L Lil and I a are e right gh on the he same ame wave wavelength. eng h Some Sometimes, me it's like ke she's he on a d different e en p planet. ane A All I cou could d do wa was sit there, he e ho horried, ed and she he wa was happy to od discuss cu the he timing m ng o of my pa pal's suicide. u c de Bu But she he wa was right. gh Dan nodded heav heavily, y and I saw aw that ha he knew it, too. oo "A A day late a e and a do dollar a short," ho he sighed. ghed "Well, We don don't just u sit there," he e she he said. a d "You You know wha what you you've ve go got to o do do." "What?" Wha ? I said, a d involuntarily nvo un a y irritated a ed by he her tone. one She looked ooked a at me like ke I wa was be being ng de deliberately be a e y stupid. up d "He's He go got to o ge get back on top. op C Cleaned eaned up up, d dried ed ou out, into n o some ome p productive oduc ve wo work. k Ge Get that ha Whu Whufe e up up, too. oo _Then_ he can k kill h himself me w with hd dignity." gn y It wa was the he stupidest up de thing h ng I'd d eve ever hea heard. d Dan Dan, though, hough wa was cock cocking ng an eyeb eyebrow ow a at he her and thinking h nk ng ha hard. d "How How o old dd did d you say ay you we were?" e? he a asked. ked "Twenty-three," Twen y- h ee she he said. a d "Wish W h I'd d had you your smarts ma a at twenty-three," wen y- h ee he said, a d and heaved a sigh, gh straightening a gh en ng up up. "Can Can I stay ay he here e wh while e I ge get the he job ob done? done?" I looked ooked a askance kance a at L Lil, who con considered de ed for o a momen moment, then hen nodded nodded. "Sure, Su e pa pal, sure," u e I said. ad Ic clapped apped h him m on the he shoulder. hou de "You You look ook bea beat." "Beat Bea doe doesn't n beg begin n to o cove cover it," he said. a d "Good Good n night, gh then," hen I said. a d ========= CHAPTER 2 ========= Ad-hoc Ad-hocracy acy wo works k we well, for o the he mo most pa part. L Lil's folks o k had taken aken ove over the he running unn ng o of L Liberty be y Squa Square ew with hag group oup o of o other he interested, n e e ed compa compatible b e souls. ou They d did d a ne job, ob racked acked up gob gobs o of Whu Whufe, e and anyone who came a around ound and tried ed to o take ake it ove over wou would d be so o reviled ev ed by the he gue guests they hey wou wouldn't dn nd a po pot to op piss in. n O Or they'd hey d have such uch a w wicked, cked radical ad ca app approach oach that ha they'd hey d ou ouster e L Lil's pa parents en and their he pa pals, and do a be better e job. ob It can b break eak down down, though. hough The There e we were ep pretenders e ende to o the he throne h one -- a g group oup who who'd d wo worked ked w with h the he o original g na ad-hoc ad-hocracy acy and then hen had moved o off to oo other he pu pursuits u -- some ome o of them hem had gone to o school, choo some ome o of them hem had made mov movies, e w written en book books, o or gone o off to oD Disneyland ney and Be Beijing ng to o he help p start a things h ng up up. A few ew had deadheaded for o a coup couple e decade decades. They came back to oL Liberty be y Squa Square ew with h a me message: age upda update e the he a attractions. ac on The L Liberty be y Squa Square e ad-hoc ad-hocs we were e the he staunchest aunche con conservatives e va ve in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom, ngdom p preserving e e v ng the he wheez wheezing ng technology echno ogy in n the he face ace o of a Pa Park k that ha changed a almost mo da daily. y The newcome newcomer/old-timers o d- me we were e onon-side de w with h the he rest e o of the he Pa Park, k had their he support, uppo and looked ooked like ke they hey m might gh make a successful ucce u go o of it. So it fell e to oL Lil to o make sure u e that ha there he e we were e no bug bugs in n the he meage meager a attractions ac on o of L Liberty be y Squa Square: e the he Ha Hall o of the he P Presidents, e den the he L Liberty be y Be Belle e riverboat, ve boa and the he g glorious o ou Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion, on a arguably guab y the he coo coolest e a attraction ac on to o come from om the he fevered eve ed m minds nd o of the he o old-time d- me D Disney ney Imagineers. mag nee I caugh caught he her back backstage age a at the he Ha Hall o of the he P Presidents, e den tinkering nke ng w with hL Lincoln nco n II, the he backup an animatronic. ma on c L Lil tried ed to o keep two wo o of eve everything y h ng running unn ng a at speed, peed just u in n ca case. e She cou could d swap wap ou out a dead bo bot for o a backup in n ve m minutes nu e a at, wh which ch is a all that ha c crowd-control owd-con o wou would d pe permit. m It had been two wo week weeks since nce Dan Dan's a arrival, va and though hough I'd d ba barely e y seen een h him m in n that ha time, me h his p presence e ence wa was v vivid v d in n ou our lives. ve Ou Our little e ranchanch- hou house e had a new smell, me no not unp unpleasant, ea an o of rejuve e uve and hope and loss, o something ome h ng ba barely e y no noticeable ceab e ove over the he tropical op ca owe owers nodd nodding ng in n front on o of ou our po porch. ch My phone rang ang three h ee o or four ou times me a day day, Dan check checking ng in n from om h his rounds ound o of the he Pa Park, k seeking eek ng ou out some ome way to o accumu accumulate a e pe personal ona cap capital. a H His exc excitement emen and ded dedication ca on to o the he task a k we were e inspiring, n p ng pu pulling ng me into n oh his ove over-the-top-and-damn-the-torpedoes - he- op-and-damn- he- o pedoe mode o of be being. ng "You You just u m missed ed Dan," she Dan he said. a d She had he her head in nL Lincoln's nco n che chest, wo working k ng w with h an au autosolder o o de and a magn magnier. e Ben Bent ove over, red ed ha hair tied ed back in n a nea neat bun bun, sweat wea sheening heen ng he her w wiry y freckled eck ed a arms, m smelling me ng o of g girl-sweat - wea and mach machine ne lubricant, ub can she he made me w wish h there he e we were e a ma mattress e somewhere omewhe e back backstage. age I settled e ed for o pa patting ng he her beh behind nd a affectionately, ec ona e y and she he w wriggled gg ed app appreciatively. ec a ve y "He's He looking ook ng be better." e H His rejuve e uve had taken aken h him m back to o appa apparent en 25 25, the he way I remembered emembe ed h him. m He wa was rawboned awboned and leathery, ea he y bu but still had the he de defeated ea ed stoop oop that ha had startled a ed me when I saw aw h him ma at the he Adven Adventurer's ue C Club. ub "What Wha d did d he wan want?" ? "He's He been hang hanging ng ou out w with h Deb Debra a -- he wan wanted ed to o make sure u e I knew wha what she's he up to." o Deb Debra a wa was one o of the he o old d gua guard, d a former o me com comrade ade o of L Lil's pa parents. en She She'd d spent pen a decade in nD Disneyland ney and Be Beijing, ng cod coding ng sim-rides. m- de If she he had he her way way, we we'd d tear ea down eve every y ma marvelous ve ou rube ube go goldberg dbe g in n the he Pa Park k and replace ep ace them hem w with hp pristine ne wh white e sim m boxe boxes on g giant, an a articulated cu a ed servos. e vo The p problem ob em wa was that ha she he wa was _ _really ea y good_ a at cod coding ng sims. m He Her G Great ea Mov Movie eR Ride de rehab ehab a at MGM wa was b breathtaking ea h ak ng -- the he S Star a Wa Wars sequence equence had a already eady inspired n p ed a hund hundred ed fan-sites an- e that ha e elded ded m millions on o of h hits. She She'd d leveraged eve aged he her success ucce into n o a dea deal w with h the he Adven Adventureland u e and ad-hoc ad-hocs to o rehab ehab the he P Pirates ae o of the he Ca Caribbean, bbean and their he back backstage age a areas ea we were ep piled ed h high gh w with h reference: e e ence treasure ea u e che chests and cu cutlasses a e and bow bowsprits. p It wa was terrifying e y ng to o wa walk k through; h ough the he P Pirates a e wa was the he last a ride de Wa Walt pe personally ona y supervised, upe v ed and we we'd d thought hough it wa was sacrosanct. ac o anc Bu But Deb Debra a had bu built a P Pirates a e sim m in n Be Beijing, ng ba based ed on Chend I Sao Sao, the he X XIXth X h cen century u y Ch Chinese ne e p pirate a e queen queen, wh which ch wa was c credited ed ed w with h rescuing e cu ng the he Pa Park k from om ob obscurity cu y and ruin. u n The F Florida o da iteration e a on wou would d incorporate nco po a e the he be best a aspects pec o of its Ch Chinese ne e cou cousin n -- the he A AI-driven -d ven sims m that ha commun communicated ca ed w with h each o other he and w with h the he gue guests, g greeting ee ng them hem by name each time me they hey rode ode and spinning p nn ng age-app age-appropriate op a e tales ae o of p piracy acy on the he h high gh seas; ea the he spectacular pec acu a yy-through h ough o of the he aqua aquatic c nec necropolis opo o of rotting o ng junks unk on the he sea-oor; ea-oo the he thrilling h ng p pitch ch and yaw o of the he sim ma as it wea weathered he ed a v violent, o en b breath-taking ea h- ak ng storm o m -- bu but w with h We Western e n themes: heme wa wafts o of Jamaican ama can peppe pepper sauce auce c crackling ack ng through h ough the he a air; liquid qu d A Afro-Caribbean o-Ca bbean accen accents; and swordghts wo dgh conduc conducted ed in n the he manne manner o of the he p pirates a e who p plied ed the he b blue ue wa waters e o of the he New Wo World. d Identical den ca sims m wou would d stack ack like ke co cordwood dwood in n the he space pace cu currently en y occup occupied ed by the he bu bulky ky ride-apparatus de-appa a u and d dioramas, o ama qu quintupling n up ng capac capacity y and ha halving v ng load-time. oad- me "So, So wha what's she he up to?" o? L Lil ex extracted ac ed he herself e from om the he Ra Rail-Splitter's -Sp e mechan mechanical ca gu guts and made a com comical ca moue o of wo worry. y "She's She rehabbing ehabb ng the he P Pirates a e -- and do doing ng an incredible nc ed b e job. ob They They're e ahead o of schedule, chedu e they've hey ve go got good ne net-buzz, -buzz the he focus ocu g groups oup a are e cumm cumming ng themselves." hem e ve The comedy wen went ou out o of he her exp expression, e on ba baring ng genu genuine ne wo worry. y She turned u ned away and c closed o ed up Hone Honest Abe Abe, then hen red ed he her nge nger a at h him. m Smoo Smoothly, h y he began to o run un through h ough h his spiel, p e silent en bu but for o the he soft o hum and wh whine ne o of h his servos. e vo L Lil m mimed med twiddling w dd ng a knob and h his aud audiotrack o ack k kicked cked in n low: ow "All A the he a armies me o of Eu Europe, ope A Asia, a and A Africa ca _comb _combined_ ned_ cou could d no not, by force, o ce make a track ack on the he B Blue ue R Ridge, dge no nor take ake a d drink nk from om the he Oh Ohio. o If de destruction uc on be ou our lot, o then hen we ou ourselves e ve mu must be its au author ho -- and its n nisher." he She m mimed med turning u n ng down the he ga gain n and he fell e silent en aga again. n "You You said a d it, M Mr. P President," e den she he said, a d and red ed he her nge nger at h a him m aga again, n powe powering ng h him m down down. She ben bent and ad adjusted u ed h his handhand-sewn ewn pe period od topcoat, opcoa then hen ca carefully e u y wound and set e the he turnip-watch u n p-wa ch in nh his ve vest- pocke pocket. I pu put my a arm ma around ound he her shoulders. hou de "You're You e do doing ng a all you can -- and it's good wo work," k I said. a d I'd d fallen a en into n o the he ea easy y ca castmember membe mode o of speaking, peak ng vo voicing c ng b bland and a afrmations. ma on Hea Hearing ng the he wo words, d I felt e a u ush ho of emba embarrassment. a men I pu pulled ed he her into n o a long, ong ha hard d hug and fumbled umb ed for o be better e reassurance. ea u ance F Finding nd ng no wo words d that ha wou would d do do, I gave he her a na nal squeeze queeze and let e he her go go. She looked ooked a at me sidelong de ong and nodded he her head head. "It'll be ne ne, o of cou course," e she he said. a d "I mean mean, the he wo worst po possible b e scenario cena o is that ha Deb Debra aw will do he her job ob ve very, y ve very y we well, and make things h ng even be better e than han they hey a are e now now. Tha That's no not so o bad bad." Th This wa was a 180-deg 180-degree ee reversal eve a o of he her po position on on the he subject ub ec the he last a time me we we'd d talked, a ked bu but you don don't live ve mo more e than han a cen century u yw without hou learning ea n ng when to o po point n ou out that ha sort o o of thing h ng and when no not to. o My coch cochlea ea struck uck twelve we ve noon and a HUD appea appeared ed w with h my week weekly y backup reminder. em nde L Lil wa was maneuve maneuvering ng Ben F Franklin ank n II ou out o of h his n niche. che I waved good-bye a at he her back and wa walked ked away away, to o an uplink up nk terminal. e m na Once I wa was c close o e enough for o secure ecu e b broadband oadband commun communications, ca on I go got ready eady to o back up up. My coch cochlea ea ch chimed med aga again n and I an answered we ed it. "Yes," Ye I subvocalized, ubvoca zed impatiently. mpa en y I ha hated ed ge getting ng d distracted ac ed from om a backup -- one o of my endu enduring ng fears ea wa was that ha I'd d forget o ge the he backup a altogether oge he and leave eave my myself e vu vulnerable ne ab e for o an en entire e week un until the he nex next reminder. em nde I'd d lost o the he knack o of ge getting ng into n o hab habits in n my ado adolescence, e cence g giving v ng in n comp completely e e y to o mach machine-generated ne-gene a ed reminders em nde ove over con conscious c ou cho choice. ce "It's Dan Dan." I hea heard d the he sound ound o of the he Pa Park k in n full u swing w ng beh behind nd h him m -- ch children's d en laughter; augh e b bright, gh recorded eco ded an animatronic ma on c spiels; p e the he tromp omp o of thousands hou and o of feet. ee "Can Can you mee meet me a at the he T Tiki k Room? It's p pretty e y important." mpo an "Can Can it wa wait for o fteen?" een? I a asked. ked "Sure Su e -- see ee you in n fteen." een I rung ung o off and initiated n a ed the he backup backup. A status-bar a u -ba z zipped pped ac across o a HUD HUD, dump dumping ng the he pa parts o of my memo memory y that ha we were e pu purely eyd digital; g a then hen it n nished hed and started a ed in n on o organic gan c memo memory. y My eye eyes rolled o ed back in n my head and my life e a ashed hed be before o e my eye eyes. ========= CHAPTER 3 ========= The B Bitchun chun Soc Society e y ha has had much expe experience ence w with h restores e o e from om backup -- in n the he e era ao of the he cu cure e for o dea death, h peop people e live ve p pretty e y recklessly. eck e y Some peop people e ge get refreshed e e hed a coup couple e dozen times me a yea year. No Not me me. I ha hate e the he p process. oce No Not so o much that ha I won won't pa participate c pa e in n it. Eve Everyone yone who had serious e ou ph philosophical o oph ca conund conundra a on that ha subject ub ec just, u you know know, _d _died_, ed_ a gene generation a on be before. o e The B Bitchun chun Soc Society e yd didn't dn need to o conve convert its de detractors, ac o just u ou outlive ve them. hem The rst time me I d died, ed it wa was no not long ong a after e my sixtieth x e hb birthday. hday I wa was SCUBA d diving v ng a at P Playa aya Co Coral, a nea near Ve Veradero, ade o Cuba Cuba. O Of cou course, e I don don't remember emembe the he incident, nc den bu but know knowing ng my hab habits a at that ha pa particular cu a d diveve- site e and hav having ng read ead the he d dive-logs ve- og o of my SCUBA-budd SCUBA-buddies, e I've ve reconstructed econ uc ed the he even events. I wa was ee eeling ng my way through h ough the he lobster-caves, ob e -cave w with h a bo borrowed owed bo bottle e and ma mask. k I'd da also o bo borrowed owed a we wetsuit, u bu but I wa wasn't n wea wearing ng it -- the he b blood-temp ood- emp salt a wa water e wa was ba balm, m and I ha hated ed e erecting ec ng ba barriers e be between ween it and my skin. k n The cave caves we were e made o of co coral a and rocks, ock and they hey co coiled ed and twisted w ed like ke intestines. n e ne Th Through ough each ho hole e and a around ound each co corner, ne there he e wa was a ho hollow, ow rough ough sphere phe e o of surpassing, u pa ng a alien en beau beauty. yG Giant an lobsters ob e skittered k e ed ove over the he wa walls and through h ough the he holes. ho e Schoo Schools o of sh ha as b bright gh a as jewels ewe da darted ed and execu executed ed b breath-taking ea h- ak ng p precision ec on maneuve maneuvers a as I d disturbed u bed their he bu busy y day days. I do some ome o of my be best thinking h nk ng unde under wa water, e and I'm mo often en slipping pp ng o off into n o dange dangerous ou reverie eve e a at dep depth. h No Normally, ma y my d diving v ng budd buddies e en ensure u e that ha I don don't hu hurt my myself, e bu but this h time me I go got away from om them, hem spidering p de ng forward o wa d into n o a tiny ny ho hole. e Whe Where e I go got stuck. uck My d diving v ng budd buddies e we were e beh behind nd me me, and I rapped apped on my bo bottle ew with h the he h hilt o of my kn knife e un until one o of them hem pu put a hand on my shoulder. hou de My budd buddies e saw aw wha what wa was up up, and a attempted emp ed to o pu pull me loose, oo e bu but my bo bottle e and buoyancy-con buoyancy-control o ve vest we were e rmly m y wedged wedged. The o others he exchanged hand signals, gna silently en y deba debating ng the he be best way to o ge get me loose. oo e Sudden Suddenly, y I wa was thrashing h a h ng and k kicking, ck ng and then hen I d disappeared appea ed into n o the he cave cave, m minus nu my ve vest and bo bottle. e I'd d appa apparently en y a attempted emp ed to o cu cut through h ough my ve vest's straps ap and managed to o sever eve the he tube ube o of my regulator. egu a o A After e inhaling nha ng a jolt o o of sea ea wa water, e I'd d thrashed h a hed free ee into n o the he cave cave, rolling o ng into n o a mon monstrous ou pa patch ch o of spindly p nd y re-coral. e-co a I'd d inhaled nha ed ano another he lungful ung u o of wa water e and k kicked cked mad madly y for o a tiny ny ho hole e in n the he cave cave's ce ceiling, ng whence my buddies budd e retrieved e eved me shortly ho y thereafter, he ea e d drowned-blue owned-b ue excep except for o the he pa patchy chy red ed we welts from om the he stinging ng ng co coral. a In n those ho e day days, mak making ng a backup wa was a lot o mo more e comp complicated; ca ed the he p procedure ocedu e took ook mo most o of a day day, and had to o be unde undertaken aken a at a special pec a c clinic. n c Luck Luckily, y I'd d had one made just u be before o e I left e for o Cuba Cuba, a few ew week weeks ea earlier. e My nex next-most-recent -mo - ecen backup wa was three h ee yea years o old, d da dating ng from om the he comp completion e on o of my second econd symphony. ymphony They recovered ecove ed me from om backup and into n o a force-grown o ce-g own c clone one a at To Toronto on o Gene General. a A As far a a as I knew knew, I'd d laid a d down in n the he backup c clinic n c one momen moment and a arisen en the he nex next. It took ook mo most o of a yea year to o ge get ove over the he feeling ee ng that ha the he who whole e wo world d wa was pu putting ng a mon monstrous ou joke oke ove over on me me, that ha the he d drowned owned co corpse p e I'd d seen een wa was indeed ndeed my own own. In n my m mind, nd the he rebirth eb h wa was gu gurative a ve a as we well a as literal e a -- the he m missing ng time me wa was enough that ha I found ound my myself e ha hard-pressed d-p e ed to o socialize oc a ze w with h my p pre-death e-dea h friends. end I told o d Dan the he story o y du during ng ou our rst friendship, end h p and he immediately mmed a e y pounced on the he fact ac that ha I'd d gone to oD Disney ney Wo World d to o spend pend a week sorting o ng ou out my feelings, ee ng reinventing e nven ng my myself, e mov moving ng to o space, pace ma marrying y ng a c crazy azy lady. ady He found ound it very ve y cu curious ou that ha I a always way rebooted eboo ed my myself e a at D Disney ney Wo World. d When I told odh him m that ha I wa was go going ng to o live ve there he e someday, omeday he a asked ked me if that ha wou would d mean that ha I wa was done reinventing e nven ng my myself. e Some Sometimes, me a as I ran an my nge ngers through h ough L Lil's sweet wee red ed cu curls, I thought hough o of that ha remark ema k and sighed ghed g great ea gu gusts o of con contentment en men and ma marveled ve ed that ha my friend end Dan had been so op prescient. e c en The nex next time me I d died, ed they'd hey d improved mp oved the he technology echno ogy somewhat. omewha I'd d had a ma massive ve stroke oke in n my seventy-third even y- h d yea year, co collapsing ap ng on the he ice ce in n the he m middle dd e o of a hou house-league e- eague hockey game game. By the he time me they hey cu cut my he helmet me away away, the he hema hematomae omae had c crushed u hed my b brain a n into n o a pu pulpy, py b blood-sotted ood- o ed me mess. I'd d been lax ax in n back backing ng up up, and I lost o mo most o of a yea year. Bu But they hey woke me gen gently, yw with h a compu computer-generated e -gene a ed p precis ec o of the he even events o of the he m missing ng interval, n e va and a coun counselor e o con contacted ac ed me da daily y for o a yea year un until I felt e a at home aga again n in n my skin. k n Aga Again, n my life e rebooted, eboo ed and I found ound my myself e in nD Disney ney Wo World, d me methodically hod ca y en ensing ng away the he relationships e a on h p I'd d bu built and starting a ng a afresh e h in n Bo Boston, on living v ng on the he ocean oo oor and wo working k ng the he heavy-me heavy-metal a ha harvesters, ve e a p project o ec that ha led, ed even eventually, ua y to o my Chem thesis he a at U o of T T. A After e I wa was shot ho dead a at the he T Tiki k Room Room, I had the he oppo opportunity un y to o app appreciate ec a e the he g great ea leaps eap that ha restores e o e had made in n the he intervening n e ven ng ten en yea years. I woke in n my own bed bed, instantly n an y awa aware eo of the he even events that ha led ed up to o my third h d dea death ha as seen een from om va various ou third-party h d-pa y POV POVs: security ecu y footage oo age from om the he Adven Adventureland u e and came cameras, a synthesized yn he zed memo memories e ex extracted ac ed from om Dan Dan's own backup backup, and a compu computer-generated e -gene a ed yy-through h ough o of the he scene. cene I woke feeling ee ng p preternaturally e e na u a y ca calm m and chee cheerful, u and know knowing ng that ha I felt e that ha way becau because eo of ce certain a n temporary empo a y neu neurotransmitter o an m e p presets e e that ha had been pu put in np place ace when I wa was restored. e o ed Dan and L Lil sat a a at my bed bedside. de L Lil's tired, ed smiling m ng face ace wa was limned mned w with h ha hairs that ha had snuck nuck loose oo e o of he her pony ponytail. a She took ook my hand and k kissed ed the he smooth moo h knuck knuckles. e Dan smiled m ed benecen benecently ya at me and I wa was seized e zed w with h a wa warm, m com comforting o ng feeling ee ng o of be being ng surrounded u ounded by peop people e who really ea y loved oved me me. I dug for o wo words d app appropriate op a e to o the he scene, cene dec decided ded to ow wing ng it, opened my mou mouth h and said, a d to o my surprise, u p e "I have to o pee pee." Dan and L Lil smiled m ed a at each o other. he I lurched u ched ou out o of the he bed bed, naked naked, and thumped humped to o the he ba bathroom. h oom My muscles mu c e we were e wonde wonderfully u y limber, mbe w with hab brand-new and-new spring p ng to o them. hem A After e I u ushed hed I leaned eaned ove over and took ook ho hold do of my ank ankles, e then hen pu pulled ed my head right gh to o the he oo oor, feeling ee ng the he ma marvelous ve ou ex exibility b yo of my back and legs eg and bu buttocks. ock A scar ca on my knee wa was m missing, ng a as we were e the he many lines ne that ha had c crisscrossed c o ed my nge ngers. When I looked ooked in n the he m mirror, o I saw aw that ha my no nose e and ea earlobes obe we were e smaller ma e and pe perkier. k e The familiar am a c crow's-feet ow - ee and the he frown-lines own- ne be between ween my eyeb eyebrows ow we were e gone gone. I had a day day's bea beard da all ove over -- head head, face, ace pub pubis, a arms, m legs. eg I ran an my hand hands ove over my body and chuck chuckled ed a at the he ticklish ck h newne newness o of it a all. I wa was b briey ey tempted emp ed to o dep depilate a ea all ove over, just u to o keep this h feeling ee ng o of newne newness forever, o eve bu but the he neu neurotransmitter o an m e p presets e e we were e evapo evaporating a ng and a sense en e o of u urgency gency ove over my mu murder de wa was c creeping eep ng up on me me. I tied ed a towel owe a around ound my wa waist and made my way back to o the he bed bedroom. oom The smells me o of tile-cleaner e-c eane and owe owers and rejuve e uve we were eb bright gh in n my no nose, e e effervescent e ve cen a as campho camphor. Dan and L Lil stood ood when I came into n o the he room oom and he helped ped me to o the he bed bed. "Well, We this h _ _sucks_," uck _ I said. a d I'd d gone straight a gh from om the he up uplink nk through h ough the he u utilidors do -three h ee qu quick ck cu cuts o of security ecu y cam footage, oo age one a at the he up uplink, nk one in n the he co corridor, do and one a at the he ex exit in n the he unde underpass pa be between ween L Liberty be y Squa Square e and Adven Adventureland. u e and I seemed eemed bemu bemused ed and a little e sad ad a as I eme emerged ged from om the he doo door, and began to o weave my way through h ough the he c crowd, owd u using ng a k kind nd o of sinuous, nuou da darting ng shufe hu e that ha I'd d deve developed oped when I wa was do doing ng e eld-work d-wo k on my c crowd-control owd-con o thesis. he I cu cut rapidly ap d y through h ough the he lunchtime unch me c crowd owd toward owa d the he long ong roof oo o of the he T Tiki k Room Room, thatched ha ched w with h strips p o of shimmering h mme ng a aluminum um num cu cut and pa painted n ed to o look ook like ke long ong g grass. a Fuzzy shots ho now now, from om Dan Dan's POV POV, o of me mov moving ng c closer o e to oh him, m pa passing ng c close o e to oag group oup o of teenaged eenaged g girls w with h ex extra ae elbows bow and knee knees, wea wearing ng env environmentally onmen a y con controlled o ed c cloaks oak and cow cowls cove covered ed w with h Epco Epcot Cen Center e logomarks. ogoma k One o of them hem is wea wearing ng a p pith h he helmet, me from om the he Jungle ung e T Traders ade shop hop ou outside de o of the he Jungle ung e C Cruise. u e Dan Dan's gaze icks ck away away, to o the he T Tiki k Room Room's en entrance, ance whe where e there he e is a short ho queue o of o older de men men, then hen back back, just u a as the he g girl w with h the he p pith h he helmet me d draws aw a stylish y h little eo organic gan c p pistol, o like ke a pen penis w with h a tail a that ha co coils a around ound he her a arm. m Ca Casually, ua y g grinning, nn ng she he raises a e he her a arm m and ge gestures ue w with h the he p pistol, o exac exactly y like ke L Lil doe does w with h he her nge nger when she's he up uploading, oad ng and the he p pistol o lunges unge forward. o wa d Dan Dan's gaze icks ck back to o me me. I'm mp pitching ch ng ove over, my lungs ung bu bursting ng ou out o of my che chest and spreading p ead ng be before o e me like ke w wings, ng spinal p na g gristle e and v viscera ce a showering howe ng the he gue guests be before o e me me. A p piece ece o of my name nametag, ag now shrapnel, h apne strikes ke Dan in n the he forehead, o ehead cau causing ng h him m to ob blink. nk When he looks ook aga again, n the he g group oup o of g girls is still there, he e bu but the he g girl w with h the he p pistol o is long ong gone gone. The yy-through h ough is far a less e con confused. u ed Eve Everyone yone excep except me me, Dan and the he g girl is g grayed-out. ayed-ou We We're e limned mned in nh highlighter gh gh e ye yellow, ow mov moving ng in n slowow- mo motion. on I eme emerge ge from om the he unde underpass pa and the he g girl move moves from om the he Sw Swiss Fam Family y Rob Robinson n on T Treehouse eehou e to o the he g group oup o of he her friends. end Dan starts a to o move towards owa d me me. The g girl raises, a e a arms m and res e he her p pistol. o The selfe - gu guiding d ng smart-slug, ma - ug keyed to o my body chem chemistry, y ies e low, ow nea near g ground ound level, eve weav weaving ng be between ween the he feet ee o of the he c crowd, owd mov moving ng just u be below ow the he speed peed o of sound. ound When it reaches eache me me, it screams c eam upwa upwards d and into n o my spine, p ne de detonating ona ng once it's en entered e ed my che chest cav cavity. y The g girl ha has a already eady made a lot o o of g ground, ound back toward owa d the he Adventureland/Main Adven u e and Ma n S Street, ee USA ga gateway. eway The yy-through h ough speeds peed up up, following o ow ng he her a as she he me merges ge w with h the he c crowds owd on the he street, ee duck ducking ng and weav weaving ng be between ween them, hem mov moving ng toward owa d the he b breezeway eezeway a at S Sleeping eep ng Beau Beauty y Ca Castle. e She van vanishes, he then hen reappears, eappea forty o ym minutes nu e later, a e in n Tomo Tomorrowland, ow and nea near the he new Space Moun Mountain a n comp complex, ex then hen d disappears appea aga again. n "Has Ha anyone ID'd D d the he g girl?" ? Ia asked, ked once I'd d n nished hed reliving e v ng the he even events. The ange anger wa was starting a ng to o bo boil w within h n me now now. My new sts c clenched enched for o the he rst time, me soft o pa palms m and unca uncallused u ed nge ngertips. p Dan shook hook h his head head. "None None o of the he g girls she he wa was w with h had eve ever seen een he her be before. o e The face ace wa was one o of the he Seven S Sisters e -- Hope Hope." The Seven S Sisters e we were e a trendy endy co collection ec on o of de designer gne faces. ace Eve Every y second econd teenage eenage g girl wo wore e one o of them. hem "How How abou about Jungle ung e T Traders?" ade ? I a asked. ked "Did D d they hey have a record eco d o of the he p pith h he helmet me pu purchase?" cha e? L Lil frowned. owned "We We ran an the he Jungle ung e T Traders ade pu purchases cha e back for o six x mon months: h on only y three h ee ma matched ched the he g girl's appa apparent en age age; a all three h ee have a alibis. b Chance Chances a are e she he stole o e it." "Why?" Why? I a asked, ked na nally. y In n my m mind's nd eye eye, I saw aw my lungs ung bu bursting ng ou out o of my che chest, like ke w wings, ng like ke jellysh, e y h vertebrae ve eb ae spraying p ay ng like ke shrapnel. h apne I saw aw the he g girl's smile, m e an a almost mo sexual exua smirk m ka as she he pu pulled ed the he trigger gge on me me. "It wa wasn't n random," andom L Lil said. a d "The The slug ug wa was den denitely e y keyed to o you -- that ha mean means that ha she'd he d go gotten en c close o e to o you a at some ome po point." n R Right gh -- wh which ch mean meant that ha she'd he d been to oD Disney ney Wo World d in n the he last a ten en yea years. Tha That na narrowed owed it down down, a all right. gh "What Wha happened to o he her a after e Tomo Tomorrowland?" ow and? I said. a d "We We don don't know know," L Lil said. a d "Something Some h ng w wrong ong w with h the he came cameras. a We lost o he her and she he neve never reappeared." eappea ed She sounded ounded ho hot and ang angry y -- she he took ook equ equipment pmen failures a u e in n the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom pe personally. ona y "Who'd Who d wan want to o do this?" h ? Ia asked, ked ha hating ng the he self-pity e -p y in n my vo voice. ce It wa was the he rst time me I'd d been mu murdered, de ed bu but I d didn't dn need to o be a d dramaama- queen abou about it. Dan Dan's eye eyes go got a far-away a -away look. ook "Sometimes, Some me peop people e do things h ng for o reasons ea on that ha seem eem pe perfectly ec y reasonable ea onab e to o them, hem that ha the he rest e o of the he wo world d cou couldn't dn hope to o unde understand. and I've ve seen een a few ew a assassinations, a na on and they hey neve never made sense en e a afterwards." e wa d He stroked oked h his ch chin. n "Sometimes, Some me it's be better e to o look ook for o temperament, empe amen rather a he than han mo motivation: va on who _cou _could_ d_ do something ome h ng like ke this?" h ? R Right. gh A All we needed to o do wa was investigate nve ga e a all the he p psychopaths ychopa h who who'd dv visited ed the he Mag Magic cK Kingdom ngdom in n ten en yea years. Tha That na narrowed owed it down con considerably. de ab y I pu pulled ed up a HUD and checked the he time. me It had been four ou day days since nce my mu murder. de I had a shift h com coming ng up up, wo working k ng the he turnstiles un e a at the he Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion. on I liked ked to o pu pull a coup couple eo of those ho e shifts h a mon month, h just u to o keep my myself e g grounded; ounded it he helped ped to o take ake a reality ea y check wh while e I wa was chu churning n ng away in n the he raried a ed c climate ma e o of my c crowd-control owd-con o simulations. mu a on I stood ood and wen went to o my c closet, o e started a ed to od dress. e "_What_ _Wha _ a are e you do doing?" ng? L Lil a asked, ked a alarmed. a med "I've ve go got a shift. h I'm m running unn ng late." a e "You're You e in n no shape hape to o wo work," k L Lil said, a d tugging ugg ng a at my e elbow. bow I jerked e ked free ee o of he her. "I'm m ne -- good a as new new." I ba barked ked a humo humorless e laugh. augh "I'm m no not go going ng to o let e those ho e ba bastards ad d disrupt up my life e any mo more." e _Tho _Those e ba bastards_? a d _? I thought hough -- when had I dec decided ded that ha there he e wa was mo more e than han one? Bu But I knew it wa was true. ue The There e wa was no way that ha this h wa was a all p planned anned by one pe person: on it had been execu executed ed too oo p precisely, ec e y too oo thoroughly. ho ough y Dan moved to ob block ock the he bed bedroom oom doo door. "Wait Wa a second," econd he said. a d "You You need rest." e I xed h him mw with h a do doleful eu g glare. a e "I'll dec decide de that," ha I said. ad He stepped epped a aside. de "I'll tag ag a along, ong then," hen he said. a d "Just u in n ca case." e Ip pinged nged my Whu Whufe. e I wa was up a coup couple e pe percentiles cen e -- sympathy ympa hy Whu Whufe e -- bu but it wa was falling: a ng Dan and L Lil we were e radiating ad a ng d disapproval. app ova Sc Screw ew 'em. em I go got into n o my runabout unabou and Dan scrambled c amb ed for o the he pa passenger enge doo door a as I pu put it in n gea gear and sped ped ou out. "Are A e you sure u e you you're ea all right?" gh ? Dan said ada as I nea nearly y rolled o ed the he runabout unabou taking ak ng the he co corner ne a at the he end o of ou our cu cul-de-sac. -de- ac "Why Why wou wouldn't dn I be? be?" I said. a d "I'm ma as good a as new new." "Funny Funny cho choice ce o of wo words," d he said. a d "Some Some wou would d say ay that ha you _we _were_ e_ new new." I g groaned. oaned "Not No this h a argument gumen aga again," n I said. a d "I feel ee like ke me and no one e else e is mak making ng that ha c claim. a m Who ca cares e if I've ve been restored e o ed from om a backup? backup?" "All A I'm m saying ay ng is, there's he e a d difference e ence be between ween _you_ and an exac exact copy o of you you, isn't n there?" he e? I knew wha what he wa was do doing, ng d distracting ac ng me w with h one o of ou our o old d gh ghts, bu but I cou couldn't dn resist e the he ba bait, and a as I ma marshalled ha ed my a arguments, gumen it ac actually ua y he helped ped ca calm m me down some. ome Dan wa was that ha k kind nd o of friend, end a pe person on who knew you be better e than han you knew you yourself. e "So So you you're e saying ay ng that ha if you we were e ob obliterated e a ed and then hen recreated, ec ea ed a atom-for-atom, om- o -a om that ha you wou wouldn't dn be you anymo anymore?" e? "For Fo the he sake ake o of a argument, gumen sure. u e Be Being ng de destroyed oyed and recreated ec ea ed is d different e en from om no not be being ng de destroyed oyed a at a all, right?" gh ? "Brush B u h up on you your quan quantum um mechan mechanics, c pa pal. You You're e be being ng de destroyed oyed and recreated ec ea ed a trillion on times me a second." econd "On On a ve very, y ve very y small ma level eve ---" "What Wha d difference e ence doe does that ha make? make?" "Fine, F ne I'll concede that. ha Bu But you you're e no not really ea y an a atom-for-atom om- o -a om copy copy. You You're eac clone, one w with h a cop copied ed _b _brain_ a n_ -- that's ha no not the he same ame a as quan quantum um de destruction." uc on "Very Ve y n nice ce thing h ng to o say ay to o someone omeone who who's just u been mu murdered, de ed pa pal. You go got a p problem ob em w with hc clones?" one ? And we we were eo off and running. unn ng # The Man Mansion's on ca cast we were e sickeningly cken ng y chee cheerful u and solicitous. o c ou Each o of them hem made a po point n o of com coming ng a around ound and touching ouch ng the he stiff, starched a ched shoulder hou de o of my bu butler's e co costume, ume letting e ng me know that ha if there he e wa was any anything h ng they hey cou could d do for o me me. . . I gave them hem a all a xed smile m e and tried ed to o concen concentrate a e on the he gue guests, how they hey wa waited, ed when they hey a arrived, ved how they hey d dispersed pe ed through h ough the he ex exit ga gate. e Dan hove hovered ed nea nearby, by occa occasionally ona y taking ak ng the he e eight gh m minute, nu e twenty-two wen y- wo second econd ride-through, de- h ough running unn ng interference n e e ence for o me w with h the he o other he ca castmembers. membe He wa was nea nearby by when my b break eak came up up. I changed into n oc civvies vv e and we wa walked ked ove over the he cobb cobbled ed streets, ee pa past the he Ha Hall o of the he P Presidents, e den no noting ng a as I rounded ounded the he co corner ne that ha there he e wa was something ome h ng d different e en abou about the he queue-a queue-area. ea Dan g groaned. oaned "They They d did d it a already," eady he said. a d I looked ooked c closer. o e The turnstiles u n e we were eb blocked ocked by a sandwich andw ch boa board: d M Mickey ckey in n a Ben F Franklin ank n w wig g and b bifocals, oca ho holding d ng a trowel. owe "Excuse Excu e ou our me mess!" the he sign gn dec declared. a ed "We're We e renovating enova ng to o serve e ve you be better!" e I spotted po ed one o of Deb Debra's a c cronies on e standing and ng beh behind nd the he sign, gn a selfe - satised a ed smile m e on h his face. ace He He'd d started a ed o off life ea as a squat, qua no northern he n Ch Chinese, ne e bu but had had h his bone bones lengthened eng hened and h his cheekbone cheekbones raised a ed so o that ha he looked ooked a almost mo e eln. n I took ook one look ook a at h his smile m e and unde understood ood -- Deb Debra a had e established ab hed a toehold oeho d in nL Liberty be y Squa Square. e "They They led ed p plans an for o the he new Ha Hall w with h the he steering ee ng comm committee ee an hou hour a after e you go got shot. ho The comm committee ee loved oved the he p plans; an so od did d the he ne net. They They're ep promising om ng no not to o touch ouch the he Man Mansion." on "You You d didn't dn men mention on this," h I said, a d ho hotly. y "We We thought hough you you'd d jump ump to o conc conclusions. u on The timing m ng wa was bad bad, bu but there's he e no indication nd ca on that ha they hey a arranged anged for o the he shooter. hoo e Eve Everyone's yone got an a go alibi; b furthermore, u he mo e they've hey ve a all o offered e ed to o submit ubm their he backup backups for o p proof." oo "Right," R gh I said. a d "Right. R gh So they hey just u _happened_ to o have p plans an for o a new Ha Hall standing and ng by by. And they hey just u _happened_ to o le e them hem a after e I go got shot, ho when a all ou our ad-hoc ad-hocs we were e bu busy y wo worrying y ng abou about me me. It's a all a b big g co coincidence." nc dence Dan shook hook h his head head. "We're We e no not stupid, up d Jules. u e No one thinks h nk that ha it's a co coincidence. nc dence Deb Debra's a the he sort o o of pe person on who keep keeps a lot o o of p plans an standing and ng by by, just u in n ca case. e Bu But that ha just u make makes he her a we well-prepared -p epa ed oppo opportunist, un no not a mu murderer." de e I felt e nau nauseated ea ed and exhau exhausted. ed I wa was enough o of a ca castmember membe that ha I sought ough ou out a u utilidor do be before o e I co collapsed ap ed aga against n a wa wall, head down down. De Defeat ea seeped eeped through h ough me me, saturating a u a ng me me. Dan c crouched ouched down be beside de me me. I looked ooked ove over a at h him. m He wa was g grinning nn ng w wryly. y y "Posit," Po he said, a d "for o the he momen moment, that ha Deb Debra a really ea y d did d do this h thing, h ng set e you up so o that ha she he cou could d take ake ove over." I smiled, m ed in n spite p eo of my myself. e Th This wa was h his exp explaining a n ng ac act, the he thing h ng he wou would d do wheneve whenever I fell e into n o one o of h his rhetorical he o ca tricks ck back in n the he o old d day days. "All A right, gh I've ve po posited ed it." "Why Why wou would d she: he one one, take ake ou out you instead n ead o of L Lil o or one o of the he real ea o oldd- timers; me two, wo go a after e the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents e den instead n ead o of Tom Sawye Sawyer Island and o or even the he Man Mansion; on and three, h ee follow o ow it up w with h such uch a b blatant, a an suspicious u p c ou move? move?" "All A right," gh I said, a d wa warming m ng to o the he cha challenge. enge "One: One I'm m important mpo an enough to o be d disruptive up ve bu but no not so o important mpo an a as to o rate a e a full u investigation. nve ga on Two Two: Tom Sawye Sawyer Island and is too oo v visible, b e you can can't rehab ehab it w without hou peop people e seeing ee ng the he du dust from om shore. ho e Th Three, ee Deb Debra's a com coming ng o off o of a decade in n Be Beijing, ng whe where e subtlety ub e y isn't n real ea important." mpo an "Sure," Su e Dan said, a d "sure." u e Then he launched aunched an an answering we ng salvo, a vo and wh while e I wa was thinking h nk ng up my an answer, we he he helped ped me to o my feet ee and wa walked ked me ou out to o my runabout, unabou a arguing gu ng a all the he way way, so o that ha by the he time me I no noticed ced we we weren't en a at the he Pa Park k anymo anymore, e I wa was home and in n bed bed. # W With ha all the he Ha Hall's an animatronics ma on c mo mothballed hba ed for o the he du duration, a on L Lil had mo more e time me on he her hand hands than han she he knew wha what to o do w with. h She hung a around ound the he little e bunga bungalow, ow the he two wo o of u us in n the he living v ng room, oom staring a ng b blankly ank y a at the he w windows, ndow b breathing ea h ng shallowly ha ow y in n the he c claustrophobic, au ophob c superheated upe hea ed F Florida o da a air. I had my wo working k ng no notes e on queue managemen management for o the he Man Mansion, on and I pecked a at them hem a aimlessly. me y Sometimes, Some me L Lil m mirrored o ed my HUD so o she he cou could d wa watch ch me wo work, k and made suggestions ugge on ba based ed on he her long ong expe experience. ence It wa was a de delicate ca e p process, oce this h bu business ne o of increasing nc ea ng throughput h oughpu w without hou ha harming m ng the he gue guest expe experience. ence Bu But for o eve every y second econd I cou could d shave have o off o of the he queuequeue-to-exit o-ex time, me I cou could d pu put ano another he sixty x y gue guests through h ough and lop op thirty h y seconds econd o off total o a wa wait-time. - me And the he mo more e gue guests who go got to o expe experience ence the he Man Mansion, on the he mo more eo of a Whu Whufe-hit e-h Deb Debra's a peop people e wou would d suffer u e if they hey made a move on it. So I du dutifully u y pecked a at my no notes, e and found ound three h ee seconds econd I cou could d shave have o off the he g graveyard aveya d sequence equence by swiveling w ve ng the he Doom Buggy ca carriages age stage-left age- e a as they hey de descended cended from om the he a attic cw window: ndow by expand expanding ng their he e elds-of-vision, d -o -v on I cou could d expo expose e the he gue guests to oa all the he scenes cene mo more e qu quickly. ck y I ran an the he change in n yy-through, h ough then hen implemented mp emen ed it a after e c closing o ng and invited nv ed the he o other he L Liberty be y Squa Square e ad-hoc ad-hocs to o come and test e it ou out. It wa was ano another he muggy w winter n e even evening, ng p prematurely ema u e y da dark. k The ad-hoc ad-hocs had enough friends end and family am y w with h them hem that ha we we were e ab able e to o simulate mu a e an o off-peak -peak queuequeue-time, me and we a all stood ood and sweated wea ed in n the he p preshow e how a area, ea waiting wa ng for o the he doo doors to o swing w ng open open, listening en ng to o the he wo wolf-cries -c e and a assorted o ed booboo-spookery pooke y from om the he h hidden dden speakers. peake The doo doors swung wung open open, revealing evea ng L Lil in n a rotting o ng ma maid's d un uniform, o m he her eye eyes lined ned w with hb black, ack he her skin k n powde powdered ed to o a dea deathly h y pa pallor. o She gave u us a co cold, d con considering de ng g glare, a e then hen intoned, n oned "Master Ma e G Gracey acey requests eque mo more e bod bodies." e A As we c crowded owded into n o the he coo cool, mu musty yg gloom oom o of the he pa parlor, o L Lil con contrived ved to og give ve my a ass an a affectionate ec ona e squeeze. queeze I turned u ned to o return e u n the he favor, avo and saw aw Deb Debra's a e eln n com comrade ade looming oom ng ove over L Lil's shoulder. hou de My smile m ed died ed on my lips. p The man locked ocked eye eyes w with h me for o a momen moment, and I saw aw something ome h ng in n there he e -- some ome adm admixture x u eo of c cruelty ue y and wo worry y that ha I d didn't dn know wha what to o make o of. He looked ooked away immediately. mmed a e y I'd d known that ha Deb Debra a wou would d have spies p e in n the he c crowd, owd o of cou course, e bu but w with he elf-boy -boy wa watching, ch ng I resolved e o ved to o make this h the he be best show how I knew how how. It's subtle, ub e this h bu business ne o of mak making ng the he show how be better e from om w within. hn L Lil had a already eady slid da aside de the he pane paneled ed wa wall that ha led ed to o stretch-room e ch- oom numbe number two, wo the he mo most recently ecen y serviced e v ced one one. Once the he c crowd owd had moved inside, n de I tried ed to o lead ead their he eye eyes by ad adjusting u ng my body language anguage to o po poses e o of subtle ub e a attention en on d directed ec ed a at the he new spotlights. po gh When the he new newly y remastered ema e ed soundtrack ound ack came from om beh behind nd the he sconce-bearing conce-bea ng ga gargoyles goy e a at the he co corners ne o of the he oc octagonal agona room, oom I leaned eaned my body slightly gh y in n the he d direction ec on o of the he mov moving ng stereo-image. e eo- mage And an instant n an be before o e the he lights gh snapped napped ou out, I o ostentatiously en a ou y ca cast my eye eyes up into n o the he scrim c m ce ceiling, ng no noting ng that ha o others he had taken aken my cue cue, so o they hey we were e wa watching ch ng when the he UVUV-lit co corpse p ed dropped opped from om the he p pitch-dark ch-da k ce ceiling, ng jerking e k ng aga against n the he noo noose ea at its neck neck. The c crowd owd led ed into n o the he second econd queue a area, ea whe where e they hey boa boarded ded the he Doom Bugg Buggies. e The There e wa was a low ow buzz o of ma marveling ve ng conve conversation a on a as we made ou our way on onto o the he mov moving ng sidewalk. dewa k I boa boarded ded my Doom Buggy and an instant n an later, a e someone omeone slid d in n be beside de me me. It wa was the he e elf. He made a po point n o of no not mak making ng eye con contact ac w with h me me, bu but I sensed en ed h his sidelong de ong g glances ance a at me a as we rode ode through h ough pa past the he oa oating ng chande chandelier e and into n o the he co corridor do whe where e the he po portraits' a eye eyes wa watched ched u us. Two yea years be before, o e I'd d acce accelerated e a ed this h sequence equence and added some ome random andom swivel w ve to o the he Doom Bugg Buggies, e shaving hav ng 25 seconds econd o off the he total, o a taking ak ng the he hou hourly y throughput h oughpu cap from om 2365 to o 2600 2600. It wa was the he p proof-of-concept oo -o -concep that ha led ed to oa all the he o other he seconds econd I'd d shaved haved away since. nce The v violent o en p pitching ch ng o of the he Buggy b brought ough me and the he e elf into n o inadvertent nadve en con contact ac w with h one ano another, he and when I b brushed u hed h his hand a as I reached eached for o the he safety a e y ba bar, I felt e that ha it wa was co cold d and sweaty. wea y He wa was ne nervous! vou _He_ wa was ne nervous. vou Wha What d did d _he_ have to o be ne nervous vou abou about? ? I wa was the he one who who'd d been mu murdered de ed -- maybe he wa was ne nervous vou becau because e he wa was supposed uppo ed to o n nish h the he job. ob I ca cast my own sidelong de ong looks ook a at h him, m trying y ng to o see ee suspicious u p c ou bu bulges ge in nh his tight gh c clothes, o he bu but the he Doom Buggy Buggy's pebb pebbled ed b black ack p plastic a c interior n e o wa was too oo d dim. m Dan wa was in n the he Buggy beh behind nd u us, w with h one o of the he Man Mansion's on regular egu a ca castmembers. membe I rang ang h his coch cochlea ea and subvocalized: ubvoca zed "Get Ge ready eady to o jump ump ou out on my signal." gna Anyone leaving eav ng their he Buggy wou would d interrupt n e up an infrared n a ed beam and stop op the he ride de system. y em I knew I cou could d rely e y on Dan to o trust u me w without hou a lot o o of exp explaining, a n ng wh which ch mean meant that ha I cou could d keep a c close o e wa watch ch on Deb Debra's a c crony. ony We wen went pa past the he ha hallway way o of m mirrors o and into n o the he ha hallway way o of doo doors, whe where e mon monstrous ou hand hands peeked ou out a around ound the he sills, straining a n ng against aga n the he h hinges, nge recorded eco ded g groans oan m mixed xed in nw with h pound pounding. ng I thought hough abou about it -- if I wan wanted ed to ok kill someone omeone on the he Man Mansion, on wha what wou would d be the he be best p place ace to o do it? ? The a attic c staircase-a ca e-- the he nex next sequence equence -- seemed eemed like ke a good be bet. A co cold dc clarity a y wa washed hed ove over me me. The e elf wou would dk kill me in n the he g gloom oom o of the he staircase, a ca e dump me ou out ove over the he edge a at the he b blind nd turn u n toward owa d the he g graveyard, aveya d and that ha wou would d be it. Wou Would d he be ab able e to o do it if I we were e staring a ng straight a gh a at h him? m? He seemed eemed terribly e b y ne nervous vou a as it wa was. I swiveled w ve ed in n my seat ea and looked ooked h him m straight a gh in n the he eye eye. He qu quirked ked ha half a smile m ea at me and nodded a g greeting. ee ng I kep kept on staring a ng a at h him, m my hand hands ba balled ed into n o sts, ready eady for o any anything. h ng We rode ode down the he staircase, a ca e facing ac ng up up, listening en ng to o the he c clamour amou o of vo voices ce from om the he ceme cemetery e y and the he squawk quawk o of the he red-eyed ed-eyed raven. aven I caugh caught sight gh o of the he quak quaking ng g groundkeeper oundkeepe an animatronic ma on c from om the he co corner ne o of my eye and startled. a ed I let e ou out a subvocal ubvoca squeal quea and wa was p pitched ched forward o wa d a as the he ride de system y em shuddered hudde ed to o a stop. op "Jules?" u e ? came Dan Dan's vo voice ce in n my coch cochlea. ea "You You a all right?" gh ? He He'd d hea heard d my involuntary nvo un a y no note eo of surprise u p e and had leapt eap c clear ea o of the he Buggy Buggy, stopping opp ng the he ride. de The e elf wa was looking ook ng a at me w with ham mixture x u eo of surprise u p e and p pity. y "It's a all right, gh it's a all right. gh Fa False ea alarm." a m I paged L Lil and subvocalized ubvoca zed to o he her, telling e ng he her to o start a up the he ride de ASAP ASAP, it wa was a all right. gh I rode ode the he rest e o of the he way w with h my hand hands on the he safety a e y ba bar, my eye eyes xed ahead o of me me, steadfastly ead a y ignoring gno ng the he e elf. I checked the he timer me I'd d been running. unn ng The demo wa was a debac debacle e -- instead n ead o of shaving hav ng o off three h ee seconds, econd I'd d added thirty. h y I wan wanted ed to oc cry. y # I deba debarked ked the he Buggy and stalked a ked qu quickly ck y ou out o of the he ex exit queue queue, leaning ean ng heav heavily y aga against n the he fence, ence staring a ng b blindly nd y a at the he pe pet ceme cemetery. e y My head swam: wam I wa was ou out o of con control, o jumping ump ng a at shadows. hadow I wa was spooked. pooked And I had no reason ea on to o be be. Su Sure, e I'd d been mu murdered, de ed bu but wha what had it co cost me? A few ew day days o of "unconsciousness" uncon c ou ne wh while e they hey decan decanted ed my backup into n o my new body body, a me merciful c u gap in n memo memory y from om my depa departure u ea at the he backup terminal e m na up un until my dea death. h I wa wasn't n one o of those ho e nu nuts who took ook dea death h_ _seriously_. e ou y_ It wa wasn't n like ke they'd hey d done something ome h ng _pe _permanent_. manen _ In n the he mean meantime, me I _had_ done something ome h ng pe permanent: manen I'd d dug L Lil's g grave ave a little e deepe deeper, endange endangered ed the he ad-hoc ad-hocracy acy and and, wo worst o of a all, the he Man Mansion. on I'd d ac acted ed like ke an idiot. d o I tasted a ed my d dinner, nne a wo wolfed-down ed-down hambu hamburger, ge and swallowed wa owed ha hard, d forcing o c ng down the he knob o of nau nausea. ea I sensed en ed someone omeone a at my e elbow, bow and thinking h nk ng it wa was L Lil, come to oa ask k me wha what had gone on on, I turned u ned w with h a sheepish heep h g grin n and found ound my myself e facing ac ng the he e elf. He stuck uck h his hand ou out and spoke poke in n the he a at no-accen no-accent o of someone omeone running unn ng a language anguage modu module. e "Hi H there. he e We haven haven't been introduced, n oduced bu but I wan wanted ed to o tell e you how much I en enjoy oy you your wo work. k I'm mT Tim m Fung Fung." I pumped h his hand hand, wh which ch wa was still co cold d and pa particularly cu a y c clammy ammy in n the he c close o e hea heat o of the he F Florida o da n night. gh "Julius," u u I said, a d startled a ed a at how much like ke a ba bark k it sounded. ounded _Ca _Careful_, e u _ I thought, hough _no need to oe escalate ca a e the he ho hostilities._ e _ "It's k kind nd o of you to o say ay that. ha I like ke wha what you-a you-all have done w with h the he P Pirates." a e He smiled: m ed a genu genuine, ne emba embarrassed a ed smile, m e a as though hough he he'd d just u been g given ven h high gh p praise a e from om one o of h his he heroes. oe "Really? Rea y? I think h nk it's p pretty e y good -- the he second econd time me a around ound you ge get a lot o o of chance chances to o rene ene things, h ng really ea y c clarify a y the he v vision. on Be Beijing ng -- we well, it wa was exc exciting, ng bu but it wa was rushed, u hed you know? I mean mean, we we were e really ea y struggling. ugg ng Eve Every y day day, there he e wa was ano another he pack o of squatters qua e who wan wanted ed to o tear ea the he Pa Park k down down. Deb Debra au used ed to o send end me ou out to og give ve the he ch children d en p piggyback ggyback rides, de just u to o keep ou our Whu Whufe e up wh while e she he wa was ev evicting c ng the he squatters. qua e It wa was good to o have the he oppo opportunity un y to o rene ene the he de designs, gn revisit ev them hem w without hou the he oo oor show." how I knew abou about this, h o of cou course e -- Be Beijing ng had been a real ea struggle ugg e for o the he ad-hoc ad-hocs who bu built it. Lo Lots o of them hem had been k killed, ed many times me ove over. Deb Debra a he herself e had been k killed ed eve every y day for o a week and restored e o ed to o a series e e o of p prepared epa ed c clones, one be beta-testing a- e ng one o of the he ride de systems. y em It wa was faster a e than han revising ev ng the he CAD simulations. mu a on Deb Debra a had a reputation epu a on for o pu pursuing u ng exped expedience. ence "I'm m starting a ng to o nd ou out how it feels ee to o wo work k unde under p pressure," e u e I said, a d and nodded signicantly gn can y a at the he Man Mansion. on I wa was g gratied a ed to o see ee h him m look ook emba embarrassed, a ed then hen ho horried. ed "We We wou would d _neve _never_ _ touch ouch the he Man Mansion," on he said. a d "It's _pe _perfect_!" ec _ Dan and L Lil sauntered aun e ed up a as I wa was p preparing epa ng a riposte. po e They bo both h looked ooked conce concerned ned -- now that ha I thought hough o of it, they'd hey d bo both h seemed eemed incredibly nc ed b y conce concerned ned abou about me since nce the he day I wa was revived. ev ved Dan Dan's ga gait wa was odd odd, stilted, ed like ke he wa was leaning ean ng on L Lil for o support. uppo They looked ooked like ke a coup couple. e An irrational a ona sear ea o of jealousy ea ou y jetted e ed through h ough me me. I wa was an emo emotional ona w wreck. eck S Still, I took ook L Lil's b big, g scarred ca ed hand in nm mine ne a as soon oon a as she he wa was in n reach, each then hen cudd cuddled ed he her to o me p protectively. o ec ve y She had changed ou out o of he her ma maid's d un uniform o m into n oc civvies: vv e smart ma cove coveralls a who whose em micropore c opo e fabric ab c b breathed ea hed in n time me w with h he her own respiration. e p a on "Lil, L Dan Dan, I wan want you to o mee meet T Tim m Fung Fung. He wa was just u telling e ng me wa war stories o e from om the he P Pirates ae p project o ec in n Be Beijing." ng L Lil waved and Dan g gravely ave y shook hook h his hand hand. "That Tha wa was some ome ha hard d wo work," k Dan said. a d It occu occurred ed to o me to o turn u n on some ome Whu Whufe e mon monitors. o It wa was no normally ma y an instantaneous n an aneou reaction eac on to o mee meeting ng someone, omeone bu but I wa was still d disoriented. o en ed I p pinged nged the he e elf. He had a lot o o of left-handed e -handed Whu Whufe; e respect e pec ga garnered ne ed from om peop people e who shared ha ed ve very y few ew o of my op opinions. n on I expec expected ed that. ha Wha What I d didn't dn expec expect wa was that ha h his we weighted gh ed Whu Whufe e score, co e the he one that ha lent en ex extra ac credence edence to o the he rankings ank ng o of peop people e I respected, e pec ed wa was a also oh high gh -- h higher ghe than han my own own. I regretted eg e ed my non nonlinear nea behav behavior o even mo more. e Re Respect pec from om the he e elf -- _T _Tim_, m_ I had to o remember emembe to o ca call h him mT Tim m -- wou would d ca carry y a lot o o of we weight gh in n eve every y camp that ha ma mattered. e ed Dan Dan's score co e wa was incrementing nc emen ng upwa upwards, d bu but he still had a rotten o en p prole. o e He had acc accrued ued a good dea deal o of left-handed e -handed Whu Whufe, e and I cu curiously ou y back backtraced aced it to o the he occa occasion on o of my mu murder, de when Deb Debra's a peop people e had acco accorded ded h him m a gene generous ou do dollop op o of p props op for o the he levelheaded eve headed way he had scraped c aped up my co corpse p e and moved it o offstage, age m minimizing n m z ng the he d disturbance u bance in n front on o of their he wond wondrous ou P Pirates. a e I wa was fugueing, ugue ng wande wandering ng o off on the he k kind nd o of med mediated a ed reverie eve e that ha go got me k killed ed on the he reef ee a at P Playa aya Co Coral, a and I came ou out o of it w with h a start, a realizing ea z ng that ha the he o other he three h ee we were e po politely e y ignoring gno ng my b blown own bu buffer. e I cou could d have run un backwa backwards d through h ough my short-term ho - e m memo memory y to o ge get the he g gist o of the he conve conversation, a on bu but that ha wou would d have lengthened eng hened the he pau pause. e Sc Screw ew it. "So, So how how're e things h ng go going ng ove over a at the he Ha Hall o of the he P Presidents?" e den ? I a asked ked T Tim. m L Lil shot ho me a cau cautioning on ng look. ook She She'd d ceded the he Ha Hall to o Deb Debra's a ad-hoc ad-hocs, that ha be being ng the he on only y way to o avo avoid d the he appea appearance ance o of ch childish d hd disattention a en on to o the he a almighty m gh y Whu Whufe. e Now she he had to o keep up the he c ction on o of good- na natured u ed coope cooperation a on -- that ha mean meant no not shoulder-surng hou de - u ng Deb Debra, a looking ook ng for o excu excuses e to o pounce on he her wo work. k T Tim m gave u us the he same ame ha half-grin -g n he he'd dg greeted ee ed me w with. h On h his smooth, moo h po pointed n ed features, ea u e it looked ooked a almost mo irredeemably edeemab y cu cute. e "We're We e do doing ng good stuff, u I think. h nk Deb Debra's a had he her eye on the he Ha Hall for o yea years, back in n the he o old d day days, be before o e she he wen went to o Ch China. na We We're e replacing ep ac ng the he who whole e thing h ng w with hb broadband oadband up uplinks nk o of ge gestalts a from om each o of the he P Presidents' e den lives: ve new newspaper pape head headlines, ne speeches, peeche d distilled ed b biographies, og aph e pe personal ona pape papers. It'll be like ke hav having ng each P President e den _ _inside_ n de_ you you, co core-dumped e-dumped in n a few ew seconds. econd Deb Debra a said a d we we're e go going ng to o _a _ash-bake_ h-bake_ the he P Presidents e den on you your m mind!" nd H His eye eyes g glittered e ed in n the he twilight. w gh Hav Having ng on only y recently ecen y expe experienced enced my own ce cerebral eb a a ash-baking, h-bak ng T Tim's m de description c p on struck uck a cho chord d in n me me. My pe personality ona y seemed eemed to o be rattling a ng a around ound a little e in n my m mind, nd a as though hough it had been improperly mp ope y tted. ed It made the he idea dea o of hav having ng the he ge gestalt a o of 5050-some ome P Presidents e den squashed qua hed in na along ong w with h it pe perversely ve e y appea appealing. ng "Wow," Wow I said. a d "That Tha sounds ound w wild. d Wha What do you have in nm mind nd for o phy physical ca p plant?" an ? The Ha Hall a as it stood ood had a qu quiet, e pa patriotic o cd dignity gn y c cribbed bbed from om a hund hundred ed o ofcial c a bu buildings d ng o of the he dead USA USA. Me Messing ng w with h it wou would d be like ke redesigning ede gn ng the he stars-and-bars. a -and-ba "That's Tha no not really ea y my a area," ea T Tim m said. a d "I'm map programmer. og amme Bu But I cou could d have one o of the he de designers gne squirt qu some ome p plans an a at you you, if you wan want." "That Tha wou would d be ne ne," L Lil said, a d taking ak ng my e elbow. bow "I think h nk we should hou d be head heading ng home home, now now, though." hough She began to o tug ug me away away. Dan took ook my o other he e elbow. bow Beh Behind nd he her, the he L Liberty be y Be Belle eg glowed owed like ke a gho ghostly y wedd wedding ng cake in n the he twilight. w gh "That's Tha too oo bad bad," T Tim m said. a d "My My ad-hoc is pu pulling ng an a all-nighter -n gh e on the he new Ha Hall. I'm m sure u e they'd hey d love ove to o have you d drop op by by." The idea dea seized e zed ho hold do of me me. I wou would d go into n o the he camp o of the he enemy enemy, sit by their he re, e learn ea n their he secrets. ec e "That Tha wou would d be _g _great_!" ea _ I said, a d too oo loudly. oud y My head wa was buzz buzzing ng slightly. gh y L Lil's hand hands fell e away away. "But Bu we we've ve go got an ea early y mo morning n ng tomorrow," omo ow L Lil said. a d "You've You ve go got a shift h a at e eight, gh and I'm m running unn ng into n o town own for o g groceries." oce e She wa was lying, y ng bu but she he wa was telling e ng me that ha this h wa wasn't n he her idea dea o of a smart ma move move. Bu But my faith a h wa was un unshakeable. hakeab e "Eight E gh a a.m. m shift? h ? No p problem ob em -- I'll be right gh he here e when it starts. a I'll just u g grab ab a shower howe a at the he Con Contemporary empo a y in n the he mo morning n ng and ca catch ch the he mono monorail a back in n time me to o change change. A All right?" gh ? Dan tried. ed "But Bu Jules, u e we we were e go going ng to og grab ab some ome d dinner nne a at C Cinderella's nde e a Roya Royal Tab Table, e remember? emembe ? I made reservations." e e va on "Aw, Aw we can ea eat any time," me I said. a d "This Th is a he hell o of an oppo opportunity." un y "It sure u e is," Dan said, ad g giving v ng up up. "Mind M nd if I come a along?" ong? He and L Lil traded aded mean meaningful ng u looks ook that ha I interpreted n e p e ed to o mean mean, _ _If he he's go going ng to o be a nu nut, one o of u us really ea y should hou d stay ay w with hh him_. m_ I wa was pa past ca caring ng -- I wa was go going ng to o bea beard d the he lion on in nh his den den! T Tim m wa was appa apparently en y ob oblivious v ou to oa all o of this. h "Then Then it's settled! e ed Le Let's go go." # On the he wa walk k to o the he Ha Hall, Dan kep kept ringing ng ng my coch cochlea ea and I kep kept sending end ng h him m straight a gh to o vo voicemail. cema A All the he wh while, e I kep kept up a pa patter e o of smallma - talk akw with hh him m and T Tim. m I wa was de determined e m ned to o make up for o my debac debacle e in n the he Man Mansion on w with hT Tim, m w win nh him m ove over. Deb Debra's a peop people e we were e sitting ng a around ound in n the he a armchairs mcha on onstage, age the he an animatronic ma on c p presidents e den stacked acked in n nea neat p piles e in n the he w wings. ng Deb Debra a wa was sprawled p aw ed in nL Lincoln's nco n a armchair, mcha he her head cocked lazily, az y he her legs eg ex extended ended be before o e he her. The Ha Hall's no normal ma smells me o of ozone and c cleanliness ean ne we were e ove overridden dden by sweat wea and mach machine-oil, ne-o the he stink nk o of an ad-hoc pu pulling ng an a all-nighter. -n gh e The Ha Hall took ook fteen een yea years to o research e ea ch and execu execute, e and a coup couple eo of day days to o tear ea down down. She wa was au-na au-naturel, u e still wea wearing ng the he face ace she'd he d been bo born nw with, h a albeit be one that ha had been regenerated egene a ed dozen dozens o of times me a after e he her dea deaths. h It wa was pa patrician, c an waxy waxy, long, ong w with h a no nose e that ha wa was made for o staring a ng down down. She wa was a at least ea a as o old da as I wa was, though hough she he wa was on only y appa apparent en 22 22. I go got the he sense en e that ha she he p picked cked this h age becau because e it wa was one that ha a afforded o ded bound boundless e reserves e e ve o of ene energy. gy She d didn't dn de deign gn to o rise ea as I app approached, oached bu but she he d did d nod languorously anguo ou y a at me me. The o other he ad-hoc ad-hocs had been split p into n o little ec clusters, u e hunched ove over terminals. e m na They a all had the he raccoon-eyed, accoon-eyed sleep-deprived eep-dep ved look ook o of fanatics, ana c even Deb Debra, a who managed to o look ook lazy azy and exc excited ed simultaneously. mu aneou y _D _Did d you have me k killed_? ed_? I wonde wondered, ed staring a ng a at Deb Debra. a A After e a all, she'd he d been k killed ed dozen dozens, if no not hund hundreds ed o of times. me It m might gh no not be such uch a b big g dea deal for o he her. "Hi H there," he e I said, ad b brightly. gh y "Tim Tmo offered e ed to o show how u us a around! ound You know Dan Dan, right?" gh ? Deb Debra a nodded a at h him. m "Oh, Oh sure. u e Dan and I a are e pa pals, right?" gh ? Dan Dan's poke poker face ace d didn't dn twitch w ch a mu muscle. c e "Hello, He o Deb Debra," a he said. a d He He'd d been hang hanging ng ou out w with h them hem since nce L Lil had b briefed e ed h him m on the he pe peril to o the he Man Mansion, on trying y ng to o ga gather he some ome intelligence n e gence for o u us to ou use. e They knew wha what he wa was up to, o o of cou course, e bu but Dan wa was a fairly a y cha charming m ng guy and he wo worked ked like ke a mu mule, e so o they hey tolerated o e a ed h him. m Bu But it seemed eemed like ke he he'd dv violated o a ed a bounda boundary y by accompany accompanying ng me me, a as though hough the he po polite e c ction on that ha he wa was mo more e a pa part o of Deb Debra's a ad-hoc than han L Lil's wa was shattered ha e ed by my p presence. e ence T Tim m said, a d "Can Can I show how them hem the he demo demo, Deb Debra?" a? Deb Debra a qu quirked ked an eyeb eyebrow, ow then hen said, a d "Sure, Su e why no not. You You'll like ke this, h guy guys." T Tim m hu hustled ed u us back backstage, age whe where eL Lil and I u used ed to o sweat wea ove over the he an animatronics ma on c and cop surreptitious u ep ou feels. ee Eve Everything y h ng had been torn o n loose, oo e packed up up, stacked. acked They hadn hadn't wa wasted ed a momen moment -- they'd hey d spent pen a week tearing ea ng down a show how that ha had run un for o mo more e than han a cen century. u y The scrim c m that ha the he p projected o ec ed po portions on o of the he show how no normally ma y screened c eened on wa was g ground ound into n o the he oo oor, spotted po ed w with hg grime, me footprints oo p n and o oil. T Tim m showed howed me to o a ha half-assembled -a emb ed backup terminal. e m na Its hou housing ng wa was o off, and any numbe number o of w wireless e e keyboa keyboards, d po pointers n e and g gloves ove lay ay strewn ewn abou about it. It had the he look ook o of a p prototype. o o ype "This Th is it -- ou our up uplink. nk So far, a we we've ve go got a demo app running unn ng on it: L Lincoln's nco n o old d speech, peech a along ong w with h the he c civil-war v -wa mon montage. age Just u switch w ch on gue guest acce access and I'll co core-dump e-dump it to o you you. It's w wild." d I pu pulled ed up my HUD and switched w ched on gue guest acce access. T Tim m po pointed n ed a nge nger a at the he terminal e m na and my b brain a n wa was suffused u u ed w with h the he e essence ence o of L Lincoln: nco n eve every y nuance o of h his speech, peech the he pa painstakingly n ak ng y researched e ea ched movemen movement tics, c h his wa warts and bea beard d and topcoat. opcoa It a almost mo felt e like ke I _wa _was_ _L Lincoln, nco n for o a momen moment, and then hen it pa passed. ed Bu But I cou could d still taste a e the he lingering nge ng coppe coppery y avo avor o of cannon- cannon-re e and chew chewing ng tobacco. obacco I staggered agge ed backwa backwards. d My head swam wam w with h a ash-baked h-baked sense-impressions, en e- mp e on rich ch and de detailed. a ed I knew on the he spot po that ha Deb Debra's a Ha Hall o of the he P Presidents e den wa was go going ng to o be a h hit. Dan took ook a shot ho o off the he up uplink, nk too. oo T Tim m and I wa watched ched h him ma as h his exp expression e on shifted h ed from om skepticism kep c m to o de delight. gh T Tim m looked ooked expec expectantly an y a at me me. "That's Tha really ea y ne ne," I said. a d "Really, Rea y really ea y ne ne. Mov Moving." ng T Tim mb blushed. u hed "Thanks! Thank I d did d the he ge gestalt a p programming og amm ng -- it's my specialty." pec a y Deb Debra a spoke poke up from om beh behind nd h him m -- she'd he d sauntered aun e ed ove over wh while e Dan wa was ge getting ng h his jolt. o "I go got the he idea dea in n Be Beijing, ng when I wa was dy dying ng a lot. o The There's e something ome h ng wonderful wonde u abou about hav having ng memo memories e implanted, mp an ed like ke you you're e really ea y wo working k ng you your b brain. a n I love ove the he synthetic yn he c c clarity a yo of it a all." T Tim m sniffed. n ed "Not No synthetic yn he c a at a all," he said, a d turning u n ng to o me me. "It's n nice ce and soft, o right?" gh ? I sensed en ed deep po political ca shoals hoa and wa was compo composing ng my reply ep y when Deb Debra a said: a d "Tim T m keep keeps trying y ng to o make it a all mo more e impressionistic, mp e on c less e compu computer-y. e -y He He's w wrong, ong o of cou course. e We don don't wan want to o simulate mu a e the he expe experience ence o of wa watching ch ng the he show how -- we wan want to o_ _transcend an cend it_." _ T Tim m nodded reluctantly. e uc an y "Sure, Su e transcend an cend it. Bu But the he way we do that ha is by mak making ng the he expe experience ence _human_ _human_, a m mile e in n the he p presidents' e den shoes. hoe Empa Empathy-driven. hy-d ven Wha What's the he po point n o of a ash-baking h-bak ng a bunch o of d dry y facts ac on someone's omeone b brain?" a n? ========= CHAPTER 4 ========= One n night gh in n the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents e den conv convinced nced me o of three h ee things: h ng 1 1. Tha That Deb Debra's a peop people e had had me k killed, ed and screw c ew their he a alibis, b 2 2. Tha That they hey wou would dk kill me aga again, n when the he time me came for o them hem to o make a p play ay for o the he Haun Haunted ed Man Mansion, on 3 3. Tha That ou our on only y hope for o saving av ng the he Man Mansion on wa was a p preemptive eemp ve strike ke aga against n them: hem we had to oh hit them hem ha hard, d whe where e it hu hurt. Dan and I had been treated ea ed to oe eight gh hours o hou of insectile n ec e p precision ec on in n the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents, e den Deb Debra's a peop people e wo working k ng w with he effortless o e coope cooperation a on bo born no of the he adve adversity y they'd hey d faced aced in n Be Beijing. ng Deb Debra a moved from om team eam to o team, eam mak making ng suggestions ugge on w with h body language anguage a as much a as w with h wo words, d leaving eav ng bu bursts o of inspired n p ed ac activity v y in n he her wake wake. It wa was that ha p precision ec on that ha conv convinced nced me o of po point n one one. Any ad-hoc this h tight gh cou could d pu pull o off any anything h ng if it advanced their he agenda agenda. Ad-hoc? He Hell, ca call them hem wha what they hey we were: e an a army. my Po Point n two wo came to o me when I sampled amp ed the he L Lincoln nco n bu build d that ha T Tim m n nished hed a at abou about three h ee in n the he mo morning, n ng a after e intensive n en ve con consultation u a on w with h Deb Debra. a The ma mark ko of a g great ea ride de is that ha it ge gets be better e the he second econd time me a around, ound a as the he de detail a and ou ourishes he start a to o impinge mp nge on you your con consciousness. c ou ne The Man Mansion on wa was full u o of little eg gimcracks mc ack and sly y nod nods that ha snuck nuck into n o you your expe experience ence on each successive ucce ve ride. de T Tim m shufed hu ed h his feet ee ne nervously, vou y bu bursting ng w with h ba barely e y restrained e a ned p pride de a as I switched w ched on pub public c acce access. He dumped the he app to o my pub public cd directory, ec o y and and, g gingerly, nge y I execu executed ed it. God God! God and L Lincoln nco n and cannon- cannon-re e and o oratory a o y and p ploughs ough and mu mules e and g greatcoats! ea coa It rolled o ed ove over me, it punched through me h ough me me, it c crashed a hed aga against n the he inside n de o of my skull ku and rebounded. ebounded The rst pa pass through, h ough there he e had been a sense en e o of o order, de o of na narrative, a ve bu but this, h this h wa was ge gestalt, a the he who whole e thing h ng in n one und undifferentiated e en a ed ba ball, lling ng me and spilling p ng ove over. It wa was pan panicky cky for o a momen moment, a as the he e essence ence o of L Lincolness nco ne seemed eemed to o threaten h ea en my own pe personality, ona y and and, just u a as it wa was abou about to o ove overwhelm whe m me me, it receded, eceded leaving eav ng beh behind nd a rush u ho of endo endorphin ph n and ad adrenaline ena ne that ha made me wan want to o jump. ump "Tim," T m I ga gasped. ped "Tim! T m Tha That wa was. . ." Wo Words d failed a ed me me. I wan wanted ed to o hug h him. m Wha What we cou could d do for o the he Man Mansion on w with h this! h Wha What e elegance! egance D Directly ec y imprinting mp n ng the he expe experience, ence w without hou recourse ecou e to o the he stupid, up d b blind nd eye eyes; the he thick, h ck dea deaf ea ears. T Tim m beamed and ba basked, ked and Deb Debra a nodded solemnly o emn y from om he her throne. h one "You You liked ked it?" ? T Tim m said. a d I nodded nodded, and staggered agge ed back to o the he theatre hea e seat ea whe where e Dan slept, ep head thrown h own back back, snores no e softly o y rattling a ng in nh his throat. h oa Incrementally, nc emen a y reason ea on trickled ck ed back into n o my m mind, nd and w with h it came ire. e How da dare e they? hey? The wonde wonderful u comp compromises om e o of technology echno ogy and expen expense e that ha had g given ven u us the he D Disney ney rides de -- rides de that ha had en entertained e a ned the he wo world d for o two wo cen centuries u e and mo more e -- cou could d neve never compe compete e head to o head w with h wha what they hey we were e wo working k ng on on. My hand hands kno knotted ed into n o sts in n my lap. ap Why the he fuck uck cou couldn't dn they hey do this h somewhere omewhe e e else? e? Why d did d they hey have to o de destroy oy eve everything y h ng I loved oved to o realize ea ze this? h ? They cou could d bu build d this h tech ech anywhe anywhere e -- they hey cou could dd distribute bu e it on online ne and peop people e cou could d acce access it from om their he living v ng rooms! oom Bu But that ha wou would d neve never do do. Do Doing ng it he here e wa was be better e for o the he o old d Whu Whufe e -- they'd hey d make ove over D Disney ney Wo World d and ho hold d it, a single ng e ad-hoc whe where e three h ee hund hundred ed had ou ourished hed be before, o e smoothly moo h y ope operating a ng a pa park k twice w ce the he size ze o of Manha Manhattan. an I stood ood and stalked a ked ou out o of the he theater, hea e ou out into n oL Liberty be y Squa Square e and the he Pa Park. k It had coo cooled ed down w without hou d drying y ng ou out, and there he e wa was a damp ch chill that ha c crawled aw ed up my back and made my b breath ea h stick ck in n my throat. h oa I turned u ned to o con contemplate emp a e the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents, e den staid a d and solid o da as it had been since nce my boyhood and be before, o e a monumen monument to o the he Imagineers mag nee who an anticipated c pa ed the he B Bitchun chun Soc Society, e y inspired n p ed it. I ca called ed Dan Dan, still snoring no ng back in n the he theater, hea e and woke h him. m He g grunted un ed un unintelligibly n e g b y in n my coch cochlea. ea "They They d did d it -- they hey k killed ed me." I knew they me hey had had, and I wa was g glad. ad It made wha what I had to o do nex next ea easier. e "Oh, Oh Jesus. e u They d didn't dn k kill you -- they hey o offered e ed their he backup backups, remember? emembe ? They cou couldn't dn have done it." "Bullshit!" Bu h I shouted hou ed into n o the he emp empty yn night. gh "Bullshit! Bu h They d did d it, and they hey fucked ucked w with h their he backup backups somehow. omehow They mu must have have. It's a all too oo nea neat and tidy. dy How e else e cou could d they hey have go gotten en so o far a w with h the he Ha Hall so o fast? a ? They knew it wa was com coming, ng they hey p planned anned a d disruption, up on and they hey moved in. n Te Tell me that ha you think h nk they hey just u had these he e p plans an lying y ng a around ound and moved on them hem when they hey cou could." d Dan g groaned, oaned and I hea heard dh his joints o n popp popping. ng He mu must have been stretching. e ch ng The Pa Park kb breathed ea hed a around ound me me, the he sounds ound o of ma maintenance n enance c crews ew scurrying cu y ng in n the he n night. gh "I do be believe eve that. ha C Clearly, ea y you don don't. It's no not the he rst time me we we've ve d disagreed. ag eed So now wha what?" ? "Now Now we save ave the he Man Mansion," on I said. a d "Now Now we gh ght back back." "Oh, Oh shit," h Dan said. a d I have to o adm admit, there he e wa was a pa part o of me that ha concu concurred. ed # My oppo opportunity un y came later a e that ha week week. Deb Debra's a ad-hoc ad-hocs we were e showboating, howboa ng announc announcing ng a special pec a p preview ev ew o of the he new Ha Hall to o the he o other he ad-hoc ad-hocs that ha wo worked ked in n the he Pa Park. k It wa was c classic a c chu chutzpah, zpah letting e ng the he key inuencers nuence in n the he Pa Park k in n long ong be before o e the he bug bugs we were e hamme hammered ed ou out. A smooth moo h run un wou would d ga garner ne the he k kind nd o of impressed mp e ed reaction eac on that ha gua guaranteed an eed con continued nued support uppo wh while e they hey n nished hed up up; a failed a ed demo cou could d doom them. hem The There e we were ep plenty en y o of peop people e in n the he Pa Park k who had a sentimental en men a a attachment achmen to o the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents, e den and wha whatever eve Deb Debra's a peop people e came up w with h wou would d have to o an answer we their he longing. ong ng "I'm m go going ng to o do it du during ng the he demo demo," I told o d Dan Dan, wh while eIp piloted o ed the he runabout unabou from om home to o the he ca castmember membe pa parking. k ng I snuck nuck a look ook a at h him m to o gauge h his reaction. eac on He had h his poke poker face ace on on. "I'm m no not go going ng to o tell e L Lil," I con continued. nued "It's be better e that ha she he doe doesn't n know -- p plausible au b e den deniability." ab y "And And me? me?" he said. a d "Don't Don I need p plausible au b e den deniability?" ab y? "No," No I said. a d "No, No you don don't. You You're e an ou outsider. de You can make the he ca case e that ha you we were e wo working k ng on you your own -- gone rogue." ogue I knew it wa wasn't n fair. a Dan wa was he here e to o bu build d up h his Whu Whufe, e and if he wa was implicated mp ca ed in n my d dirty y scheme, cheme he he'd d have to o start a ove over aga again. n I knew it wa wasn't n fair, a bu but I d didn't dn ca care. e I knew that ha we we were e gh ghting ng for o ou our own survival. u v va "It's good ve versus u ev evil, Dan Dan. You don don't wan want to o be a po post-person. -pe on You wan want to o stay ay human human. The rides de a are e human human. We each med mediate a e them hem through h ough ou our own expe experience. ence We We're e phy physically ca y inside n de o of them, hem and they hey talk a k to ou us through h ough ou our senses. en e Wha What Deb Debra's a peop people ea are e bu building d ng -- it's h hive-mind ve-m nd shit. h D Directly ec y implanting mp an ng thoughts! hough Jesus! e u It's no not an expe experience, ence it's b brainwashing! a nwa h ng You go gotta a know that." ha I wa was p pleading, ead ng a arguing gu ng w with h my myself e a as much a as w with hh him. m I snuck nuck ano another he look ook a at h him ma as I sped ped a along ong the he D Disney ney backback-roads, oad lined ned w with h sweaty wea y F Florida o da p pines ne and immaculate mmacu a e pu purple p e signage. gnage Dan wa was looking ook ng thoughtful, hough u the he way he had back in n ou our o old d day days in n To Toronto. on o Some o of my tension en on d dissipated. pa ed He wa was thinking h nk ng abou about it -- I'd d go gotten en through h ough to oh him. m "Jules, u e this h isn't n one o of you your be better e ideas." dea My che chest tightened, gh ened and he pa patted ed my shoulder. hou de He had the he knack o of pu putting ng me a at my ea ease, e even when he wa was telling e ng me that ha I wa was an idiot. d o "Even Even if Deb Debra a wa was beh behind nd you your a assassination a na on -- and that's ha no not a ce certainty, a n y we bo both h know that. ha Even if that's ha the he ca case, e we we've ve go got be better e mean means a at ou our d disposal. po a Improving mp ov ng the he Man Mansion, on compe competing ng w with h he her head to o head head, that's ha smart. ma G Give ve it a little e wh while e and we can come back a at he her, take ake ove over the he Ha Hall -- even the he P Pirates, a e that'd ha d really ea y p piss he her o off. He Hell, if we can p prove ove she he wa was beh behind nd the he a assassination, a na on we can cha chase e he her o off right gh now now. Sabo Sabotage age is no not go going ng to o do you any good good. You You've ve go got lots o o of o other he op options." on "But Bu none o of them hem a are e fast a enough enough, and none o of them hem a are e emo emotionally ona y satisfying. a y ng Th This way ha has some ome goddamn _ba _balls_." _ We reached eached ca castmember membe pa parking, k ng I swung wung the he runabout unabou into n o a slot o and stalked a ked ou out be before o e it had a chance to o ex extrude ude its recharger echa ge cock cock. I hea heard d Dan Dan's doo door slam am beh behind nd me and knew that ha he wa was following o ow ng beh behind. nd We took ook to o the he u utilidors do g grimly. m y I wa walked ked pa past the he came cameras, a know knowing ng that ha my image mage wa was be being ng a archived, ch ved my p presence e ence logged. ogged I'd dp picked cked the he timing m ng o of my raid a d ca carefully: e u y by a arriving v ng a at h high gh noon noon, I wa was sticking ck ng to o my traditional ad ona pa pattern e n for o wa watching ch ng ho hot-weather -wea he c crowd owd dynam dynamics. c I'd d made a po point n o of v visiting ng twice w ce du during ng the he p previous ev ou week a at this h time, me and o of dawd dawdling ng in n the he comm commissary a y be before o e head heading ng topside. op de The de delay ay be between ween my a arrival va in n the he runabout unabou and my showing how ng up a at the he Man Mansion on wou would d no not be d discrepant. c epan Dan dogged my hee heels a as I swung wung towards owa d the he comm commissary, a y and then hen hugged the he wa wall, in n the he came camera's a b blindspot. nd po Back in n my ea early y day days in n the he Pa Park, k when I wa was cou courting ng L Lil, she he showed howed me the he A-Vac A-Vac, the he o old d pneuma pneumatic c wa waste-disposal e-d po a system, y em decomm decommissioned oned in n the he 20 20s. The k kids d who g grew ew up in n the he Pa Park k had been no notorious o ou exp explorers oe o of the he tubes, ube wh which ch still wh whiffed ed faintly an yo of the he ga garbage bage bag bags they'd hey d once wh whisked ked a at 60 mph to o the he dump on the he p property's ope y ou outskirts, k but for bu o ab brave, ave limber mbe k kid, d the he tubes ube we were e a subterranean ub e anean wonde wonderland and to o exp explore o e when the he hype hypermediated med a ed expe experiences ence o of the he Pa Park k lost o their he luster. u e I snarled na ed a g grin n and popped open the he service e v ce en entrance. ance "If they hey hadn hadn't k killed ed me and forced o ced me to o switch w ch to o a new body body, I p probably obab y wou wouldn't dn be ex exible b e enough to o t in," n Ih hissed ed a at Dan Dan. "Ironic, on c huh? huh?" I c clambered ambe ed inside n de w without hou wa waiting ng for o a reply, ep y and started a ed inching nch ng my way unde under the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents. e den # My p plan an had cove covered ed eve every y conce conceivable vab e de detail, a excep except one one, wh which ch d didn't dn occu occur to o me un until I wa was forty o ym minutes nu e into n o the he pneuma pneumatic c tube, ube a arms m he held d be before o e me and legs eg ang angled ed back like ke a swimmer's. w mme How wa was I go going ng to o reach each into n o my pocke pockets? ? Spec Specically, ca y how wa was I go going ng to o retrieve e eve my HERF gun from om my back pan pants-pocket, -pocke when I cou couldn't dn even bend my e elbows? bow ? The HERF gun wa was the he c crux ux o of the he p plan: an a H High gh Ene Energy gy Rad Radio oF Frequency equency gene generator ao w with had directional, ec ona focused ocu ed beam that ha wou would d punch up through h ough the he oo oor o of the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents e den and fuse u e eve every y goddamn scrap c ap o of un unshielded h e ded e electronics ec on c on the he p premises. em e I'd d go gotten en the he ge germ mo of the he idea dea du during ng T Tim's m rst demo demo, when I'd d seen een a all o of h his p prototypes o o ype spread p ead ou out back backstage, age ca cases e o off, ready eady to o be tinkered nke ed w with. h Un Unshielded. h e ded "Dan," Dan I said, a d my vo voice ce odd oddly y mu mufed ed by the he tube's ube wa walls. "Yeah?" Yeah? he said. a d He He'd d been silent en du during ng the he journey, ou ney the he sound ound o of h his pa painful, nu e elbow-dragging bow-d agg ng p progress og e through h ough the he lightless gh e tube ube my on only y indicator nd ca o o of h his p presence. e ence "Can Can you reach each my back pocke pocket?" ? "Oh, Oh shit," h he said. a d "Goddamn Goddamn it," I said, a d "keep keep the he fucking uck ng ed editorial o a to o you yourself. e Can you reach each it o or no not?" ? I hea heard dh him mg grunt un a as he pu pulled ed h himself m e up in n the he tube, ube then hen felt e h his hand g groping op ng up my ca calf. Soon Soon, h his che chest wa was c crushing u h ng my ca calves ve into n o the he tube's ube oo oor and h his hand wa was paw pawing ng a around ound my a ass. "I can reach each it," he said. a d I cou could d tell e from om h his tone one that ha he wa wasn't n too oo happy abou about my snapping napp ng a at h him, m bu but I wa was too oo w wrapped apped up to o con consider de an apo apology, ogy de despite p e wha what mu must be happen happening ng to o my Whu Whufe e a as Dan d did dh his slow ow bu burn. n He fumbled umb ed the he gun -- a na narrow ow cy cylinder nde a as long ong a as my pa palm m -- ou out o of my pocke pocket. "Now Now wha what?" ? he said. a d "Can Can you pa pass it up? up?" I a asked. ked Dan c crawled aw ed h higher, ghe ove overtop op o of me me, bu but stuck uck fast a when h his ribcage bcage me met my g glutes. u e "I can can't ge get any further," u he he said. a d "Fine," F ne I said. a d "You'll You have to o re e it, then." hen I he held d my b breath. ea h Wou Would d he do it? ? It wa was one thing h ng to o be my accomp accomplice, ce ano another he to o be the he au author ho o of the he de destruction. uc on "Aw, Aw Jules," u e he said. a d "A A simple mp e ye yes o or no no, Dan Dan. Tha That's a all I wan want to o hea hear from om you you." I wa was bo boiling ng w with h ange anger -- a at my myself, e a at Dan Dan, a at Deb Debra, a a at the he who whole e goddamn thing. h ng "Fine," F ne he said. a d "Good. Good D Dial a it up to o max d dispersion pe on and po point n it straight a gh up up." I hea heard dh him m release e ea e the he ca catch, ch felt e a staticky a cky c crackle ack e in n the he a air, and then hen it wa was done done. The gun wa was a oneone-shot, ho something ome h ng I'd d con conscated ca ed from om a m mischievous ch evou gue guest a decade be before, o e when they'd hey d had a b brief e vogue vogue. "Hang Hang on to o it," I said. a d I had no intention n en on o of leaving eav ng such uch a damn damning ng b bit o of ev evidence dence beh behind. nd I resumed e umed my be bellycrawl yc aw forward o wa d to o the he nex next service e v ce ha hatch, ch nea near the he parking pa k ng lot, o whe where e I'd d stashed a hed an identical den ca change o of c clothes o he for o bo both ho of u us. # We made it back just u a as the he demo wa was ge getting ng unde underway. way Deb Debra's a ad-hoc ad-hocs we were e ranged anged a around ound the he mezzan mezzanine ne inside n de the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents, e den a co collection ec on o of inuential nuen a ca castmembers membe from om o other he ad-hoc ad-hocs lling ng the he p pre-show e- how a area ea to o capac capacity. y Dan and I led ed in n just u a as T Tim m wa was stringing ng ng the he ve velvet ve rope ope up beh behind nd the he c crowd. owd He gave me a genu genuine ne smile m e and shook hook my hand hand, and I smiled m ed back back, full u o of good feelings ee ng now that ha I knew that ha he wa was go going ng down in n ame ames. I found ound L Lil and slipped pped my hand into n o he hers a as we led ed into n o the he aud auditorium, o um wh which ch had the he new-ca new-car smell me o of rug ug shampoo hampoo and fresh e he electronics. ec on c We took ook ou our seats ea and I bounced my leg eg ne nervously, vou y compu compulsively, ve y wh while e Deb Debra, a d dressed e ed in nL Lincoln's nco n coa coat and stovepipe, ovep pe de delivered ve ed a short ho speech. peech The There e wa was some ome k kind nd o of b broadcast oadca rig g moun mounted ed ove over the he stage age now now, something ome h ng to oa allow ow them hem to o beam u us a all their he app in n one humongou humongous bu burst. Deb Debra a n nished hed up and stepped epped o off the he stage age to o a po polite e round ound o of app applause, au e and they hey started a ed the he demo demo. No Nothing h ng happened happened. I tried ed to o keep the he shit-eating h -ea ng g grin no off my face ace a as no nothing h ng happened. No tone happened one in n my coch cochlea ea indicating nd ca ng a new le e in n my pub public cd directory, ec o y no rush u ho of sensation, en a on no nothing. h ng I turned u ned to oL Lil to o make some ome snotty no y remark, ema k bu but he her eye eyes we were ec closed, o ed he her mou mouth h lolling o ng open open, he her b breath ea h com coming ng in n short ho hu huffs. Down the he row, ow eve every y ca castmember membe wa was in n the he same ame a attitude ude o of deep deep, m mind-blown nd-b own concen concentration. a on I pu pulled ed up a d diagnostic agno c HUD HUD. No Nothing. h ng No d diagnostics. agno c No HUD HUD. I co cold-rebooted. d- eboo ed No Nothing. h ng I wa was o ofine. ne # O Ofine, ne I led ed ou out o of the he Ha Hall o of P Presidents. e den O Ofine, ne I took ook L Lil's hand and wa walked ked to o the he L Liberty be y Be Belle e load-zone, oad-zone ou our spot po for o p private va e conve conversations. a on O Ofine, ne I bummed a c cigarette ga e e from om he her. L Lil wa was up upset e -- even through h ough my bemu bemused, ed o ofine ne haze haze, I cou could d tell e that. ha Tea Tears p pricked cked he her eye eyes. "Why Why d didn't dn you tell e me? me?" she he said, ad a after e a ha hard d momen moment's staring a ng into n o the he moon moonlight gh reecting eec ng o off the he river. ve "Tell Te you? you?" I said, a d dumb dumbly. y "They're They e really ea y good good. They They're e be better e than han good good. They They're e be better e than han u us. Oh Oh, God God." O Ofine, ne I cou couldn't dn nd stats a o or signals gna to o he help p me d discuss cu the he ma matter. e O Ofine, ne I tried ed it w without hou he help. p "I don don't think h nk so. o I don don't think h nk they've hey ve go got soul, ou I don don't think h nk they've hey ve go got h history, o y I don don't think h nk they've hey ve go got any k kind nd o of connec connection on to o the he pa past. The wo world dg grew ew up in n the he D Disneys ney -- they hey v visit this h p place ace for o con continuity nu y a as much a as for o en entertainment. e a nmen We p provide ov de that." ha I'm mo ofine, ne and they're hey e no not -- wha what the he he hell happened? "It'll be okay okay, L Lil. The There's e no nothing h ng in n that ha p place ace that's ha be better e than han u us. D Different e en and new new, bu but no not be better. e You know that ha -- you you've ve spent pen mo more e time me in n the he Man Mansion on than han anyone anyone, you know how much renement, enemen how much wo work k there he e is in n there. he e How can something ome h ng they hey wh whipped pped up in n a coup couple e week weeks po possibly b y be be better e that ha this h thing h ng we we've ve been ma maintaining n a n ng for o a all these he e yea years?" ? She g ground ound the he back o of he her sleeve eeve aga against n he her eye eyes and smiled. m ed "Sorry," So y she he said. a d He Her no nose e wa was red, ed he her eye eyes pu puffy, y he her freckles eck e livid v d ove over the he u ush ho of he her cheek cheeks. "Sorry So y -- it's just u shocking. hock ng Maybe you you're e right. gh And even if you you're e no not -- hey hey, that's ha the he who whole e po point n o of a me meritocracy, oc acy right? gh ? The be best stuff u survives, u v ve eve everything y h ng e else e ge gets supplanted. upp an ed "Oh, Oh shit, h I ha hate e how I look ook when I c cry," y she he said. a d "Let's Le go cong congratulate a u a e them." hem A As I took ook he her hand hand, I wa was ob obscurely cu e y p pleased ea ed w with h my myself e for o hav having ng improved mp oved he her mood w without hou a articial c a a assistance. ance # Dan wa was nowhere nowhe e to o be seen een a as L Lil and I moun mounted ed the he stage age a at the he Ha Hall, whe where e Deb Debra's a ad-hoc ad-hocs and a kno knot o of we well-wishers -w he we were e ce celebrating eb a ng by pa passing ng a rock ock a around. ound Deb Debra a had lost o the he tailcoat a coa and ha hat, and wa was in n an ex extreme eme state a eo of relaxation, e axa on a arms m a around ound the he shoulders hou de o of two wo o of he her c cronies, on e p pipe pe be between ween he her teeth. ee h She g grinned nned a around ound the he p pipe pe a as L Lil and I stumbled umb ed through h ough some ome insincere n nce e comp compliments, men nodded nodded, and toked oked heav heavily y wh while eT Tim m app applied ed a torch o ch to o the he bow bowl. "Thanks," Thank she he said, a d laconically. acon ca y "It wa was a team eam e effort." o She hugged he her c cronies on e to o he her, a almost mo knock knocking ng their he head heads together. oge he L Lil said, a d "What's Wha you your timeline, me ne then?" hen? Deb Debra a started a ed un unreeling ee ng a long ong spiel p e abou about c critical ca pa paths, h m milestones, e one requirements equ emen mee meetings, ng and I tuned uned he her ou out. Ad-hoc Ad-hocs we were ec crazy azy for o that ha p process oce stuff. u I stared a ed a at my feet, ee a at the he oo oorboards, boa d and realized ea zed that ha they hey we weren't en oo oorboards boa d a at a all, bu but faux-nish aux-n h pa painted n ed ove over a coppe copper me mesh h -- a Fa Faraday aday cage cage. Tha That's why the he HERF gun hadn hadn't done any anything; h ng that's ha why they'd hey d been so o ca casual ua abou about wo working k ng w with h the he shielding h e d ng o off their he compu computers. e W With h my eye eye, I followed o owed the he coppe copper shielding h e d ng a around ound the he en entire e stage age and up the he walls, whe wa where e it d disappeared appea ed into n o the he ce ceiling. ng Once aga again, n I wa was struck uck by the he evo evolvedness vedne o of Deb Debra's a ad-hoc ad-hocs, how their he trial a by re e in n Ch China na had a armored mo ed them hem aga against n the he k kind nd o of bu bush-league h- eague jiggery-pokery gge y-poke y that ha the he fuzzy uzzy bunn bunnies e in nF Florida o da -- my myself e included nc uded -- came up w with. h Fo For instance, n ance I d didn't dn think h nk there he e wa was a single ng e ca castmember membe in n the he Pa Park k ou outside de o of Deb Deb's c clique que w with h the he stones one to o stage age an a assassination. a na on Once I'd d made that ha leap, eap I realized ea zed that ha it wa was on only y a ma matter e o of time me un until they hey staged aged ano another he one -- and ano another, he and ano another. he Wha Whatever eve they hey cou could d ge get away w with. h Deb Debra's a spiel p e na nally y wound down and L Lil and I headed away away. I stopped opped in n front on o of the he backup terminal e m na in n the he ga gateway eway be between ween L Liberty be y Squa Square e and Fan Fantasyland. a y and "When When wa was the he last a time me you backed up? up?" I a asked ked he hey cou d go a e me hey m gh go a e any o u Ye e day he a d She exuded bone-wea ne a me ook ng mo e ke an ove med a ed gue han a e e ca membe Le un ano he backup huh? We hou d ea y back up a n gh and a unch me -- w h h ng he way hey a e we can a o d o o e an a e noon wo k much e a week L o ed he eye knew be e han o a gue w h he when he wa ed bu h wa oo c uc a o e a de o pe u ance You can back up ha o en you wan o u u bu don e me how o ve my e okay? Come on L -- on y ake a m nu e and d make me ee a o be e P ea e? ha ed he wh ne n my vo ce No u u No Le go home and ge ome eep wan o do ome wo k on new me ch o he Man on -- ome co ec b e u maybe Fo Ch ake ea y o much o a k? F ne Wa wh e back up hen a gh ? L g oaned and g a ed a me app oached he e m na and cued a backup No h ng happened Oh yeah gh wa o ne A coo wea b oke ou a ove my new body # L g abbed he couch a oon a we go n mumb ng ome h ng abou wan ng o wo k on ome ev ed me ch dea he d had g a ed a he a he ubvoca zed and a - yped n he co ne hu away om me hadn o d he ha wa o ne ye -- u eemed ke n gn can pe ona b ch ng e a ve o he c e he wa cop ng w h Be de d been knocked o ne be o e hough no n y yea and o en a no he y em gh ed e a e a good n gh eep cou d v he doc o n he mo n ng h ng we e c ewy So c aw ed n o bed and when my b adde woke me n he n gh had o go n o he k chen o con u ou o d a bu c ock o ge he me wa 3 a m and when he he had we expunged he hou e o a mep ece anyway? L wa acked ou on he couch and comp a ned eeb y when ed o ou e he o cove ed he w h a b anke and wen back o bed a one woke d o en ed and c abby w hou my cu oma y mo n ng o o endo ph n V v d d eam o dea h and de uc on pped away a a up p e e ed o e my ubcon c ou do own h ng o d ong ago p og ammed my y em o keep me a eep du ng REM cyc e excep n eme genc e The d eam e a ou a e n my m nd a agge ed n o he k chen whe e L wa x ng co ee Why d dn you wake me up a n gh ? m one b g ache om eep ng on he couch L a d a umb ed n She had he pe ky aun y qua y o omeone who cou d n uc he ne vou y em o manu ac u e endo ph n and ad ena ne a w e ke punch ng he wa You wou dn ge up a d and opped co ee n he gene a d ec on o a mug hen ca ded my ongue w h And why a e you up o a e? wa hop ng you wou d cove a h o me -- he me ch dea a e ea y com ng oge he and wan ed o h he mag nee ng hop and y ome p o o yp ng Can o aged a ce o b ead w h chee e and no ced a c umby p a e n he nk Dan had a eady ea en and gone appa en y Rea y? he a d and my b ood a ed o bo n ea ne ammed Dan p a e n o he d hwa he and hoved b ead n o my maw Ye Rea y you h -- uck ng wo k o ca n ck L ee ed No ma y wa he ou o wee ne n he mo n ng when wa ho mona y enhanced anyway Wha w ong honey? he a d go ng n o he p u ca membe mode Now wan ed o h ome h ng be de he wa u eave me a one a gh ? Go dd e w h uck ng me ch ve go ea wo k o do -- n ca e you haven no ced Deb a abou o ea you and you e band o p ucky adven u e and p ck he ee h w h he bone Fo God ake L don you eve ge uck ng ang y abou any h ng? Don you have any goddamned pa on? L wh ened and e a nk ng ee ng n my gu wa he wo h ng cou d po b y have a d L and me h ee yea be o e a a ba becue ha ome end o he pa en h ew a k nd o ca membe m xe She d been u 19 -- appa en and ea -- and had a bubb y y v be ha made me d m he a a u ano he a head ca membe He pa en -- Tom and R a -- on he o he hand we e a c na ng peop e membe o he o g na ad-hoc ha had e zed powe n Wa D ney Wo d w e ng con o om a gang o wea hy o me ha eho de who d been ope a ng a he p va e p e e ve R a wa appa en 20 o o bu he ad a ed a ma u y and a e y devo on o he Pa k ha h ew he daugh e upe c a y n o ha p e e They h obbed w h Whu e Whu e beyond mea u e beyond u e n a wo d whe e even a ze oed-ou Whu e o e cou d ea eep ave and acce he ne w hou ha e he wea h wa mo e han u c en o epea ed y acce he p ng ew ca ce h ng e on ea h ove and ove The conve a on u ned o he day when he and he pa had u ed a cu ng o ch on he u n e and pou ed n wea ng homemade co ume and name ag They n a ed he hop he con o cen e he de by he hund ed hen a he ho u y day cked by by he hou and The ha eho de ackey -- who wo ked he Pa k o he chance o be a pa o he mag c even hey had no con o ove he managemen dec on -- pu up a oken e ance Be o e he day wa ou hough he ma o y had h own n he o w h he a de hand ng ove ecu y code and p ch ng n Bu we knew he ha eho de wou dn g ve n a ea y a ha L mo he a d pp ng he emonade We kep he Pa k unn ng 24 7 o he nex wo week neve g v ng he ha eho de a chance o gh back w hou do ng n on o he gue We d p ea anged w h a coup e o a ne ad-hoc o add ex a ou e o O ando and he gue came pou ng n She m ed emembe ng he momen and he ea u e n epo e we e L a mo den ca y wa on y when he wa a k ng ha he ace changed mu c e ugg ng n o an exp e on decade o de han he ace ha bo e pen mo o he me unn ng he me ch and a Madame Leo a ou de he Man on g adhand ng he gue wh e h ng na e back and o h w h he ha eho de who kep y ng o hove me ou ep n a eep ng bag on he oo o he u do w h a coup e dozen o he n h ee hou h Tha wa when me h a ho e -- he chucked he hu band on he hou de -- he d go en he w ong eep ng bag by m ake and wou dn budge when came down o c a h u c aw ed n nex o h m and he e a hey ay h o y L o ed he eye and made gagg ng no e e u R a no one need o hea abou ha pa o Tom pa ed he a m L you e an adu -- you can omach hea ng abou you pa en cou h p you can e he omewhe e e e o g n and bea Bu you don ge o d c a e he op c o conve a on L gave u adu a ve y you h u g a e and ounced o R a hook he head a L depa ng back de The e no much e n ha gene a on he a d No a o o pa on ou au -- we hough ha D ney Wo d wou d be he be p ace o a e a ch d n he B chun Soc e y Maybe wa bu She a ed o and ubbed he pa m on he h gh a ge u e d come o know n L by and by gue he e a en enough cha enge o hem he e day They e oo coope a ve She aughed and he hu band ook he hand We ound ke ou pa en Tom a d When we we e g ow ng up we d dn have any o h new ang ed e-ex en on u -- we ook ou chance w h he cave bea and he d no au Tom wo e h m e o de appa en 50 w h g ay ng dewa and c nk ed m e- ne he be e o p e en a non- h ea en ng a o au ho y o he gue wa a u m among he -gen ad-hoc ha women ca membe hou d wea hem e ve young men o d We e u a coup e o B chun undamen a gue L ca ed ove om a nea by conve a on A e hey e ng you wha a pack o m k op we a e u u ? When you ge ed o ha why don you come ove he e and have a moke? no ced ha he and he coho we e pa ng a c ack p pe Wha he u e? L mo he ghed Oh don know ha a bad a a ha a d v ua y my wo d o he a e noon wa pa n u y con c ou ha wa on y he e by cou e y u one o he eg on o hope u who ocked o O ando eve y yea a p ng o a p ace among he u ng c que They e pa ona e abou ma n a n ng he Pa k ha o u e made he m ake o ng a queue-ga e a he ung eboa C u e a week and go a ve y ea ne ec u e abou he moo h unc on ng o he Pa k om a ca membe who cou dn have been mo e han 18 h nk ha hey don have he pa on o c ea ng B chun y ha we have -- hey don need -- bu hey ve go p en y o d ve o ma n a n L mo he gave me a ong con de ng ook ha d dn know wha o make o cou dn e had o ended he o wha mean you can be a evo u ona y a e he evo u on can you? D dn we a ugg e o ha k d ke L wou dn have o? Funny you hou d ay ha Tom a d He had he ame con de ng ook on h ace u ye e day we we e a k ng abou he ve y ame h ng We we e a k ng -- he d ew a b ea h and ooked a kance a h w e who nodded -- abou deadhead ng Fo a wh e anyway See h ng changed much n y o a hund ed yea e a k nd o hame u d appo n men Why wa wa ng my me chmooz ng w h he e wo when hey wou dn be a ound when he me came o vo e me n? ban hed he hough a qu ck y a came -- wa a k ng o hem becau e hey we e n ce peop e No eve y conve a on had o be a eg ca y mpo an Rea y? Deadhead ng emembe ha hough o Dan hen abou h v ew on he cowa d ce o deadhead ng on he b ave y o end ng when you ound you e ob o e e He d com o ed me once when my a v ng e a ve my unc e op ed o go o eep o h ee hou and yea My unc e had been bo n p e-B chun and had neve qu e go en he hang o S he wa my nk o my am y o my adu hood and my on y ch dhood Dan had aken me o Gananoque and we d pen he day bound ng a ound he coun y de on even- eague boo a ng h gh ove he ake o he Thou and and and he c azy e y ca pe o au umn eave We opped o he day a a da y commune he knew whe e hey made chee e om cow m k and he e d been a hou and me and bo e o ong c de and a g who e name d ong nce o go en bu who e exube an augh d emembe o eve And wa n o mpo an hen my unc e go ng o eep o h ee m enn a becau e wha eve happened he e we e he eave and he ake and he c p un e he co o o b ood and he g augh Have you a ked o L abou ? R a hook he head u a hough ea y We don wan o wo y he She no good w h ha d dec on -- he gene a on They changed he ub ec no ong he ea e and en ed d com o knew ha hey had o d me oo much mo e han hey d n ended d ed o and ound L and he young pa and we oked a e and cudd ed a e W h n a mon h wa wo k ng a he Haun ed Man on Tom and R a we e nve ed n Canop c a n K mee w h n uc on no o be woken un he new bo g abbed u c en n e e ng ma e a o make wo h he wh e and L and we e a ho em L d dn dea we w h he pa en dec on o deadhead Fo he wa a ap n he ace a ep oach o he and he gene a on o w e ng Po yann c ca membe Fo God ake L don you eve ge uck ng ang y abou any h ng? Don you have any goddamned pa on? The wo d we e ou o my mou h be o e knew wa ay ng hem and L 15 pe cen o my age young enough o be my g ea -g anddaugh e L my ove and be end and pon o o he L be y Squa e ad-hoc acy L u ned wh e a a hee u ned on he hee and wa ked ou o he k chen She go n he unabou and wen o he Pa k o ake he h wen back o bed and a ed a he ce ng an a made azy u n and e ke h ========= CHAPTER 5 ========= When na y e u ned o he Pa k 36 hou had pa ed and L had no come back o he hou e he d ed o ca he wou d ve go en my vo cema -- had no way o an we ng my phone A u ned ou he hadn been y ng o each me a a d pen he me a e na e y mop ng d nk ng and p o ng e b e a ona vengeance on Deb a o k ng me de oy ng my e a on h p ak ng away my be oved n h nd gh anyway Ha o P e den and h ea en ng he Man on Even n my add ed a e knew ha h wa p e y unp oduc ve and kep p om ng ha wou d cu ou ake a howe and ome obe -up and ge o wo k a he Man on wa wo k ng up he ene gy o do u ha when Dan came n e u he a d hocked gue wa a b o a me p aw ed on he o a n my unde wea a gamy and baggy and b ood ho Hey Dan How go n ? He gave me one o h pa en ed w y ook and e he ame we d eve a o o e ha we d unde gone a he U o T when he had become he na ve and had become he n e ope He wa he oge he one w h he w y ook and wa he pa he c eeke who d bu ned a h epu a on cap a Ou o hab checked my Whu e and a momen a e opped be ng a ed by ow co e and wa n ead hocked by he ac ha cou d check a a wa back on ne Now wha do you know abou ha ? a d a ng a my d ma Whu e Wha ? he a d ca ed h coch ea My y em a e back on ne ubvoca zed He a ed You we e o ne? umped up om he couch and d d a e happy unde wea dance _wa _ bu m no _now_ e be e han had n day eady o bea he wo d -- o a ea Deb a Le me ake a howe hen e ge o he mag nee ng ab ve go a p e y k cka dea # The dea a exp a ned n he unabou wa a p eemp ve ehab o he Man on Sabo ag ng he Ha had been a na y up d dea and d go en wha de e ved o The who e po n o he B chun Soc e y wa o be mo e epu ab e han he nex ad-hoc o ucceed on me no cke y de p e a a na on and he ke So a ehab wou d be Back n he ea y day o he D ney and Man on n Ca o n a exp a ned Wa had a guy n a u o a mo u pa he Doom Buggy cu ve he d eap ou and ca e he he ou o he gue a hey wen by d dn a ong o cou e The poo ba a d kep ge ng punched ou by a ed gue and be de he a mo wa n oo com o ab e o ong h Dan chuck ed app ec a ve y The B chun Soc e y had a bu done away w h any o o du epe ou abo and wha ema ned -- end ng ba mopp ng o e -- commanded Whu e ap en y and a e o e u e n you o -hou Bu ha guy n he u o a mo he cou d _ mp ov e_ You d ge a gh y d e en how eve y me ke he ca membe who p e on he ung eboa C u e They ve each go he own pa e he own oke and even hough he an ma on c a en o ho make he how wo h ee ng You e go ng o he Man on w h ca membe n a mo ? Dan a ked hak ng h head waved away h ob ec on cau ng he unabou o we ve e y ng a pack o gue who we e ak ng a de on en ed b ke a ound he p ope y No a d app ng a hand apo oge ca y a he wh e- aced gue No a a Bu wha a o he an ma on c had human ope a o -- e econ o e wo k ng w h wa doe ? We e hem n e ac w h he gue a k w h hem ca e hem We ge d o he ex ng an ma on c ep ace em w h u -mob y obo hen ca he pa ove he Ne Th nk o he Whu e You cou d pu ay a hou and ope a o on ne a once en h pe day each o hem caugh up n ou Man on We g ve ou awa d o ou and ng pe o mance he h be ba ed on popu a vo e n e ec we be add ng ano he en hou and gue o he Man on h oughpu eve y day on y he e gue w be hono a y ca membe Tha p e y good Dan a d Ve y B chun Deb a may have A and a h-bak ng bu you have human n e ac on cou e y o he b gge Man on- an n he wo d -- And ho e a e he ve y an Deb a have o w n ove o make a p ay o he Man on Ve y e egan huh? # The o de o bu ne wa o ca L pa ch h ng up and p ch he dea o he The on y p ob em wa my coch ea wa o ne aga n My mood a ed o ou and had Dan ca he n ead We me he up a mag nee ng a ma ve comp ex o p e ab a um num bu d ng pa n ed Go-Away G een ha had h onged w h mad nven o nce he B chun Soc e y had come o Wa D ney Wo d The ad-hoc who had bu an mag nee ng depa men n F o da and now an he h ng we e he ea po ca n he Pa k c a c abcoa -and-c pboa d ype who wou d wo k o anyone o ong a he dea we e coo No ca ng abou Whu e mean ha hey accumu a ed n p en y on bo h he e and gh hand L wa wo k ng w h Suneep AKA he Me ch M ac e He cou d de gn p o o ype and p oduce a ouven a e han anyone -- h cu p u e pen oy hou ewa e he wa he k ng They we e co abo a ng on he HUD ac ng each o he ac o a ab-bench n he m dd e o a ab a b g a a ba ke ba cou c u e ed w h ogoma ked cho chke and gabb ng away wh e he eye danced ove nv b e c een Dan eex ve y o ned he co abo a ve pace a he en e ed he ab eav ng me he on y one ou on he oke Dan wa c ea y de gh ed by wha he aw nudged h m w h an e bow Make a ha dcopy h ed n ead o p y ng me he u a yped a ew command and page a ed o o ou o a p n e n he ab co ne Anyone e e wou d have made a b g dea ou o bu he u b ough me n o he d cu on needed p oo ha L and we e mean o each o he he de gn he and Suneep had come up w h we e mo e han enough She d been h nk ng u he way had -- ouven ha e ed he human ca e o he Man on The e we e m n a u e an ma on c o he H chh k ng Gho n a b ack- gh box he ke e a obo c v b e h ough he aye o p a c c o h ng ac on gu e ha commun ca ed by R o ha p ac ng one n p ox m y w h ano he wou d un ock Man on- n p ed behav o -- he aven cawed Mme Leo a head ncan ed he ng ng bu ang She d wo ked up ome o ma a e ba ed on he ca membe co ume cu n h yea y h ne wa good me ch wha m y ng o ay n my m nd eye wa ee ng he e aunch o he Man on n x mon h ed w h obo c ava a o Man on-nu he wo d ound Mme Leo a g ca p ed h gh w h b an wag o ng human p aye ad- bb ng w h he gue n he queue a ea L ooked up om he med a ed a e and g a ed a me a po ed ove he ha dcopy nodd ng en hu a ca y Pa ona e enough o you? he napped e a u h c eep ng n o ace my ea wa omewhe e be ween ange and hame and em nded my e ha wa mo e han a cen u y o de han he and wa my e pon b y o be ma u e A o d a ed he gh Th uck ng an a c L a d He ook d dn o en Rea y cho ce u had a g ea dea -- an down o he he ava a he obo he ehab She opped g a ng a ed ak ng no e m ng how ng me he d mp e he an ed eye c nk ng a he co ne Th n ea y he a d na y Suneep who d been po e y p e end ng no o en n nodded nvo un a y Dan oo know ha a d The u h bu ned ho e Bu ha he po n -- wha Deb a doe n ea y e he ky dange ou made he and he ad-hoc be e -- made hem ha pe _Sha pe han u ha o u e_ They can make dec on ke h a and execu e hem u a qu ck y We need o be ab e o do ha oo Wa ea y advoca ng be ng mo e ke Deb a? The wo d d u popped ou bu aw ha d been gh -- we d have o bea Deb a a he own game ou -evo ve he ad-hoc unde and wha you e ay ng L a d cou d e he wa up e -- he d eve ed o ca membe peak a ve y good dea h nk ha we and a good chance o mak ng happen we app oach he g oup and pu o hem a e do ng he e ea ch bu d ng he p an ay ng ou he c ca pa h and p va e y o c ng eedback om ome o hem e ke wa w mm ng n mo a e A he a e ha he L be y Squa e ad-hoc moved we d be ho d ng o ma equ emen ev ew wh e Deb a peop e o e down he Man on a ound u So ed a d e en ac c Suneep you ve been nvo ved n ome ehab gh ? Suneep nodded ow y w h a cau ou exp e on a nonpo ca an ma be ng d awn n o a po ca d cu on Okay o e me we came o you w h h p an and a ked you o pu oge he a p oduc on chedu e -- one ha d dn have any ev ew u ake he dea and un w h -- and hen pu o how ong wou d ake you o execu e ? L m ed p m y She d dea w h mag nee ng be o e Abou ve yea he a d a mo n an y F ve yea ? quawked Why ve yea ? Deb a peop e ove hau ed he Ha n a mon h Oh wa he a d No ev ew a a ? No ev ew u come up w h he be way you can o do h and do And we can p ov de you w h un m ed k ed abo h ee h a ound he c ock He o ed h eye back and cked o day on h nge wh e mu e ng unde h b ea h He wa a a h n man w h a hock o cu y da k ha ha he moo hed uncon c ou y w h u p ng y ubby nge wh e he hough Abou e gh week he a d Ba ng acc den a um ng o - he- he pa un m ed abo capab e managemen ma e a ava ab y He a ed o aga n and h ho nge wagg ed a he pu ed up a HUD and a ed mak ng a Wa L a d a a med How do you ge om ve yea o e gh week ? Now wa my u n o m k d een how mag nee ng wo ked when hey we e on he own bu d ng p o o ype and concep ua mockup -- knew ha he ea bo eneck wa he con an ev ew and ev on he eve -uc ua ng g oupm nd con en u o he ad-hoc ha comm oned he wo k Suneep ooked heep h We a have o do a y my e ha my p an a e good and my bu d ng won a down can make happen ve y a O cou e my p an a en pe ec Some me be ha way h ough a p o ec when omeone ugge a new ou h o app oach ha make he who e h ng mmea u ab y be e Then back o he d aw ng boa d So ay a he d aw ng boa d o a ong me a he a ge eedback om o he mag nee om he ad-hoc om ocu g oup and he Ne Then we do ev ew a eve y age o con uc on check o ee anyone ha had a g ea dea we haven hough o and nco po a e ome me o ng back he wo k ow bu wo k L wa u e ed Bu you can do a comp e e ev on n e gh week why no u n h hen p an ano he ev on do _ ha _ one n e gh week and o on? Why ake ve yea be o e anyone can de he h ng? Becau e ha how done a d o L Bu ha no how _ha _ o be done Tha how we ave he Man on e he u e y n de o me he ce a n know edge ha wa gh Ad-hoc acy wa a g ea h ng a B chun h ng bu he o gan za on needed o u n on a d me -- ha wou d be even _mo e_ B chun L a d ook ng n o he eye y ng o bu n my POV n o he We have o do h ou on y chance We ec u hund ed o come o F o da and wo k on he ehab We g ve eve y Man on nu on he p ane a ho a o n ng up hen we ec u hem aga n o wo k a o un he e ep e ence g We ge buy- n om he b gge upe - ecommende n he wo d and we bu d ome h ng be e and a e han any ad-hoc eve ha w hou abandon ng he o g na mag nee v on w be un peakab y B chun L d opped he eye and wa he u n o u h She paced he oo hand w ng ng a he de cou d e ha he wa ang y w h me bu exc ed and ca ed and ye pa ona e no up o me you know he a d a eng h pac ng Dan and exchanged w cked g n She wa n know a d Bu wa a mo -- he wa a ea op n on- eade n he L be y Squa e ad-hoc omeone who knew he y em back and o h omeone who made good ea onab e dec on and kep he head n a c No a ho head No p one o ak ng ad ca w chback Th p an wou d bu n up ha epu a on and he Whu e ha accompan ed n ho o de bu by he me ha happened he d have p en y o Whu e w h he new hou and - ong ad-hoc mean can gua an ee any h ng d ke o udy he p an ha mag nee ng come h ough w h do ome wa k- h ough -a ed o ob ec o em nd he ha peed wa o he e ence bu he bea me o Bu won We have o move a m n She d dn come n o my a m d dn k me and e me eve y h ng wa o g ven bu he bough n and ha wa enough # My y em came back on ne ome me ha day and ha d y no ced wa o p eoccup ed w h he new Man on Ho y h wa eve audac ou nce he Man on opened n Ca o n a n 1969 no one had eve had he gu o e ou y uxo w h Oh u e he Pa ve on Phan om Mano had a gh y d e en o y ne bu wa u a m no b o weakage o a y he Eu opean ma ke a he me No one wan ed o c ew up he egend Wha he he made he Man on o coo anyway? d been o D ney Wo d any numbe o me a a gue be o e e ed n and u h be o d had neve been my ab o u e avo e Bu when e u ned o D ney Wo d ve and n pe on e h y bo ed up d by he h ee-hou veheaded gh om To on o d ound my e c owd-d ven o m a e b e e b e pe on o v heme-pa k w h S nce wa a punk k d nak ng my way h ough c owded ubway p a o m ee ng n o he on y ea on a packed ca d been ob e ed w h Bea ng The C owd n he ea y day o he B chun Soc e y d known a b ack ack p aye a compu ve coun e o ca d an d o avan o odd He wa a pudgy una um ng eng nee he mode a e y ucce u ounde o a mode a e y ucce u h gh- ech a up ha had done ome h ng a cane w h o wa e agen Wh e he wa on y mode a e y ucce u he wa abu ou y wea hy he d neve a ed a cen o nanc ng o h company and had owned ou gh when he na y o d o a ba h ub u o money H ec e wa he g een e ab e o Vega whe e he d p g m o o eve y me h bank ba ance d opped he e o coun he monkey-ca d and ca cu a e he odd and Bea The Hou e Long a e h o wa e company wa o d ong a e he d made h nu he wa d e ng up n y d gu e and h ng he ab e g nd ng ou hand a e hand o wen y-one o he hee a ac on o Bea ng The Hou e Fo h m wa pu e b a n- ewa d a o o happy- u ce eve y me he dea e bu ed and eve y me he doub ed down on a deck u o ace ca d Though d neve bough o much a a o e y cke mmed a e y go h compu on o me wa Bea ng The C owd nd ng he pa h o ea e ance ng he gap gue ng he ho queue dodg ng he a c chang ng ane w h a wh pe o pa e -- mov ng w h p ec on and g ace and above a _exped ence_ On ha a e u e u n checked n o he Fo W de ne Campg ound p ched my en and a y an o he e y dock o ca ch a ba ge ove o he Ma n Ga e C owd we e gh un go gh up o Ma n Ga e and he cke ng queue Supp e ng an n a n nc o da h o he a he one bea ng my e yma e o wha u e-o - humb a d wou d have he ho e wa epped back and d d a qu ck v ua u vey o he wen y k o k and eva ua ed he queued-up hudd e n on o each P e-B chun d have been p ma y n e e ed n he age bu ha e and e a mea u e o any h ng o he han ou ook o n ead ca e u y exam ned he queu ng y e he d e and mo e han any h ng he bu den You can e mo e abou omeone ab y o e c en y nego a e he comp ex e o a queue h ough wha hey ca y han h ough any o he mean -- on y mo e peop e ea zed The c a c o cou e he un aden c zen a pe on naked o even a mode hou de bag o ma up a pocke To he aype on uch a pec men m gh be hough o a a u e be o a a an ac on bu d done an n o ma udy and come o he conc u on ha he e b ave conoc a a e o en he gh e o he o e m ng w h bov ne my ca on pa ng down he pocke n a u e ea ch o a w ng mp emen a p ece o D a keyca d a abb oo a o a y a una andw ch No o my money ake wha ca he Road Wo e any me Such a pe on ap o be ca e u y ung w h ou o ve ca e o one de c p on o ano he om bu g ng ca go pocke o c eve m a y- g ade ap-on pouche w h b ome ca y keyed c o u e The h ng o wa ch o he e gonom c con de a on g ven o he e conveyance do hey ba ance a e hey ung o m n mum n e e ence and max mum ea e o acce ? Someone who g ven ha much con de a on o he gea ke y pend ng he me n ne de e m n ng wh ch b and p ece hey need when hey each headwa e and ho d ng hem a eady o a e -po b e p oce ng Th a cky ca nce he e a e ooka ke p e ende gea -p g who pack _eve y h ng_ becau e hey ack he o gan za ona ma o gu e ou wha hey hou d pack -- hey e u a ap o be bu dened w h bag and pocke and pouche bu he e a e he e c ency o ha ng ng The e pack mu e w ag benea h he oad ugg ng h and ha wh e pu h ng ove oo e ap up on he hou de p ed a queue ha wa made up o a g oup o Road Wo e a queue ha wa gh y onge han he o he bu o ned and cced ne vou y a wa ched my p og e e a ve o he o he po cou d ve cho en wa bo ne ou a po ve omen o a wa - ee Wo d and wa aun e ng down Ma n S ee USA ong be o e my e yma e Re u n ng o Wa D ney Wo d wa a homecom ng o me My pa en had b ough me he me when wa a o en u a he nk ng o he B chun oc e y we e ck ng n o eve yone con c ou ne he dea h o ca c y he dea h o dea h he ugg e o e g an economy ha had g own up ocu ed on no h ng bu ca c y and dea h My memo e o he p a e d m bu wa m he ba my F o da c ma e and a ea o m ng ace punc ua ed by mag ca da kened momen d ng n Omn Move ca pa d o ama a e d o ama wen aga n when g adua ed h gh choo and wa amazed by he chne o de a he g and o y and g andeu o a pen a week he e unned bov ne g nn ng and wande ng om co ne o co ne Someday knew d come o ve he e The Pa k became a ouch one o me a con an n a wo d whe e eve y h ng changed Aga n and aga n came back o he Pa k g ound ng my e commun ng w h a he peop e d been Tha day bopped om and o and de o de eek ng ou he ho ne he eye o he hu cane ha c owded he Pa k o capac y d ake h gh g ound and ng on a bench o hopp ng up on a ence and do a v ua eccy o a he queue n gh y o po p eva ng cu en n he ow o he c owd gene a y hav ng a h gh o d ob e ve me T u h be o d p obab y pen a much me ook ng o wa k- n a wou d ve pen n ng up ke a good e heep bu had mo e un and go mo e exe c e The Haun ed Man on wa expe enc ng a ma o emp y pe he Snow C a h Spec acu a pa ade had u wep h ough L be y Squa e en ou e o Fan a y and d agg ng ho de o gue a ong w h danc ng o he apRap ound o he com ca Su h -K and ap ng he movemen o he b ave H o P o agon When hey b ew ou L be y Squa e wa a gho own and g abbed he oppo un y o de he Man on ve me n a ow wa k ng on eve y me The way e oL no ced he and hen no ced he Man on bu o e he u h wa he o he way a ound The coup e de h ough wa u g ad o he agg e ve a cond on ng and he de c ou en a on o wea d y ng on my k n Bu on he h d pa a ed o no ce u how goddamn coo he h ng wa The e wa n a ng e b o ech mo e advanced han a m- oop p o ec o n he who e p ace bu wa a o cunn ng y con ved ha he u on o a haun ed hou e wa pe ec he gho ha wh ed h ough he ba oom we e _gho _ h ee-d men ona and e he ea and phan a m c The gho ha ang n com ca ab eaux h ough he g aveya d we e equa y conv nc ng genu ne y w y and mu aneou y c eepy My ou h pa h ough no ced he _de a _ he ho e eye wo ked n o he wa pape pa e n he mo epea ed n he mo d ng he chande e he pho o ga e y began o p ck ou he wo d o G m G nn ng Gho he ong ha epea ed h oughou he de whe he n n e o gan- one epea ng he ma n heme oppo oppo o he p e y ng ng o he ou mu ca bu n he g aveya d a ca chy une one ha hummed on my h pa h ough h me no c ng ha he ove agg e ve AC wa ac ua y my e ou ch ha b ew h ough he oom a wande ng p made he p e ence e By he me deba ked o he h me wa wh ng he une w h azzy mp ov a on n a m xed-up empo Tha when L and an n o each o he She wa p ck ng up a d ca ded ce-c eam w appe -- d een a dozen ca membe p ck ng up a h ha day een o equen y ha d a ed do ng my e She g nned y y a me a deba ked n o he ed- ood-and- d n ec an pe ume o he Pa k hand n pocke ho ough y p ea ed w h my e o hav ng o comp e e y _expe enced_ a ea y ne hunk o a m ed back a he becau e wa on y na u a ha one o he Whu e-k ng who we e p v eged o end h b o heaven y en e a nmen hou d no ce how ho ough y wa en oy ng he wo k Tha ea y ea y B chun a d o he adm ng he an c moun a n o Whu e my HUD a bu ed o he She wa n cha ac e and no uppo ed o be chee u bu ca membe o he gene a on can he p bu be end y She comp om ed be ween gha y demeano and he na u a wee p and ee ed a g n a me humped h ough a zomb e cu ey and moaned Thank you -- we _do_ y o keep _ p ed_ g oaned app ec a ve y and a ed o no ce u how ve y cu e he wa h e bu on o a g w h he o ng ma d un o m and he ea he - hedd ng du e She wa u o c ean and c ubbed and happy abou eve y h ng he ad a ed and made me wan o p nch he cheek -- e he e The momen wa on me and o a d When do hey e you ghou o ? d ove o ake you ou o a Zomb e o a B oody Ma y Wh ch ed o mo e ho y ng ban e and o my ak ng he ou o a coup e a he Adven u e C ub ea n ng he age n he p oce and o ng my ne ve e ng my e ha he e wa no h ng we cou d po b y have o ay o each o he ac o a cen u y-w de gap Wh e e L ha no ced he and he Man on econd he eve e ndeed ue Bu a o ue -- and neve o d he h -- ha he h ng ove be abou he Man on whe e me he # Dan and pen he day d ng he Man on d a ng c p o he e ep e ence p aye who we hoped o b ng on-boa d We we e n a o a y c ea ve zone he d a og unn ng a a a he cou d an c be amm ng on dea w h Dan wa u abou a e c a a pa - me cou d be wa a o eak ng he p an o he Ne gh away ge ng hea - and-m nd ac on w h ou co e aud ence bu L u ned down She wa go ng o pend he nex coup e day qu e y po ck ng among he e o he ad-hoc ge ng ome uppo o he dea and he d dn wan he appea ance o mp op e y ha wou d come om hav ng ou de be ng b ough n be o e he ad-hoc Ta k ng o he ad-hoc b ng ng hem a ound -- wa a k d neve ea y ma e ed Dan wa good a L wa good a bu me h nk ha wa oo e -cen e ed o eve deve op good k a a peacemake n my younge day a umed ha wa becau e wa ma e han eve yone e e w h no pa ence o exp a n ng h ng n ho wo d o mou h-b ea he who u d dn ge The u h o he ma e m a b gh enough guy bu m ha d y a gen u E pec a y when come o peop e P obab y come om Bea ng The C owd neve ee ng nd v dua u he ma -- he enemy o exped ence neve wou d have made n o he L be y Squa e ad-hoc on my own L made happen o me ong be o e we a ed eep ng oge he d a umed ha he o k wou d be my be a e n he p oce o o n ng up bu hey we e oo aded oo eady o ake he ong eep o pay much a en on o a newcome ke me L ook me unde he w ng nv ng me o a e -wo k pa e a k ng me up o he c on e qu e y pa ng a ound cop e o my he -wo k And he d d he ame n eve e nce e y ex o ng he v ue o he o he me o ha knew wha he e wa o e pec abou hem and cou dn he p bu ea hem a nd v dua n he yea nce d o ha e pec Mo y pa ed a ound w h L and once he a ved Dan and w h ne - end a ound he wo d The ad-hoc ha wo ked w h a day ea ed me w h ba c cou e y bu no much end ne gue ea ed hem he ame When p c u ed hem n my m nd hey we e a ace e pa ve-agg e ve ma oo caugh up n he a chy wo d o con en u -bu d ng o eve do much o any h ng Dan and h ew ou e ve n o head ong o ng he Ne o add e o Man on-o aku om he ou co ne o he g obe p ead hee ng hem aga n he mezone empe amen and o cou e he Whu e Tha we d a d ook ng up om he o d- a h oned e m na wa u ng -- my y em we e back o ne They d been pu e ng up and down o a coup e day now and kep mean ng o go o he doc o bu d neve go en ound o Pe od ca y d ge a o o u gency when emembe ed ha h mean my backup wa a e-da ng bu he Man on a way ook p ecedence Huh? he a d apped he d p ay See he e? wa a an- e d p ay ng a co ec on o an ma ed 3-D me he o va ou e emen o he Man on pa o a g an co abo a ve p o ec ha had been ongo ng o decade o bu d an accu a e 3-D wa k h ough o eve y nch o he Pa k d u ed ho e me he o bu d my own e ng y- h ough Tho e a e e c Dan a d Tha guy mu be a o a _end_ The me he au ho had pa n ak ng y mode ed cha ned and an ma ed eve y gho n he ba oom cene comp e e w h he k nema c nece a y o u mo on Whe e a no ma an-a m gh ve u ed a anda d human k nema c b a y o he gu e h one had ac ua y w en h own om he g ound up o ha he gho moved w h a pec a u d y ha wa u e y unhuman Who he au ho ? Dan a ked Do we have h m on ou ye ? c o ed down o d p ay he c ed be damned Dan b ea hed The au ho wa T m Deb a e n c ony He d ubm ed he de gn a week be o e my a a na on Wha do you h nk mean ? a ked Dan hough had a coup e dea on he ub ec my e T m a Man on nu Dan a d knew ha You knew? He ooked a e de en ve Su e o d you back when you had me hang ng ou w h Deb a gang Had a ked h m o hang ou w h Deb a? A emembe ed had been h ugge on Too much o h nk abou Bu wha doe mean Dan? he an a y? Shou d we y o ec u h m? O he he one ha d conv nced Deb a he need o ake ove he Man on? Dan hook h head m no even u e ha he wan o ake ove he Man on know Deb a a he wan o do u n dea n o h ng a a and a cop ou y a po b e She p ck he p o ec ca e u y She acqu ve u e bu he cau ou She had a g ea dea o P e den and o he ook ove neve hea d he a k abou he Man on O cou e you d dn She cagey D d you hea he a k abou he Ha o P e den ? Dan umb ed No ea y mean no n o many wo d bu -- Bu no h ng a d She a e he Man on he a e he Mag c K ngdom he a e he Pa k She ak ng ove goddamn and m he on y one who eem o have no ced # came c ean o L abou my y em ha n gh a we we e gh ng F gh ng had become ou egu a even ng pa me and Dan had aken o eep ng a one o he ho e on- e a he han endu e d a ed o cou e We e go ng o ge k ed we don ge o ou a e and a he ehab a d amm ng my e down on he o a and k ck ng a he c a ched co ee ab e hea d he hy e a and un ea on n my vo ce and u made me madde wa u a ed by no be ng ab e o check n on Suneep and Dan and a u ua wa oo a e a n gh o ca anyone and do any h ng abou By he mo n ng d have o go en aga n F om he k chen L ba ked back m do ng wha can u e you ve go a be e way d ove o hea abou Oh bu h m do ng wha can p ann ng he h ng ou m eady o _go_ wa you ob o ge he ad-hoc eady o bu you keep e ng me hey e no When w hey be? e u you e a nag wou dn nag you d on y uck ng make happen Wha a e you do ng a day anyway? Wo k ng h a he Man on? Rea ang ng deck cha on he G ea T an c Adven u e? m wo k ng my uck ng _a _ o ve poken o eve y goddamn one o hem a ea w ce h week abou Su e ho e ed a he k chen Su e you have Don ake my wo d o hen Check my uck ng phone og She wa ed We ? Check hem check hem a e a d d ead ng whe e h wa go ng Oh no you _don _ he a d a k ng n o he oom um ng You can ca me a a and hen e u e o ook a he ev dence She p an ed he hand on he m e h p and g a ed a me She d gone pa e and cou d coun eve y eck e on he ace he h oa he co a bone he we o he c eavage n he o d vee-neck h d g ven he on a day- p o Na au We ? he a ked She ooked eady o w ng my neck can adm ed no mee ng he eye Ye you can -- he e dump o you pub c d ec o y He exp e on h ed o one o puzz emen when he a ed o oca e me on he ne wo k Wha go ng on? So o d he O ne ou ca ma unc on ng We why haven you gone o he doc o ? mean been _week _ ca h m gh now Fo ge ad ee h m omo ow No en e n ge ng h m ou o bed Bu d dn ee h m he day a e o he day a e ha Too much o do and he on y me emembe ed o ca omeone wa oo a om a pub c e m na o wa oo a e o oo ea y My y em came on ne a coup e me and wa oo bu y w h he p an o he Man on L g ew accu omed o he d o ha d copy ha e ed he hou e o p n ng ou he anno a on o my de gn and eav ng hem on my avo e cha -- o v ng ke he cavemen o he n o ma on age had u ounded by dead ee and ck ng c ock Be ng o ne he ped me ocu Focu ha d y he wo d o -- ob e ed a n on o he e m na d b ough home a day eve y day c unch ng p an d c a ng vo cema Peop e who wan ed o each me had o hau a ou o he hou e and _ peak_ o me g ew oo ob e ed o gh and Dan moved back and hen wa my u n o ake ho e oom o ha he a e o my keyboa d wou dn keep h m up n gh He and L we e wo k ng a u - me campa gn o ec u he ad-hoc o ou cau e and a ed o ee ke we we e na y n ha mony abou o each ou goa wen home one a e noon c u ch ng a hea o ha dcopy and bu n o he v ng oom gabb ng a m e-a-m nu e abou a w nk e on my o g na p an ha wou d add a h d wa k- h ough egmen o he de nc ea ng he numbe o e ep e ence g we cou d u e w hou dec ea ng h oughpu wa m d-babb e when my y em came back on ne The pub c cha e n he oom p ang up on my HUD _And hen m go ng o ea o eve y ch o c o h ng and ump you _ _And hen wha ?_ _ m go ng o bang you you mp _ _ e u L you a e one angy cowg _ My eye c o ed hu ng ou eve y h ng excep o he g ow ng e e Qu ck y hey van hed opened my eye aga n ook ng a L who wa u hed and d ac ed Dan ooked ca ed Wha go ng on Dan? a ked qu e y My hea hamme ed n my che bu e ca m and de ached u e he began hen gave up and ooked a L L had by ha me gu ed ou ha wa back on ne ha he ec e me ag ng had been d cove ed Hav ng un L ? a ked L hook he head and g a ed a me u go u u end you u o he ho e You wan me o go huh? So you can bang h m he mp ? Th my hou e u u m a k ng you o ge ou o ee you a wo k omo ow -- we e hav ng a gene a ad-hoc mee ng o vo e on he ehab wa he hou e L u u -- Dan began Th be ween me and h m L a d S ay ou o d opped my pape -- wan ed o h ow hem bu d opped hem _ump_ and u ned on my hee and wa ked ou no bo he ng o c o e he doo beh nd me # Dan howed up a he ho e en m nu e a e d d and apped on my doo wa a -ove numb a opened he doo He had a bo e o equ a -- _my_ equ a b ough ove om he hou e ha d ha ed w h L He a down on he bed and a ed a he ogo-ma ked wa pape ook he bo e om h m go a coup e g a e om he ba h oom and pou ed my au he a d m u e a d We go o d nk ng a coup e n gh ago She wa ea y up e Hadn een you n day and when he _d d_ ee you you eaked he ou Snapp ng a he A gu ng n u ng he So you made he a d He hook h head hen nodded ook a d nk d d been a ong me nce You had ex w h my g end n my hou e wh e wa away wo k ng u e m o y d d and kep on do ng m no much o a end o e he o you She p e y b oken up She wan ed me o come ou he e and e you wa a a m ake ha you we e u be ng pa ano d We a n ence o a ong me e ed h g a hen my own cou dn do ha he a d m wo ed abou you You haven been gh no o mon h don know wha bu you hou d ge o a doc o don need a doc o napped The quo had me ed he numbne and e bu n ng ange and b e my con an compan on need a end who doe n uck my g end when my back u ned h ew my g a a he wa bounced o eav ng equ a- a n on he wa pape and o ed unde he bed Dan a ed bu ayed ea ed he d ood up wou d ve h h m Dan good a c e any con o a on expec o be dead p e y oon he a d He gave me a w y g n My Whu e do ng good Th ehab hou d ake up ove he op be eady o go Tha opped me d omehow managed o o ge ha Dan my good end Dan wa go ng o k h m e You e go ng o do ad ng down nex o h m hu o h nk abou ea y ked he ba a d He m gh ve been my be end The e wa a knock a he doo opened w hou check ng he peepho e wa L She ooked younge han eve Young and ma and m e ab e A n de ema k d ed n my h oa wan ed o ho d he She b u hed pa me and wen o Dan who qu med ou o he emb ace No he a d and ood up and a on he w ndow a ng down a he Seven Sea Lagoon Dan u been exp a n ng o me ha he p an on be ng dead n a coup e mon h a d Pu a dampe on he ong- e m p an doe n L ? Tea eamed down he ace and he eemed o o d n on he e ake wha can ge he a d choked on a knob o m e y and ea zed ha wa Dan no L who e o up e me he mo L ook Dan hand and ed h m ou o he oom _ gue ake wha can ge oo_ hough ========= CHAPTER 6 ========= Ly ng on my ho e bed me me zed by he azy u n o he ce ng an ponde ed he po b y ha wa nu wa n unhea d o even n he day o he B chun Soc e y and even hough he e we e cu e hey we en p ea an wa once ma ed o a c azy pe on We we e bo h abou 70 and wa v ng o no h ng bu oy He name wa Zoya and ca ed he Zed We me n o b whe e d gone o expe ence he amed ow-g av y yba e Ge ng agge ng d unk no much un a one gee bu a en o he neg e gh a b a You don agge you _bounce_ and when you e bounc ng n a phe e u o o he bounc ng happy bo e ou naked peop e h ng ge deep y un wa bounc ng a ound n de a c ea phe e ha wa a m e n d ame e ed w h ma e phe e n wh ch one cou d p ocu e bu b o u y dead y concoc on Mu ca n umen e ed he phe e oo and you knew how o p ay you d nag one e he o you and a p ay ng O he wou d p ck up he own axe and am a ong The une va ed om e c o aw u bu hey we e a way ene ge c had been wo k ng on my h d ymphony on and o and wheneve hough had a n ce b na ed d pend ome me n he phe e p ay ng Some me he ange who ammed n gave me new and n e e ng ne o nqu y and ha wa good Even when hey d dn p ay ng an n umen wa a a ack o n gu ng an n e e ng naked ange Wh ch how we me She nagged a p ano and pounded ou ba e hou e un n qu ky me a ca ed he ma n h ead o he movemen on a ce o A wa a ng bu a e a ho wh e came o a dawn ng comp ehen on o wha he wa do ng o my mu c and wa ea y _good_ m a ucke o mu c an We b ough he e on o a c a h ng op me bow ng u ou y a phe e o pe p a on beaded on my body and oa ed g ace u y n o he hyd o op c ecyc e he bea ng on he 88 ke hey we e he pe p who k ed he pa ne co ap ed d ama ca y a he a no e c a hed h ough he bubb e The ng e coup e and g oup opped n m d gh co u o app aud She ook a bow un e he ed he e om he S e nway and headed o he ha ch co ed my eg up and d d a a bu n h ough he phe e de pe a e o each he ha ch be o e he d d caugh he a he wa eav ng Hey a d Tha wa g ea m u u How e you do ng? She eached ou w h bo h hand and queezed my no e and my un mu aneou y -- no ha d you unde and bu p ay u y Honk he a d and qu med h ough he ha ch wh e gaped a my bu geon ng chub-on cha ed a e he Wa ca ed a he umb ed h ough he poke o he a on owa d he g av y She had a p an body -- e-eng nee ed a m and hand ha e ched o mpo b e eng h and he u ed hem w h a pacehand g ace vau ng he e o wa d a peed bumb ed a e he be a cou d on my e hman pace eg bu by he me eached he ha -gee m o he a on he wa gone d dn nd he aga n un he nex movemen wa done and wen o he bubb e o y ou on an oboe wa u ge ng wa med up when he pa ed h ough he ha ch and ed o o he p ano Th me c amped he oboe unde my a m and bopped ove o he be o e mo en ng he eed and b ow ng hove ed ove he p ano op ook ng he n he eye a we ammed He mood ha day wa 4 4 me and - V-V p og e on n a ee ha wung a ound om b ue o ock o o k ea ng a he edge o my own me od e She nood ed a me nood ed back a he and he eye c nk ed cha m ng y wheneve managed a m dge o une u w She wa a mo comp e e y a che ed and cove ed n a ne ed downy u ke a ch pmunk wa a aun e y e u ed o he c ma e- con o ed o -edged e n pace F y yea a e wa da ng L ano he edhead bu Zed wa my p ayed and p ayed en anced by he u d y o he movemen a he keyboa d he com ca moue o concen a on when p ck ng ou a pa cu a y k cky e When go ed ook o a ow b dge o gave he a o o wa go ng o make h a a ong a cou d Meanwh e maneuve ed my way be ween he and he ha ch When b ew he a no e wa w ung ou a a wa hc o h bu ummoned he ene gy o z p ove o he ha ch and b ock She ca m y un ed and oa ed ove o me ooked n he eye ve ed an ed ca -eye eye ha d been a ng n o a a e noon and wa ched he m e ha a ed a he co ne and p ead gh down o he ong e egan oe She ooked back a me hen a eng h g abbed aho d o my o n aga n You do he a d and ed me o he eep ng qua e ac o he a on We d dn eep # Zoya had been an ea y ne wo k eng nee o he geo ynch b oadband con e a on ha wen up a he cu p o he wo d a cen n o B chun y She d been expo ed o a o o ha d ad and ow gee and had gene a y become p e y an human a me wen by upg ad ng w h a bew de ng a ay o h d-pa y enhancemen a ve g a a eye ha aw h ough mo o he RF pec um he a m he u dog eg eve b e knee o n and a comp e e y mechan ca p ne ha wa n p one o any o he ab o u e y nane bu h ha p ague he e o u ke owe -back pa n n a capu a namma on c a ca and pped d c hough ved o un bu d dn have any h ng on Zed She on y a ked when honk ng and wh ng and g abb ng and k ng wou dn do and ou ne y apped upg ade n o he e on he ba o any wh m ha c o ed he m nd ke when he e o ved o do a pacewa k ba e- k nned and pen he a e noon ge ng n-p a ed and on- unged e n ove w h he a hund ed me a day and wan ed o ang e he w ce a o en She ayed on he pacewa k o a coup e o day oa ng a ound he bubb e mak ng c azy ace a m o ed ex e o She had no way o know ng wa n de bu he a umed ha wa wa ch ng O maybe he d dn and he wa mak ng ace o anyone bene Bu hen he came back h ough he ock ange and wo d e and he eye u o he a he d een and he me a c k n coo w h he b ea h o emp y pace and he ed me a me y game o ag h ough he a on he me ha whe e we k dded oppy h ough a wobb y ovo d o ce pudd ng he g eenhou e whe e he bu owed ke a gophe and h nn ed ke a monkey he v ng qua e and bubb e a we n e up ed a hou and ac o co u You d have hough ha we d have o owed up w h an ac o ou own and u h be o d ha wa ce a n y my expec a on when we a ed he game came o h nk o a he eep echa e bu we neve d d Ha way h ough d o e ack o ca na u ge and e u n o a a e o ch d ke nnocence v ng on y o he h o he cha e and he g gg y ee ng go wheneve he ound ome new even-mo e-ou ageou co ne o u n h nk we became egenda y on he a on ha c azy pa ha a way z pp ng n and z pp ng away ke hav ng you pa y c a hed by wo naked coed Ma x B o he When a ked he o ma y me o e u n o Ea h w h me o ve w h me un he un ve e ma n p ng unwound he aughed honked my no e and my w e and hou ed YOU LL _DO_ ook he home o To on o and we ook up e dence en o e unde g ound n ove ow e dence o he Un ve y Ou Whu e wa n o ho ea h de and he end e n u ona co do made he ee a home wh e a o d ng he oppo un e o m ch e Bu b by b he m ch e dw nd ed and he a ed a k ng mo e A adm wa e eved g ad ha my ange en w e wa na y ac ng no ma mak ng n ce w h he ne ghbo n ead o p ank ng hem w h end e honk and anny-k ck and qu gun We gave up he eep echa e and he had he dog eg aken ou he u emoved he eye un ve ed o a haze ha wa p e y and a a homab e a he ve had been n c u ab e We wo e c o he We en e a ned a ed o ehea e my ymphony n ow-Whu e ha and pa k w h any mu c an cou d d um up and he came ou and d dn p ay u a o he de and m ed and m ed w h a m e ha neve wen beyond he p She wen nu She ha he e She pu ed he ha She cu he e w h kn ve She accu ed me o p o ng o k he She e e o he ne ghbo apa men w apped he e n p a c hee ng d y-humped he u n u e She wen nu She d d n b oad oke pa n ng he wa o ou bed oom w h he b ood agg ng a n gh h ough an a e an m ed and nodded and aced o a ong a cou d hen g abbed he and hau ed he k ck ng ke a mu e o he doc o o ce on he econd oo She d been d de o a yea and nu o a mon h bu ook me ha ong o ace up o The doc d agno ed nonchem ca dy unc on wh ch wa by way o ay ng ha wa he m nd no he b a n ha wa b oken n o he wo d d d ven he nu You can ge coun e ng o nonchem ca dy unc on ba ca y y ng o a k ou ea n o ee be e abou you e She d dn wan o She wa m e ab e u c da mu de ou n he b e momen o uc d y ha he had unde eda on he con en ed o be ng e o ed om a backup ha wa made be o e we came o To on o wa a he de n he ho p a when he woke up had p epa ed a w en ynop o he even nce he a backup o he and he ead ove he nex coup e day u u he a d wh e wa mak ng b eak a n ou ub e anean apa men She ounded o e ou o un- ee ha knew mmed a e y ha he new wou dn be good Ye ? a d e ng ou p a e o bacon and egg eam ng cup o co ee m go ng o go back o pace and eve o an o de ve on She had a hou de bag packed and he had ave ng c o he on _Oh h _ G ea a d w h o ced chee u ne mak ng a men a nven o y o my e pon b e d de G ve me a m nu e o wo pack up m pace oo She hook he head and ange b azed n he u e y c u ab e haze eye No m go ng back o who wa be o e me you hu bad had oved he o d eep echa e Zed had oved he un and m ch e The Zed he d become a e we wed wa e b e and e y ng bu d uck w h he ou o e pec o he pe on he d been Now he wa o o e o e he e om a backup made be o e he me me She wa go ng o op 18 mon h ou o he e a ove aga n eve o a aved ve on Hu ? ached ke a mo he ucke wen back o he a on a mon h a e and aw he amm ng n he phe e w h a guy who had h ee ex a e o a m depend ng om h h p He cu ed a ound he phe e wh e he p ayed a g on he p ano and when he ve eye on me he e wa n a h ed o ecogn on n hem She d neve me me d ed ome oo pu ng he nc den ou o my head and o ou n ng o D ney Wo d he e o e nven my e w h a new g oup o end a new ca ee a new e neve poke o Zed aga n -- e pec a y no o L who ha d y needed me o po u e he w h ememb ance o my c azy exe # wa nu wa n he k nd o pec acu a nu ha Zed had gone wa a ow ee h ng ug y nu ha had me a ena ng my end abo ag ng my enem e d v ng my g end n o my be end a m dec ded ha wou d ee a doc o u a oon a we d un he ehab pa he ad-hoc gene a mee ng had o ge my p o e a gh pu ed on a n gh c o he and wa ked ou o he Mono a a on n he ma n obby The p a o m wa ammed w h happy gue b gh and chee u and eady o a day o eady hype med a ed un ed o make my e a end o hem a nd v dua bu y a m gh hey kep u n ng n o a c owd and had o p an my ee m y on he p a o m o keep om weav ng among hem o he edge he be e o nag a ea The mee ng wa be ng he d ove he Sun h ne T ee Te ace n Adven u e and u ep om whe e d been u ned n o a oad-p zza by he -un den ed a a n The Adven u e and ad-hoc owed he L be y Squa e c ew a avo nce my dea h had gone down on he u o hey had g ven u u e o he p ze mee ng oom whe e he F o da un eamed h ough he a o he hu e ca ng a ha h o du - ed ha o gh ac o he oom The a n ound o he k - d um and he p e ng ung e C u e gu de eaked h ough he oom a ow-key amb en buzz om wo o he Pa k o de de The e we e a mo a hund ed ad-hoc n he L be y Squa e c ew a mo a econd-gen ca membe w h b g end y m e They ed he oom o capac y and he e wa much hugg ng and hand hak ng be o e he mee ng came o o de wa hank u ha he oom wa oo ma o he _de geu _ ad-hoc c c e-o -cha o ha L wa ab e o and a a pod um and command a m dge o e pec H he e he a d b gh y The weepy pu ne wa p e en a ound he eye you knew how o ook o bu he wa expe a pu ng on a b ave ace no ma e wha he ache The ad-hoc oa ed back a co ec ve H L and aughed a he own co ny ad on Oh hey u e we e a ba e o augh a he Mag c K ngdom Eve ybody know why we e he e gh ? L a d w h a e - dep eca ng m e She d been obby ng ha d o week a e a Doe anyone have any que on abou he p an ? We d ke o a execu ng gh away A guy w h de be a e y boy h who e ome ea u e pu h a m n he a L acknow edged h m w h a nod When you ay gh away do you mean -- cu n Ton gh A e h mee ng We e on an e gh -week p oduc on chedu e and he oone we a he oone be n hed The c owd mu mu ed un e ed L ho me a w he ng ook h ugged Po c wa no my game L a d Don we e y ng ome h ng new he e a ea y eam ned p oce The good pa he p oce _ ho _ n a coup e mon h we know wo k ng o u no hey we can u n a ound n a coup e mon h oo Tha why we e no pend ng a much me p ann ng a we u ua y do won ake ve yea o he dea o p ove ou o he k a e owe Ano he ca membe a woman appa en 40 w h a ound mo he y demeano a d m a o mov ng a -- Lo d know ou pac ng ha n a way been ha ho Bu m conce ned abou a he e new peop e you p opo e o ec u -- won hav ng mo e peop e ow u down when come o mak ng new dec on ? _No_ hough ou y _becau e he peop e m b ng ng n a en add c ed o mee ng _ L nodded Tha a good po n L a The o e we e mak ng o he e ep e ence p aye p oba ona y -- hey don ge o vo e un a e we ve ag eed ha he ehab a ucce Ano he ca membe ood ecogn zed h m Dave a heavy e e - mpo an e k who oved o wo k he on doo even hough he b ew h p e abou ha he me L an he a d m ng ad y a he h nk you e ea y mak ng a b g m ake he e We ove he Man on a o u and o do he gue a p ece o h o y and we e cu od an no ma e Chang ng ke h we he hook h head no good ewa d h p he gue wan ed o wa k h ough a unhou e w h guy ump ng ou o he hadow ay ng booga- booga hey d go o one o he Ha oween Hou e n he home own The Man on be e han ha can be a pa o h p an wan ed o knock he mug g n o h ace d de ve ed e en a y he ame po em c a hou and me -- n e e ence o Deb a wo k -- and hea ng om h e k n e e ence o _m ne_ made me go a ho and ed n de Look ad we don do h we don change h ng hey ge changed _ o _ u By omeone e e The que on _Dave_ whe he a e pon b e cu od an e h cu od an h p be aken away om h m o whe he he doe eve y h ng he can o make u e ha he a ound o en u e ha h cha ge p ope y ca ed o Good cu od an h p n ck ng you head n he and cou d e wa n do ng any good The mood o he c owd wa ge ng da ke he ace mo e e e o ved no o peak aga n un he mee ng wa done no ma e wha he p ovoca on L moo hed my ema k ove and e ded a dozen mo e and ooked ke he ob ec on wou d con nue a a e noon and a n gh and a he nex day and e woozy and ove w ough and m e ab e a a he ame me a ng a L and he ha ed m e and he ne vou moo h ng o he ha ove he ea F na y he ca ed he que on By ad on he vo e we e co ec ed n ec e and pub c y abu a ed ove he da a-channe The g oup eye un ocu ed a hey ca ed up HUD and wa ched he o a a hey o ed n wa o ne and unab e o vo e o wa ch A eng h L heaved a e eved gh and m ed d opp ng he hand beh nd he back A gh hen he a d ove he c owd buzz Le ge o wo k ood up aw Dan and L a ng n o each o he eye a mean ng u g ance be ween new ove and aw ed L e a y My v on wa hed ove p nk and a obe pounded a he edge o my v on ook wo umbe ng ep owa d hem and opened my mou h o ay ome h ng ho b e and wha came ou wa Waaagh My gh de wen numb and my eg pped ou om unde me and c a hed o he oo The a ed gh om he hu e ca way ac o my che a ed o ugg e up w h my e a m and hen a wen b ack # wa n nu a e a The doc o o ce n he Ma n S ee n ma y wa c ean and wh e and deco a ed w h po e o m ny C cke n doc o wh e w h an ou zed e ho cope came o on a ha d pa e unde a gn ha em nded me o ge a check-up w ce a yea by gum and ed o b ng my hand up o h e d my eye om he ove b gh gh and he ove - chee u gnage and d cove ed ha cou dn move my a m Fu he nve ga on evea ed ha h wa becau e wa apped down n u -on ou -po n e a n Waaagh a d aga n Dan wo ed ace wam n o my e d o v on a ong w h a e ou - ook ng doc o appa en 70 w h a No man Rockwe ace u o c ow ee and m e- ne We come back u u m Doc o Pe e he doc o a d n a k nd y vo ce ha ma ched he ace De p e my ecen d u on w h ca membe bu h ound h ch ck com o ng umped back aga n he pa e e wh e he doc hone gh n my eye and con u ed va ou d agno c appa a bo e n o c ence oo con ounded by he ho b e Waaagh ound o a emp mo e peech The doc wou d e me wha wa go ng on when he wa eady Doe he need o be ed up ? Dan a ked and hook my head u gen y Be ng ed up wa n my dea o a good me The doc m ed k nd y h nk o he be o now Don wo y u u we have you up and abou oon enough Dan p o e ed bu opped when he doc h ea ened o end h m ou o he oom He ook my hand n ead My no e ched ed o gno e bu go wo e and wo e un wa a cou d h nk o he am ng ance o ch ha obed a he p o my no Fu ou y w nk ed my ace a ed a my e a n The doc ab en m nded y no ced my gy a on and de ca e y c a ched my no e w h a g oved nge The e e wa an a c u hoped my nu d dn a ch ng any me oon F na y he doc o pu ed up a cha and d d ome h ng ha cau ed he head o he bed o a e up o ha cou d ook h m n he eye We now he a d ok ng h ch n u u you ve go a p ob em You end he e e me you y em have been o ne o mo e han a mon h u e wou d ve been be e you d come n o ee me when a ed up Bu you d dn and h ng go wo e He nodded up a m ny C cke ec m na on Go ahead ee you doc good adv ce on bu wha done done You we e e o ed om a backup abou e gh week ago ee W hou mo e e can be u e bu my heo y ha he b a n-mach ne n e ace hey n a ed a ha me had a ma e a de ec been de e o a ng eve nce m ng and eboo ng The hu -down a e a p o ec ve mechan m mean o keep om n oduc ng he k nd o e zu e you expe enced h a e noon When he n e ace en e ma unc on hu e down and boo a d agno c mode a emp o x e and come back on ne We ha ne o m no p ob em bu n ca e ke h bad new The n e ace ha been de e o a ng ead y and on y a ma e o me be o e doe ome e ou damage Waaagh? a ked mean o ay _A gh bu wha w ong w h my mou h?_ The doc pu a nge o my p Don y The n e ace ha ocked up and aken ome o you vo un a y ne vou p oce e w h n me p obab y hu down bu o now he e no po n Tha why we ve go you apped down -- you we e h a h ng p e y ha d when hey b ough you n and we d dn wan you o hu you e _P obab y hu down_? e u cou d end up uck ke h o eve a ed hak ng The doc oo hed me ok ng my hand and n he p oce p e ed a an de ma on my w The pan c eceded a he an de ma eda ve oozed n o my b ood eam The e he e he a d no h ng pe manen We can g ow you a new c one and e e h om you a backup Un o una e y ha backup a ew mon h o d we d caugh ea e we may ve been ab e o a vage a cu en backup bu g ven he de e o a on you ve d p ayed o da e We he e u wou dn be any po n My hea hamme ed wa go ng o o e wo mon h -- o e a neve happened My a a na on he new Ha o P e den and my hame u a emp he eon he gh w h L L and Dan he mee ng My p an o he ehab A o good and bad eve y momen en ed away cou dn do had a ehab o n h and wa he on y one who unde ood how had o be done W hou my e en e p odd ng he ad-hoc wou d u e y eve o he o d a e way They m gh even eave ha -done ha he p oce o an n e m nab e ev ew p e en a o be y o Deb a o avage wou dn be e o ng om backup # had wo mo e e zu e be o e he n e ace na y gave up and hu e down emembe he a con u on o v on-occ ud ng obe and uncon o ab e h a h ng and he a e o coppe bu he econd happened w hou wak ng me om deep uncon c ou ne When came o aga n n he n ma y Dan wa he e He had a day g ow h o bea d and new wo y ne a he co ne o h new y e uvena ed eye The doc o came n hak ng h head We now eem ke he wo ove ve d awn up he con en o m o he e e h and he new c one w be eady n an hou o wo n he mean me h nk heavy eda on n o de Once he e o e been comp e ed we e e h body o you and we be a n hed up Re e h body? K me wha mean No a d h ed n my e a n my vo ce wa back unde my con o Oh ea y now The doc o h bed de manne e h exa pe a on p h ough The e no h ng e e o you d come o me when a a ed we we m gh ve had o he op on You ve go no one o b ame bu you e No epea ed No now won gn Dan pu h hand on m ne ed o e k ou om unde bu he e a n and h g p he d me a You ve go o do u u o he be he a d m no go ng o e you k me a d h ough c enched ee h H nge p we e ca u ed wo ked ough w h exe on we beyond he no ma ca o du y No one k ng you on he doc o a d Son on on Who knew how o d he wa ? He cou d be 18 o a knew u he oppo e we e av ng you you con nue ke h w on y ge wo e The e zu e men a b eakdown he who e me on go ng o You don wan ha hough o Zed pec acu a an o ma on n o a c azy pe on _No u e don _ don ca e abou he n e ace Chop ou can do now wa owed La e A e he ehab E gh mo e week # The ony Once he doc knew wa e ou he en Dan ou o he oom and o ed h eye up wh e he p aced a ca aw h go ge wo k a he ubvoca zed He e me bound o he ab e o wa No c ock n he n ma y and no n e na c ock and may have been en m nu e o ve hou wa ca he e zed bu d dn know un u gen nece y made he d cove y o me When he doc came back he he d a ma dev ce ha n an y ecogn zed a HERF gun Oh wa n he ame mode d u ed on he Ha o P e den Th one wa ma e and be e made w h he p ec e eng nee ng o a u g ca oo The doc a ed h eyeb ow a me You know wha h he a d a y A d m co ne o my m nd g bbe ed _he know he know he Ha o P e den _ Bu he d dn know Tha ep ode wa ocked n my m nd nvu ne ab e o backup know a d Th one h gh-powe ed n he ex eme w pene a e he n e ace h e d ng and u e p obab y won u n you n o a vege ab e Tha he be can do h a we w e o e you om you a backup You have o gn he con en be o e u e He d d opped a k nd y p e en e om h vo ce no bo he ng o d gu e h d gu wa p ch ng ou he m ac e o he B chun Soc e y he h ng ha had a bu ob o e ed he med ca p o e on why bo he w h u ge y when you can g ow a c one ake a backup and e e h he new body? Some peop e wapped co pu e u o ge d o a co d gned The doc whee ed my gu ney n o he c a h and hum o he u do and hen pu on a e gh am ha an o he mag nee ng compound and hence o a heavy expo ed Fa aday cage O cou e u ng he HERF on me wou d k any e ec on c n he ne ghbo hood They had o h e d me be o e hey pu ed he gge The doc p aced he gun on my che and oo ened my e a n He ea ed he cage and e ea ed o he ab doo He pu ed a heavy ap on and he me w h acegua d om a hook be de he doo Once am ou de he doo po n a you head and pu he gge come back n ve m nu e Once am n he oom p ace he gun on he oo and do no ouch on y good o a ng e u age bu have no de e o nd ou m w ong He c o ed he doo ook he p o n my hand wa heavy den e w h o ed ene gy he p a pa abo c ho ow o be e ocu cone ed he gun o my emp e and e e he e My humb ound he gge - ud pau ed Th wou dn k me bu m gh ock he n e ace o eve pa a yz ng me u n ng me n o a h a h ng man ac knew ha wou d neve be ab e o pu he gge The doc mu ve known oo -- h wa h way o conv nc ng me o e h m do ha e o e opened my mou h o ca he doc and wha came ou wa Waaagh The e zu e a ed My a m e ked and my humb na ed he ud and he e wa an ozone ang The e zu e opped had no mo e n e ace # The doc ooked ou and p nched when he aw me ng up on he gu ney ubb ng a my b cep He p oduced a handhe d d agno c oo and po n ed a my me on hen p onounced eve y b o d g a m c oc cu y n dead Fo he me nce my wen e wa no mo e advanced han na u e had made me The e a n e pu p e b u e a my w and ank e whe e d h a hed aga n hem hobb ed ou o he Fa aday cage and he ab unde my own powe bu u ba e y my mu c e g oan ng om he nadve en ome c exe c e o my e zu e Dan wa wa ng n he u do c ouched and doz ng aga n he wa The doc hook h m awake and h head napped up h hand ca ch ng he doc n a gh n ng-qu ck eex wa ea y o o ge Dan o d ne o wo k he e n he Mag c K ngdom bu when he moo h y nagged he doc a m and p ang o h ee eye ha d and a e emembe ed My o d pa he ac on he o Qu ck y Dan e ea ed he doc and apo og zed He a e ed my phy ca a e and wo d e y wedged h hou de n my a mp uppo ng me d dn have he eng h o op h m needed eep m ak ng you home he a d We gh Deb a o omo ow Su e a d and boa ded he wa ng am Bu we d dn go home Dan ook me back o my ho e he Con empo a y and b ough me up o my doo He keyca ded he ock and ood awkwa d y a hobb ed n o he emp y oom ha wa my new home a co ap ed n o he bed ha wa m ne now W h an apo oge c ook he unk away back o L and he hou e we d ha ed apped on a eda ve an de ma ha he doc had g ven me and added a mood-equa ze ha he d ecommended o con o my pe ona y w ng n econd wa a eep ========= CHAPTER 7 ========= The med he ped me cope w h he nex coup e o day a ng he ehab on he Man on We wo ked a n gh e ec ng a ca o d ng a ound he acade hough no ea wo k wou d be done on -- we wan ed he appea ance o ap d p og e and be de had an dea wo ked a ong de Dan u ng h m a a pe ona ec e a y hand ng my ca ook ng up p an mon o ng he Ne o he g umb ng a he D ney-go ng pub c ea zed ha he Man on wa be ng aken down o a u -b own ehab We d dn exchange any unnece a y wo d and ng de by de w hou eve ook ng n o one ano he eye cou dn ea y ee awkwa d a ound Dan anyway He neve e me and be de we had ou hand u d ec ng d appo n ed gue away om he Man on A dep e ng numbe o hem headed a gh o he Ha o P e den We d dn have o wa ong o he pan cked c eed abou he Man on o appea Dan ead a oud o h HUD Hey Anyone hea any h ng abou chedu ed ma n enance a he HM? u buzzed by on he way o he new H o P and ook ke ome b g u a oo -- ca o d ng ca membe wa m ng n and ou ee he p c hope hey e no c ew ng up a good h ng BTW don m he new H o P -- ve y B chun R gh a d Who he au ho and he on he ? Dan cog a ed a momen _She_ K m W gh and he on he Good Whu e o o Man on anac b g eade h p Ca he a d Th wa he p an ec u ab d an gh away ge em n co ume and pu em up on he ca o d G ve hem ou zed ba -ado ned oo and ge hem o p ay a con uc on ac v y n humpy undead pan om me n me Suneep and h gang wou d have a ba ch o e ep e ence obo up and unn ng and we d move o hem ge hem wande ng he queue a ea n e ac ng w h cu ou gue The new Man on wou d be open o bu ne n 48 hou a be n pped-down a h on The ca o d ng made o a n ce ween e a v ua d aw ha wou d pu he ho de ha h onged Deb a Ha o P e den ove o a cu ou peek o wo Buzz c y m a p e y ma guy # Dan paged h K m pe on and poke o he a he wa deba k ng he P a e o he Ca bbean wonde ed he wa he gh pe on o he ob he eemed aw u y enamo ed o he ehab ha Deb a and he c ew had pe o med d had mo e me wou d ve un a deep backg ound check on eve y one o he name on my bu ha wou d ve aken mon h Dan made ome ma a k w h K m peak ng a oud n de e ence o my hand cap be o e com ng o he po n We ead you po abou he Man on ehab You e he one o no ce and we wonde ed you d be n e e ed n com ng by o nd ou a e mo e abou ou p an Dan w nced She a c eame he wh pe ed Reex ve y ed o pu up a HUD w h my e on he Man on an we hoped o ec u O cou e no h ng happened d done ha a dozen me ha mo n ng and he e wa no end n gh cou dn eem o ge a he ed up abou hough no abou any h ng e e no even he h ckey u v b e unde Dan co a The an de ma mood-ba ance on my b cep wa ee ng o ha -- doc o o de F ne ne We e and ng by he Pe Ceme e y wo ca membe ma e n Man on co ume Abou ve- en appa en 30 You can m u She d dn She a ved ou o b ea h and exc ed ogg ng She wa appa en 20 and d e ed ke a ea 20 yea o d n a h p e c ma e- con o cow ha c ung o and e ea ed he mb wh ch we e ong and doub e-kneed A he age among he younge e nc ud ng he g who d ho me Bu he e emb ance o my k e ended w h he d e and body She wa n wea ng a de gne ace a he one ha had enough mpe ec on o be he one he wa bo n w h eye e c o e and no e w de and gh y qua hed adm ed he way he moved h ough he c owd a and ow bu w hou o ng anyone K m ca ed a he d ew nea Ove he e She gave a happy h ek and made a bee ne o u Even cha g ng u - bo e he wa good enough a nav ga ng he c owd ha he d dn b u h aga n a ng e ou When he eached u he came up ho and bounced a e H m K m he a d pump ng my a m w h he pecu a v o ence o he ex a- o n ed u u a d hen wa ed wh e he epea ed he p oce w h Dan So he a d wha he dea ? ook he hand K m we ve go a ob o you you e n e e ed She queezed my hand ha d and he eye hone ake he a d aughed and o d d Dan wa a po e ca membe y o o augh bu unde nea h wa e e h nk d be e exp a n o you a d Exp a n away he a d and gave my hand ano he queeze e go o he hand and an down an abb ev a ed ve on o he ehab p an eav ng ou any h ng abou Deb a and he ad-hoc K m d ank a n g eed y She cocked he head a me a an down eye w de wa d conce ng and na y a ked A e you eco d ng h ? K m b u hed hope ha okay m a ng a new Man on c apbook have one o eve y de n he Pa k bu h one gonna be a wo d- bea e He e wa ome h ng hadn hough abou Pub h ng ad-hoc bu ne wa abu n de Pa k o much o ha hadn occu ed o me ha he new ca membe we b ough n wou d wan o eco d eve y e de a and pu h ou ove he Ne a a b g o d Whu e co ec o can w ch o K m a d She ooked wo ed and ea y a ed o g a p how mpo an he Man on wa o he peop e we we e ec u ng how much o a p v ege we we e o e ng hem Leave o ng a d Le how he wo d how done We ed K m n o a u do and down o co um ng She wa ha -naked by he me we go he e e a y ea ng o he c o he n an c pa on o ge ng n o cha ac e Sonya a L be y Squa e ad-hoc ha we d a hed a co um ng a eady had c o he wa ng o he a o ng ma d un o m w h an ove zed oo be We e K m on he ca o d ng ene ge ca y owe ng a wa e -ba ed cemen ub u e on o he wa c ap ng o and mov ng o a new po ooked bo ng o me bu cou d be eve ha we d have o ea he away when he me came We wen back o aw ng he Ne o he nex cand da e # By unch me he e we e en d ng hamme ng owe ng new ca membe a ound he ca o d ng pu h ng b ack whee ba ow ng ng G m G nn ng Gho and gene a y hav ng a h gh o d me Th do a d o Dan wa exhau ed and oaked w h wea and he an de ma unde my co ume ched De p e he happy- u ce n my b ood eam a eak o unca membe y c ank ne wa ho h ough my mood needed o ge o age Dan he ped me hobb e away and a we h he u do he wh pe ed n my ea Th wa a g ea dea u u Rea y We umped a am ove o mag nee ng my che wo en w h p de Suneep had h ee o h a an wo k ng on he gene a on o mob e e ep e ence obo o he ex e o and had p om ed a p o o ype o ha a e noon The obo we e ea y enough -- u o - he- he u ea y -- bu he co ume and k nema c ou ne we e ome h ng e e Th nk ng abou wha he and Suneep gang o hype c ea ve upe -gen u e wou d come up w h chee ed me up a e a d d be ng ou o he pub c eye Suneep ab ooked ke had been h by a o nado mag nee pack o ed n and ou w h a cane g zmo o o med gh a gumen a ve kno n he co ne a hey hou ed ove wha eve he HUD we e d p ay ng n he m dd e o a wa Suneep who ooked ke he wa ba e y e a n ng an u ge o hou Y ppee He wa c ea y n h e emen He h ew h a m open when he caugh gh o Dan and me h ew hem w de enough o emb ace he who e mad g bbe ng chao Wha wonde u umgubbe y he hou ed ove he no e Su e ag eed How he p o o ype com ng? Suneep waved ab en y h ho nge de c b ng v a e n he a n due me n due me ve pu ha eam on o ome h ng e e a k nema c ou ne o a c a o y ng pook ha u e ga bag o ay a o -- en and ca y o d py- ech and he e o com ng emendou y Take a ook He po n ed a nge a me and p e umab y qu ed ome da a my way m o ne em nded h m gen y He apped h o ehead ook a momen o pu h h ha o h ace and gave me an apo oge c wave O cou e o cou e He e He un o ed an LCD and handed o me A ock o pook danced on he c een ende ed aga n he ba oom cene They we e hema ca y con en w h he ex ng Man on gho mo e unny han ca y and he ace we e am a ooked a ound he ab and ea zed ha hey d ca ca u ed va ou mag nee Ah You no ced Suneep a d ubb ng h hand oge he A ve y good oke ye ? Th e c a d ca e u y Bu ea y need ome obo up and unn ng by omo ow n gh Suneep We d cu ed h emembe ? W hou e ep e ence obo my ec u ng wou d be m ed o an ke K m who ved n he a ea had b oade de gn han ha Suneep ooked d appo n ed O cou e We d cu ed don ke o op my peop e when hey have good dea bu he e a me and a p ace pu hem on gh away Leave o me Dan u ned o g ee omeone and ooked o ee who wa L O cou e She wa accoon-eyed w h a gue and he eached ou o Dan hand aw me and changed he m nd H guy he a d w h ud ed ca ua ne Oh he o a d Suneep He ed h nge a he -- he y ng gho mag ned L eye o ed up o a momen hen he nodded exhau ed y a h m Ve y good he a d u hea d om L a She ay he ndoo c ew a e on- chedu e They ve go mo o he an ma on c d man ed and hey e ak ng down he g a n he Ba oom now The Ba oom gho e ec we e accomp hed by mean o a g an pane o po hed g a ha a e a y b ec ed he oom The Man on had been bu a ound -- wa oo b g o ake ou n one p ece They ay be a coup e day be o e hey ve go cu up and eady o emove A pocke o uncom o ab e ence de cended on u he oa o he mag nee u h ng n o You mu be exhau ed Dan a d a eng h Goddamn gh a d a he ame momen ha L a d gue am We bo h m ed wan y Suneep pu h a m a ound L and my hou de and queezed He me ed o an exo c cock a o ndu a ub can ozone and a gue po on You wo hou d go home and g ve each o he a ma age he a d You ve ea ned ome e Dan me my eye and hook h head apo oge ca y qu med ou om unde Suneep a m and hanked h m qu e y hen unk o o he Con empo a y o a ho ub and a coup e hou o eep # came back o he Man on a undown wa coo enough ha ook a u ace ou e co ume o ed n a hou de bag n ead o d ng h ough he c a e ng a -cond oned com o o he u do A a e hen ng b eeze b ew ac o me udden y had a c av ng o _ ea _ wea he he k nd o c ma e d g own up w h n To on o wa Oc obe o ch ake and a e me o cond on ng o d me ha wa May opped and eaned on a bench o a momen and c o ed my eye Unb dden and w h he c a y o a HUD aw H gh Pa k n To on o c o hed n au umn co o e y ed and o ange hade o eve g een and ea hy b own God needed a vaca on opened my eye and ea zed ha wa and ng n on o he Ha o P e den and ha he e wa a queue ahead o me o one ha e ched back and back d d a qu ck um n my head and ucked a be ween my ee h hey had enough peop e o ve o x u hou e wa ng he e -- ea y an hou wa The Ha _neve _ d ew c owd ke h Deb a wa wo k ng he u n e n Be y Ro g ngham and he caugh my eye and napped a nod a me a ked o o he Man on A cho o zomb e- hamb ng new ec u had o med up n on o he ga e and we e g oan ng he way h ough G m G nn ng Gho w h a new ca -and- e pon e uc u e A ma aud ence pa c pa ed u ged on by he ec u on he ca o d ng We a ea ha go ng gh mu e ed o my e And wa excep ha cou d ee membe o he ad-hoc ook ng on om he de ne and he ook we en k nd y To a y ob e ve an a e a good mea u e o a de popu a y bu hey e k nd o a pa n n he a oo They p ynch he ound ack cadge ouven and pe e you w h ma my how-o que on A e a wh e even he chee e ca membe a o o e pa ence deve op an au oma c d a e o hem The L be y Squa e ad-hoc who we e wo k ng on he Man on had been a oaded n o app ov ng a ehab p e -ganged n o wo k ng on and we e now o ced o endu e he company o he e g and and ng mega an d been he e when a a ed -- n ead o eep ng -- may ve been ab e o ma age he b u ed ego bu now wonde ed wa oo a e No h ng o bu o do ducked n o a u do changed n o my co ume and wen back on age o ned he ca -and- e pon e en hu a ca y wa k ng a ound o he ad-hoc and ge ng hem o o n n e uc an y o o he w e By he me he cho e ed wea y and exhau ed a g oup o ad-hoc we e eady o ake he p ace and e co ed my ec u o an o age b eak- oom # Suneep d dn de ve he obo p o o ype o a week and o d me ha wou d be ano he week be o e cou d have even ve p oduc on un Though he d dn ay go he en e ha h guy we e ou o con o o exc ed by he eedom om ad-hoc ove gh ha hey we e unn ng w d Suneep h m e wa nea y a w eck ne vou and umpy d dn p e Be de had p ob em o my own The new ec u we e mu p y ng wa ay ng on op o he an e pon e o he ehab om a e m na d had n a ed n my ho e oom K m and he oca co eague we e e d ng m on o h eve y day he Whu e accumu a ng a env ou an a ound he wo d ogged n o wa ch he p og e on he ca o d ng Tha wa a acco d ng o p an Wha wa n acco d ng o p an wa ha he new ec u we e do ng he own ec u ng ex end ng nv a on o he ne -pa o come on down o F o da bunk on he o a and gue -bed and p e en hem e ve o me o ac ve du y The en h me happened app oached K m n he b eak- oom He go ge wa wo k ng he eye acked nv b e wo d ac o he m dd e d ance No doub he wa penn ng ye ano he b ea h e m ve abou he mag c o wo k ng n he Man on Hey he e a d Have you go a m nu e o mee w h me? She he d up a ng e nge hen a momen a e gave me a b gh m e H u u he a d Su e Why don you change n o c vv e we ake a wa k h ough he Pa k and a k? K m wo e he co ume eve y chance he go d been qu e m abou he u n ng n o he aund y eve y n gh n ead o wea ng home Re uc an y he epped n o a change- oom and w ched n o he cow We ook he u do o he Fan a y and ex and wa ked h ough he a e-a e noon u h o ch d en and he adu queued deep and h ck o Snow Wh e Dumbo and Pe e Pan How e you k ng he e? a ked K m gave a e bounce Oh u u he be me o my e ea y A d eam come ue m mee ng o many n e e ng peop e and m ea y ee ng c ea ve can wa o y ou he e ep e ence g oo We m ea y p ea ed w h wha you and you end a e up o he e You e wo k ng ha d pu ng on a good how ke he ong you ve been wo k ng up oo She d d one o ho e doub e-kneed hu e ha wa he ba o any numbe o ac on v d ho e day and he wa udden y and ng n on o me hand on my hou de ook ng n o my eye She ooked e ou he e a p ob em u u ? he e d a he we u a ked abou n ead o mak ng ch cha m ed and ook he hand o my hou de How o d a e you K m? N ne een he a d Wha he p ob em? N ne een e u no wonde he wa o vo a e _Wha my excu e hen?_ no a p ob em K m u ome h ng wan ed o d cu w h you The peop e you-a have been b ng ng down o wo k o me hey e a ea y g ea ca membe Bu ? Bu we have m ed e ou ce a ound he e No enough hou n he day o me o ay on op o he new o k he ehab eve y h ng No o men on ha un we open he new Man on he e a m ed numbe o ex a we can u e ou on m conce ned ha we e go ng o pu omeone on age w hou p ope a n ng o ha we e go ng o un ou o un o m m a o conce ned abou peop e com ng a he way he e and d cove ng ha he e a en any h o hem o ake She gave me a e eved ook _ ha _ a ? Don wo y abou ve been a k ng o Deb a ove a he Ha o P e den and he ay he can p ck up any peop e who can be u ed a he Man on -- we cou d even o a e back and o h She wa c ea y p oud o he o e gh My ea buzzed Deb a one ep ahead o me a a ong he way She p obab y ugge ed ha K m do ome ex a ec u ng n he p ace She d ake n he peop e who came down o wo k he Man on conv nce hem hey d been ha d done by he L be y Squa e c ew and ope hem n o he e Whu e anch he be e o e ze he Man on he Pa k he who e o Wa D ney Wo d Oh don h nk come o ha a d ca e u y m u e we can nd a u e o hem a a he Man on Mo e he me e K m cocked qu zz ca bu e go b my ongue The pa n b ough me back o ea y and a ed p ann ng co ume p oduc on a n ng o e bunk ng God on y Suneep wou d n h he obo # Wha do you mean no ? a d ho y L o ded he a m and g a ed No u u won y The g oup a eady up e ha a he g o y go ng o he new peop e hey neve e u b ng mo e n They a o won op wo k ng on he ehab o a n hem co ume hem eed hem and mo he hem They e o ng Whu e eve y day ha he Man on hu up and hey don wan any mo e de ay Dave a eady o ned up w h Deb a and m u e he no he a one Dave -- he e k who d p ed a ove he ehab n he mee ng O cou e he d gone ove L and Dan ood de by de on he po ch o he hou e whe e d ved d d ven ou ha n gh o conv nce L o e he ad-hoc on b ng ng n mo e ec u bu wa n go ng acco d ng o p an They wou dn even e me n he hou e So wha do e K m? Te he wha eve you wan L a d You b ough he n -- you manage he Take ome goddamn e pon b y o once n you e wa n go ng o ge any be e Dan gave me an apo oge c ook L g a ed a momen onge hen wen n o he hou e Deb a do ng ea we he a d The ne a ove he B gge h ng eve F a h-bak ng ak ng o n n gh c ub dance m xe w h he D backup be ng hoved n bu n o he dance God ad ucked up Dan ucked a up He d dn ay any h ng and ha wa he ame a ag ee ng D v ng back o he ho e dec ded needed o a k o K m She wa a p ob em d dn need and maybe a p ob em cou d o ve pu ed a c eech ng U- u n and d ove he e unabou o he p ace a ny condo n a c umb ng comp ex ha had once been a ga ed en o v age p e-B chun He p ace wa ea y o po A he gh we e bu n ng a n conve a on aud b e h ough he c een doo ogged up he ep wo a a me and wa abou o knock when a am a vo ce d ed h ough he c een Deb a ay ng Oh ye oh ye Te c dea d neve ea y hough abou u ng ee mo phe e p aye o ven up he queue a ea bu you e mak ng a o o en e You peop e have u been do ng he _be _ wo k ove a he Man on -- nd me mo e ke you and ake hem o he Ha any day hea d K m and he young end cha ng exc ed y p oud y The ange and ea u u ed me om p o oe and e udden y gh and coo and eady o do ome h ng e b e padded en y down he ep and go n o my unabou # Some peop e neve ea n m one o hem appa en y a mo cho ed ove he oo p oo mp c y o my p an a pped n h ough he ca en ance u ng he D ca d d co ed when my y em wen o ne and wa no onge ab e o qu my au ho za on a he doo changed c o he n a ba h oom on Ma n S ee w ch ng n o a b ack cow ha comp e e y ob cu ed my ea u e hen unk h ough he hadow a ong he o e on un came o he moa a ound C nde e a ca e Keep ng ow epped ove he ence and duck- wa ked down he embankmen hen pped n o he wa e and o hed ac o o he Adven u e and de S pp ng a ong o he L be y Squa e ga eway a ened my e n doo way wheneve hea d ma n enance c ew pa ng n he d ance un eached he Ha o P e den and n a w nk ng wa n de he hea e e Humm ng he Sma Wo d heme p oduced a ho w eck ng ba om my cow abbed pocke and e o wo k The p ma y b oadca un we e h dden beh nd a pa n ed c m ove he age and hey we e u p ng y we bu o a gene a on ech ea y wo ked up a wea ma h ng hem bu kep a un no a ng e componen ema ned ecogn zab e The wo k wa ow and oud n he en Pa k bu u ed me n o a eepy eve e an au ohypno c w ng-bang- w ng-bang me e me To be on he a e de g abbed he o age un and pped hem n o he cow Loca ng he backup un wa a e ck e bu yea o hang ng ou a he Ha o P e den wh e L nke ed w h he an ma on c he ped me me hod ca y nve ga ed eve y nook c anny and o age a ea un oca ed hem n wha had been a b eak- oom c o e By now had he hy hm o he h ng and made ho wo k o hem d d one mo e pa w eck ng any h ng ha ooked ke m gh be a p o o ype o he nex gene a on o no e ha wou d he p hem econ uc he un d ma hed had no u on abou Deb a p epa edne -- he d have ome h ng o e ha he cou d ge up and unn ng n a ew day wa n do ng any h ng pe manen wa u buy ng my e a day o wo made my way c ean ou o he Pa k w hou be ng po ed and o hed my way n o my unabou hoe eak ng wa e om he moa Fo he me n week ep ke a baby # O cou e go caugh don ea y have he empe amen o Mach ave an henan gan and e a a a m e w de om he muddy oo p n n he Con empo a y obby o he w eck ng ba hough e y e beh nd w h my cow and he o age un om he Ha o go en on he back ea o my unabou wh ed my pe ona azzy up empo ve on o G m G nn ng Gho a made my way om Co um ng h ough he u do ou o L be y Squa e ha an hou be o e he Pa k opened S and ng n on o me we e L and Deb a Deb a wa ho d ng my cow and w eck ng ba L he d he o age un hadn pu on my an de ma ha mo n ng and o he emo on e wa unmu ed oud and yamme ng an an pa hem a ong he oad o Adven u e and pa he T k Room whe e d been k ed pa he Adven u e and ga e whe e d waded h ough he moa down Ma n S ee an and an e bow ng ea y gue amp ng owe knock ng ove an app e ca ac o om he Penny A cade an un eached he ma n ga e and u ned h nk ng d ou un L and Deb a and a my p ob em d hough w ong They we e bo h he e a ep beh nd me pu ng and ed Deb a he d my w eck ng ba ke a weapon and he b and hed a me You e a goddamn d o you know ha ? he a d h nk we d been a one he wou d ve wung a me Can ake when omeone e e p ay ough huh Deb a? nee ed L hook he head d gu ed y She gh you a e an d o The ad-hoc mee ng n Adven u e and You e com ng Why? a ked ee ng be ge en You go ng o hono me o a my ha d wo k? We e go ng o a k abou he u u e u u wha e o o u Fo God ake L can you ee wha go ng on? They _k ed_ me They d d and now we e gh ng each o he n ead o he Why can you ee how _w ong_ ha ? You d be e wa ch ho e accu a on u u Deb a a d qu e y and n en e y a mo h ng don know who k ed you o why bu you e he one who gu y he e You need he p ba ked a humo e augh Gue we e a ng o eam n o he now-open Pa k and eve a o hem we e wa ch ng n en y a he h ee co umed ca membe hou ed a each o he cou d ee my Whu e hemo hag ng Deb a you a e pu e y u o h and you wo k e and un mag na ve You e a uck ng de po e and you don even have he gu o adm Tha _enough_ u u L a d he ace ha d he age ba e y n check We e go ng Deb a wa ked a pace beh nd me L a pace be o e a he way h ough he c owd o Adven u e and aw a dozen oppo un e o p n o a gap n he human ebb and ow and e cape cu ody bu d dn y wan ed a chance o e he who e wo d wha d done and why d done Deb a o owed u n when we moun ed he ep o he mee ng oom L u ned don h nk you hou d be he e Deb a he a d n mea u ed one Deb a hook he head You can keep me ou you know And you hou dn wan o We e on he ame de no ed de ve y and h nk dec ded L Come on hen he a d wa SRO n he mee ng oom packed o he g w h he en e ad-hoc excep o my new ec u No wo k wa be ng done on he ehab hen and he L be y Be e wou d be ng a he dock Even he e au an c ew we e he e L be y Squa e mu ve been a gho own gave he mee ng a en e o u gency he know edge ha he e we e gue n L be y Squa e wande ng a m e y ook ng o ca membe o he p hem ou O cou e Deb a c ew m gh ve been a ound The c owd ace we e ha d and b e eav ng no doub n my m nd ha wa n deep h Even Dan ng n he on ow ooked ang y nea y a ed c y ng gh hen Dan -- oh Dan My pa my condan my pa y my va my neme Dan Dan Dan wan ed o bea h m o dea h and hug h m a he ame me L ook he pod um and ucked ay ha beh nd he ea A gh hen he a d ood o he e and Deb a ood o he gh Thank o com ng ou oday d ke o ge h done qu ck y We a have mpo an wo k o ge o un down he ac a n gh a membe o h ad-hoc vanda zed he Ha o P e den ende ng u e e e ma ed ha w ake a ea a week o ge back up and unn ng don have o e you ha h n accep ab e Th ha neve happened be o e and w neve happen aga n We e go ng o ee o ha d ke o p opo e ha no u he wo k be done on he Man on un he Ha o P e den u y ope a ona w be vo un ee ng my e v ce on he epa The e we e nod n he aud ence L wou dn be he on y one wo k ng a he Ha ha week D ney Wo d n a compe on L a d A he d e en ad-hoc wo k oge he and we do o make he Pa k a good a we can We o e gh o ha a ou pe nea y gagged on b e d ke o ay ome h ng a d a ca m y a cou d manage L ho me a ook Tha ne u u Any membe o he ad-hoc can peak ook a deep b ea h d d a gh ? a d My vo ce c acked d d and don have any excu e o hav ng done may no have been he ma e h ng ve eve done bu h nk you a hou d unde and how wa d ven o We e no _ uppo ed_ o be n compe on w h one ano he he e bu we a know ha ha u a po e c on The u h ha he e ea compe on n he Pa k and ha he ha de p aye a e he c ew ha ehabbed he Ha o P e den They _ o e_ he Ha om you They d d wh e you we e d ac ed hey u ed _me_ o eng nee he d ac on hey _mu de ed_ me hea d he h ek c eep ng n o my vo ce bu cou dn do any h ng abou U ua y he e ha we e a on he ame de ne e u wo k oge he n peace Bu ha changed he day hey had me ho you keep on be ev ng you e go ng o o e he Man on he L be y Be e Tom Sawye and -- a o A he h o y we have w h h p ace -- a he h o y ha he b on who ve v ed have -- go ng o be de oyed and ep aced w h he e e hough e h ha aken ove he Ha Once ha happen he e no h ng e ha make h p ace pec a Anyone can ge he ame expe ence ng a home on he o a Wha happen hen huh? How much onge do you h nk h p ace w ay open once he on y peop e he e a e _you?_ Deb a m ed conde cend ng y A e you n hed hen? he a ked wee y F ne know m no a membe o h g oup bu nce wa my wo k ha wa de oyed a n gh h nk wou d ke o add e u u a emen you don m nd She pau ed bu no one poke up F o a wan you a o know ha we don ho d you e pon b e o wha happened a n gh We know who wa e pon b e and he need he p u ge you o ee o ha he ge Nex d ke o ay ha a a a m conce ned we a e on he ame de -- he de o he Pa k Th a pec a p ace and cou dn ex w hou a o ou con bu on Wha happened o u u wa e b e and nce e y hope ha he pe on e pon b e caugh and b ough o u ce Bu ha pe on wa n me o any o he peop e n my ad-hoc L d ke o hank you o you gene ou o e o a ance and we ake you up on Tha goe o a o you -- come on by he Ha we pu you o wo k We be up and unn ng n no me Now a a a he Man on goe e me ay h once and o a ne he me no my ad-hoc have any de e o ake ove he ope a on o he Man on a e c a ac on and ge ng be e w h he wo k you e a do ng you ve been wo y ng abou hen you can op wo y ng now We e a on he ame de Thank o hea ng me ou ve go o go ee my eam now She u ned and e a cho u o app au e o ow ng he ou L wa ed un d ed down hen a d A gh hen we ve go wo k o do oo d ke o a k you a a avo d ke u o keep he de a o a n gh nc den o ou e ve Le ng he gue and he wo d know abou h ug y bu ne n good o anyone Can we a ag ee o do ha ? The e wa a momen pau e wh e he e u we e abu a ed on he HUD hen L gave hem a m on-do a m e knew you d come h ough Thank guy Le ge o wo k # pen he day a he ho e e y c o ng a ound on my e m na L had made ve y c ea o me a e he mee ng ha wa n o how my ace n de he Pa k un d go en he p wha eve ha mean By noon he new wa ou wa ha d o p n down he exac ou ce bu eemed o evo ve a ound he new ec u One o hem had o d he ne -pa abou he h gh d ama n L be y Squa e and men oned my name The e we e a eady a coup e o e v y ng me and expec ed mo e needed ome k nd o he p ha wa o u e hough abou eav ng hen u n ng my back on he who e bu ne and eav ng Wa D ney Wo d o a ye ano he new e Whu e-poo and ancy- ee wou dn be o bad d been n poo epu e be o e no o ong ago Tha me Dan and had pa ed a ound back a he U o T d been he cen e o a o o p e y amb va en en men and Whu e- poo a a man can be ep n a e co n on-campu pe ec y c ma e con o ed wa c amped and du bu my acce o he ne wo k wa ee and had p en y o ma e a o en e a n my e Wh e cou dn ge a ab e n a e au an wa ee o queue up a any o he make a ound own and ge my e wha eve wan ed o ea and d nk wheneve wan ed Compa ed o 99 99999 pe cen o a he peop e who d eve ved had a e o unpa a e ed uxu y Even by he anda d o he B chun Soc e y wa ha d y a a y The numbe o ow-e eem nd v dua a a ge wa gn can and hey go a ong u ne hang ng ou n pa k a gu ng ead ng ag ng p ay p ay ng mu c O cou e ha wa n he e o me had Dan o pa a ound w h a a e h gh-ne -Whu e nd v dua who wa w ng o a e n ze w h a hmuck ke me He d and me o mea a dewa k ca e and conce a he SkyDome and hoo down any no y epu a on-punk who nee ed a my Whu e a y Be ng w h Dan wa a p oce o con an y eeva ua ng my be e n he B chun Soc e y and d neve had a mo e v b an hough -p ovok ng me n a my e cou d have e he Pa k deadheaded o anywhe e n he wo d a ed ove cou d have u ned my back on Dan on Deb a on L and he who e me d dn ca ed up he doc ========= CHAPTER 8 ========= Doc o Pe e an we ed on he h d ng aud o-on y n he backg ound hea d a cho u o c y ng ch d en he con an backd op o he Mag c K ngdom n ma y H doc a d He o u u Wha can do o you? Unde he venee o p o e ona med ca and ca membe end ne en ed a on _Make a good aga n_ m no ea y u e wan ed o ee cou d a k ove w h you m hav ng ome p e y b g p ob em m on- h un ve Can wa un hen? By hen had no dea d have he ne ve o ee h m don h nk o -- wa hop ng we cou d mee gh away an eme gency can have an ambu ance en o you u gen bu no an eme gency need o a k abou n pe on P ea e? He ghed n undoc o y unca membe y a h on u u ve go mpo an h ng o do he e A e you u e h can wa ? b back a ob m u e doc A gh hen When can you be he e? L had made c ea ha he d dn wan me n he Pa k Can you mee me? can ea y come o you m a he Con empo a y Towe B oom 2334 don ea y make hou e ca on know know ha ed how pa he c ounded Can you make an excep on? don know who e e o u n o be he e a oon a can have o ge omeone o cove o me Le no make a hab o h a gh ? whoo hed ou my e e p om e He d connec ed ab up y and ound my e d a ng Dan Ye ? he a d cau ou y Doc o Pe e com ng ove Dan don know he can he p me -- don know anyone can u wan ed you o know He u p ed me hen and made me emembe why he wa my end even a e eve y h ng Do you wan me o come ove ? Tha wou d be ve y n ce a d qu e y m a he ho e G ve me en m nu e he a d and ang o # He ound me on my pa o ook ng ou a he Ca e and he peak o Space Moun a n To my e p ead he pa k ng wa e o he Seven Sea Lagoon o my gh he P ope y e ched away o m e a e man cu ed m e The un wa wa m on my k n a n a n o happy augh e d ed w h he w nd and he owe we e n b oom n To on o wou d be eez ng a n g ay bu d ng no ome ap d an a mono a h ed by and ha d- aced anonym y m ed Dan pu ed up a cha nex o m ne and a w hou a wo d We bo h a ed ou a he v ew o a ong wh e ome h ng e e n ? a d na y uppo e o he a d wan o ay ome h ng be o e he doc come by u u Go ahead L and a e h ough hou d neve have happened n he p ace and m no p oud o my e you wo we e b eak ng up ha none o my bu ne bu had no gh o hu y a ong A gh a d wa oo d a ned o emo on ve aken a oom he e moved my h ng How L ak ng ? Oh he h nk m a o a ba a d uppo e he gh uppo e he pa y gh co ec ed h m He gave me a gen e ug n he hou de Thank We wa ed n compan onab e ence un he doc a ved He bu ed n h m e ne d awn up n o a ou pu e and wa ed expec an y e Dan on he pa o wh e ook a ea on he bed m c ack ng up o ome h ng a d ve been ac ng e a ca y ome me v o en y don know wha w ong w h me d ehea ed he peech bu wa n ea y o choke ou We bo h know wha w ong u u he doc a d mpa en y You need o be e e hed om you backup ge e up w h a e h c one and e e h one We ve had h a k can do a d no mee ng h eye u can -- n he e ano he way? The doc hook h head u u ve go m ed e ou ce o a oca e The e a pe ec y good cu e o wha a ng you and you won ake he e no much can do o you Bu wha abou med ? You p ob em n a chem ca mba ance a men a de ec You _b a n_ _b oken_ on A ha med w do ma k he ymp om wh e you ge wo e can e you wha you wan o hea un o una e y Now you e eady o ake he cu e can e e h c one mmed a e y and ge you e o ed n o a new one n 48 hou n he e ano he way? P ea e? You have o he p me -- can o e a h cou dn adm my ea ea on o be ng o a ached o h ngu a y m e ab e chap e n my e no even o my e The doc o o e o go Look u u you haven go he Whu e o make wo h anyone me o e ea ch a o u on o h p ob em o he han he one ha we a know abou can g ve you mood- upp e an bu ha no a pe manen o u on Why no ? He bogg ed You _can _ u ake dope o he e o you e on Even ua y ome h ng w happen o h body -- ee om you e ha you e oke-p one -- and you e go ng o ge e e hed om you backup The onge you wa he mo e auma c be You e obb ng om you u u e e o you e h p e en wa n he me he hough had c o ed my m nd Eve y pa ng day made ha de o ake he cu e To e down and wake up end w h Dan o wake up and be n ove w h L aga n To wake up o a Man on he way emembe ed a Ha o P e den whe e cou d nd L ben ove w h he head n a P e den gu o an a e noon To e down and wake w hou d g ace w hou know ng ha my ove and my be end wou d be ay me _had_ be ayed me u cou dn do -- no ye anyway Dan -- Dan wa go ng o k h m e oon and e o ed my e om my o d backup d o e my a yea w h h m d o e _h _ a yea Le ab e ha doc hea wha you e ay ng bu he e e comp ca on gue ake he mood- upp e an o now He gave me a co d ook g ve you a c p hen cou d ve done ha w hou com ng ou he e P ea e don ca me anymo e wa hocked by h obv ou e bu d dn unde and un he wa gone and o d Dan wha had happened U o d- me we e u ed o h nk ng o doc o a h gh y a ned p o e ona -- a ha p e-B chun med- choo u ong n e n h p ana omy d Tuh he ave age doc oday ge mo e a n ng n bed de manne han b o c ence Doc o Pe e a echn c an no an MD no he way you and mean Anyone w h he k nd o know edge you e ook ng o wo k ng a a h o ca e ea che no a doc o Bu ha no he u on The doc uppo ed o be he au ho y on med ca ma e even hough he on y go one ck e o e om backup You e em nd ng Pe e o ha and he no happy o have happen # wa ed a week be o e e u n ng o he Mag c K ngdom unn ng my e on he wh e and beach a he Con empo a y ogg ng he Wa k A ound he Wo d ak ng a canoe ou o he w d and ove g own D cove y and and gene a y coo ng ou Dan came by n he even ng and wa ke o d me unn ng down he p o and con o Whu e and B chun y and e n gene a ng on my po ch w h a wea ng p che o emonade On he a n gh he p e en ed me w h a c eve e handhe d a mu eum p ece ha eca ed ond y om he dawn ng day o he B chun Soc e y had much o he unc ona y o my de unc y em n a package cou d p n my h pocke e ke pa o a co ume ke he u n p wa che he Ben F ank n ee mo phe e p aye wo e a he Ame can Adven u e Mu eum p ece o no mean ha wa once aga n qua ed o pa c pa e n he B chun Soc e y a be mo e ow y and e e c en y han once may ve ook down a he nex mo n ng and d ove o he Mag c K ngdom ca membe o A ea ha wa he p an When go down o he Con empo a y pa k ng o my unabou wa gone A qu ck check w h he handhe d evea ed he wo my Whu e wa ow enough ha omeone had u go en n de and d ven away ea z ng ha hey cou d make mo e popu a u e o han cou d W h a nk ng ee ng udged up o my oom and w ped my key h ough he ock em ed a o un a ed _bzzz_ and up P ea e ee he on de k My oom had been ea gned oo had he ho end o he Whu e ck A ea he e wa no manda o y Whu e check on he mono a p a o m bu he o he peop e on he ca we e none oo end y o me and no one o e ed me an nch mo e pe ona pace han wa nece a y had h bo om # ook he ca membe en ance o he Mag c K ngdom c pp ng my name ag o my D ney Ope a on po o h gno ng he g a e o my e ow ca membe n he u do u ed he handhe d o page Dan Hey he e he a d b gh y cou d e n an y ha wa be ng humo ed Whe e a e you? a ked Oh up n he Squa e By he L be y T ee n on o he Ha o P e den wo ked he handhe d p nged ome Whu e manua y Deb a wa p ked o h gh eemed he d neve come down a we e T m and he who e c ew n agg ega e They we e d aw ng om gue by he m on and om ca membe and om peop e who d ead he popu a accoun o he ugg e aga n he o ce o pe y ea ou y and abo age -- e me e gh -headed hu ed a ong o co um ng and changed n o he heavy g een Man on co ume hen an up he a o he Squa e ound Dan pp ng a co ee and ng on a bench unde he g an an e n-hung L be y T ee He had a econd cup wa ng o me and pa ed he bench nex o h m a w h h m and pped wa ng o h m o p wha eve b o o en new he had o me h mo n ng -- cou d ee hove ng ke o m c oud He wou dn a k hough no un we n hed he co ee Then he ood and o ed ove o he Man on wa n ope-d op ye and he e we en any gue n he Pa k wh ch wa a o he be e g ven wha wa com ng nex Have you aken a ook a Deb a Whu e a e y? he a ked na y a we ood by he pe ceme e y con de ng he emp y ca o d ng a ed o pu ou he handhe d bu he pu a hand on my a m Don bo he he a d mo o e y Su ce o ay Deb a gang numbe one w h a bu e Eve nce wo d go ou abou wha happened o he Ha hey ve been ack ng deep They can do u abou any h ng u e and ge away w h My omach gh ened and ound my e g nd ng my mo a So wha hey ve done Dan? a ked a eady know ng he an we Dan d dn have o e pond becau e a ha momen T m eme ged om he Man on wea ng a gh co on wo k- mock He had a hough u exp e on and when he aw u he beamed h e n g n and came ove Hey guy he a d H T m Dan a d nodded no u ng my e o peak P e y exc ng u huh? he a d haven o d h m ye Dan a d w h o ced gh ne Why don you un down? We p e y ad ca have o adm We ve ea ned ome u om he Ha ha we wan ed o app y and a he ame me we wan ed o cap u e ome o he h o ca cha ac e o he gho o y opened my mou h o ob ec bu Dan pu a hand on my o ea m Rea y? he a ked nnocen y How do you p an on do ng ha ? We we e keep ng he e ep e ence obo -- ha a honey o an dea u u -- bu we e g v ng each one an up nk o ha can a h-bake We ve go ome h gh-Whu e ho o w e pu ng oge he a e e o na a ve abou he ve o each gho how hey me he ag c end wha hey ve done nce you know The way we ve o yboa ded he gue eam h ough he de p e y much he way hey do now wa k ng h ough he p e how and hen ge ng n o he de-veh c e he Doom Bugg e Bu he e he b g change we _ ow a down_ We ade o h oughpu o n en y make mo e o a p em um p oduc So you e a gue F om he queue o he un oad zone you e be ng cha ed by he e gho he e e ep e ence obo and hey e ea y ca y -- ve go Suneep concep a go ng back o he d aw ng boa d h ng ba c e ea ch on u ha u ca e he gue y When a gho ca che you ay hand on you -- wham F a h- bake You ge who e g y o y n h ee econd ac o you on a obe By he me you ve e you ve had en o mo e gho - con ac and he nex me you come back a new gho w h a new o e The way ha he Ha d aw ng em we e bound o be a h He pu h hand beh nd h back and ocked on h hee c ea y p oud o h m e When Epco Cen e opened ong ong ago he e d been an ug y decade o o n de de gn mag nee ng ound a w nn ng o mu a o Space h p Ea h he ag h p de n he b g go ba and n he d ve o e ab h hema c con nu y hey d u ned he o mu a n o a cook e-cu e amp ng ou ha a dozen c one o each o he hemed a ea n he Fu u e Showca e wen ke h we we e cavemen hen he e wa anc en G eece hen Rome bu ned cue u u -odo FX hen he e wa he G ea Dep e on and na y we eached he mode n age Who know wha he u u e ho d ? We do We a have v deophone and be v ng on he ocean oo Once wa cu e -- compe ng and n p a ona even -- bu x me wa emba a ng L ke eve yone once mag nee ng go hem e ve a good hamme eve y h ng a ed o e emb e a na Even now he Epco ad-hoc we e epea ng he n o he o ebea c o ng eve y de w h a cene o B chun u op a And Deb a wa epea ng he c a c m ake ea ng he way h ough he Mag c K ngdom w h he b a e e o a h-bake T m a d hea ng he emb e n my vo ce hough you a d ha you had no de gn on he Man on ha you and Deb a wou dn be y ng o ake away om u D dn you ay ha ? T m ocked back a d apped h m and he b ood d a ned om h ace Bu we e no ak ng away he a d You _ nv ed_ u o he p hook my head con u ed We d d? a d Su e he a d Ye Dan a d K m and ome o he o he ehab ca wen o Deb a ye e day and a ked he o do a de gn ev ew o he cu en ehab and ugge any change She wa good enough o ag ee and hey ve come up w h ome g ea dea ead be ween he ne he newb e you nv ed n have gone ove o he o he de and we e go ng o o e eve y h ng becau e o hem e ke h We and co ec ed a d ca e u y T m g n came back and he c apped h hand oge he _He ea y ove he Man on_ hough _He cou d have been on ou de we had on y p ayed a gh _ # Dan and ook o he u do and g abbed a pa o b cyc e and ped owa d Suneep ab ang ng ou be a he u h ng ca membe They don have he au ho y o nv e Deb a n pan ed a we peda ed Say who? Dan a d wa pa o he dea -- hey knew ha hey we e p oba ona y membe gh om he a They we en even a owed n o he de gn mee ng Look ke hey ook hem e ve o p oba on he a d Suneep gave u bo h a ch y ook when we en e ed h ab He had da k c c e unde h eye and h hand hook w h exhau on He eemed o be ho d ng h m e e ec w h no h ng mo e han aw ange So much o bu d ng w hou n e e ence he a d We ag eed ha h p o ec wou dn change m dway h ough Now ha and ve go o he comm men ha m go ng o have o cance becau e h go ng o - chedu e made oo h ng apo oge c ge u e w h my hand Suneep be eve me m u a up e abou h a you a e We don ke h one eb He ha umphed We had a dea u u he a d ho y wou d do he ehab o you and you wou d keep he ad-hoc o my back ve been ho d ng up my end o he ba ga n bu whe e he he have you been? hey ep an he ehab now _have_ o go a ong w h hem can u eave he Man on ha -done -- hey mu de me The ke ne o a p an o med n my m nd Suneep we don ke he new ehab p an and we e go ng o op You can he p u onewa hem -- e hem hey have o nd o he mag nee ng uppo hey wan o go h ough w h ha you e booked o d Dan gave me one o h ong con de ng ook hen nodded a m nu e app ova Yeah he d aw ed Tha he p a gh u e em ha hey e we come o make any change hey wan o he p an _ _ hey can nd omeone e e o execu e hem Suneep ooked unhappy F ne -- o hen hey go and nd omeone e e o do and ha pe on ge a he c ed o he wo k my eam done o a u u h my me down he o e won come o ha a d qu ck y you can u keep ay ng no o a coup e day we do he e Suneep ooked doub u p om e a d Suneep an h ubby nge h ough h a eady c azed ha A gh he a d mo o e y Dan apped h m on he back Good man he a d # hou d have wo ked a mo d d a n he back o he Adven u e and con e ence oom wh e Dan exho ed Look you don have o o ove o Deb a and he peop e Th _you _ ga den and you ve ended e pon b y o yea She go no gh o move n on you -- you ve go a he Whu e you need o de end he p ace you a wo k oge he No ca membe ke con on a on and he L be y Squa e bunch we e ough o ou e o ac on Dan had u ned down he a cond on ng an hou be o e he mee ng and c o ed up a he w ndow o ha he oom wa a k n o ha d- ng a on n o age ood meek y n he back a a a po b e om Dan He wa wo k ng h mag c on my beha and wa con en o e h m do h h ng When L had a ved he d zed up he ua on w h a ou exp e on n he on nea Dan o n he back nea me She d cho en he m dd e and o concen a e on Dan had o ea my eye away om he wea g en ng on he ong pa e neck Dan a ked he a e ke a p eache eye b az ng They e _ ea ng_ you u u e They e _ ea ng_ you _pa _ They c a m hey ve go you uppo He owe ed h one don h nk ha ue He g abbed a ca membe by he hand and ooked n o he eye ue? he a d o ow wa a mo a wh pe No he ca membe a d He d opped he hand and wh ed o ace ano he ca membe ue? he demanded a ng h vo ce gh y No he ca membe a d h vo ce unna u a y oud a e he wh pe A ne vou chuck e pp ed h ough he c owd ue? he a d d ng o he pod um hou ng now No he c owd oa ed NO he hou ed back You don _have o_ o ove and ake You can gh back ca y on w h he p an end hem pack ng They e on y ak ng ove becau e you e e ng hem A e you go ng o e hem? NO # B chun wa a e a e Long be o e anyone e a akeove o any h ng hey ve done he a hme c and en u ed hem e ve ha he ad-hoc hey e d p ac ng doe n have a hope o gh ng back Fo he de ende a mp e dec on ep down g ace u y and a vage ome epu a on ou o he h ng -- gh ng back w u e y bu n away even ha meage ewa d No one bene om gh ng back -- ea o a he h ng eve yone gh ng ove Fo examp e wa he econd yea o my unde g ad ak ng a doub e-ma o n no mak ng oub e o my p o and keep ng my mou h hu wa he ea y day o B chun and mo o u we e a e unc ea on he concep No a o u hough a g oup o campu h -d u be g ad uden n he Soc o ogy Depa men we e on he b eed ng edge o he evo u on and hey knew wha hey wan ed con o o he Depa men ou e ng o he y ann ca odgy p o a bu y pu p om wh ch o p each he B chun go pe o a gene a on o mp e onab e unde g ad who we e oo cowed by he wo k oad o ea ze wha a oad o h hey we e be ng ed by he Un ve y A ea ha wha he n en e heavy e woman who e zed he m c a my Soc 200 cou e a d ha eepy mo n ng m d- eme e a Convoca on Ha N ne een hund ed uden ed he ha a capac y c owd o b ea y co ee- pp ng me-ma ke and hey woke up n a hu y when he woman den ha angue bu ove he head aw happen om he ve y a The p o wa down he e on he age a peck w h a e-m c d on ng ove h de and hen he e wa a b u a ha a dozen g ad uden u hed he age They we e d e ed n Un ve y pove y-ch c w nk ed ack and a e ed po coa and ve o hem o med a human wa n on o he p o wh e he x h he heavy e one w h he da k ha and he p om nen mo e on he cheek unc pped h m c and c pped o he ape Wakey wakey he ca ed and he ea y o he momen h home o me h wa n on he e on-p an Come on head up Th _no _ a d The Un ve y o To on o Depa men o Soc o ogy unde new managemen you e you handhe d o ece ve we be beam ng ou new e on-p an momen a y you ve o go en you handhe d you can down oad he p an a e on m go ng o un down o you gh now anyway Be o e a hough have a p epa ed a emen o you You p obab y hea h a coup e me mo e oday n you o he c a e wo h epea ng He e goe We e ec he odgy y ann ca u e o he p o a h Depa men We demand bu y pu p om wh ch o p each he B chun go pe E ec ve mmed a e y he Un ve y o To on o Ad-Hoc Soc o ogy Depa men _ n cha ge_ We p om e h gh- e evance cu cu um w h an empha on epu a on econom e po - ca c y oc a dynam c and he oc a heo y o nn e e-ex en on No mo e Du khe m k d u deadhead ng Th w be _ un_ She augh he cou e ke a p o -- you cou d e he d been d ng he ec u e o a wh e Pe od ca y he human wa beh nd he hudde ed a he p o made a b eak o and wa e a ned A p ec e y 9 50 a m he d m ed he c a wh ch had hung on he eve y wo d n ead o udg ng ou and amb ng o ou nex c a he who e n ne een hund ed o u o e and a one a ed buzz ng o ou ne ghbo a oa o Can you be eve ? ha o owed u ou he doo and o ou nex encoun e w h he Ad-Hoc Soc o ogy Depa men wa coo ha day had ano he oc c a Con uc ng Soc a Dev ance and we go he ame d he e he ame ng p opaganda he ame com ca gh o a enu ed p o ba e ng h m e aga n a human wa o ad-hoc Repo e pounced on u when we e he c a abb ng a u w h m c and peppe ng u w h que on gave hem a b g humb -up and a d B chun n c a c unde g ad e oquence The p o uck back he nex mo n ng go a head -up om he new ca a b u hed my ee h he Dean o he Depa men o Soc o ogy o d a epo e ha he ad-hoc cou e wou d no be c ed ed ha hey we e a gang o hug who we e o a y unqua ed o each A coun e po n n e v ew om a poke pe on o he ad-hoc e ab hed ha a o he new ec u e had been w ng cou e-p an and ec u e no e o he p o hey ep aced o yea and ha hey d a o w en mo o he ou na a c e The p o b ough Un ve y ecu y ou o he p hem ega n he ec e n on y o be epe ed by ad-hoc ecu y gua d n homemade un o m Un ve y ecu y go he me age -- anyone cou d be ep aced -- and ayed away The p o p cke ed They he d c a e ou on a ended by g ade- con c ou b own-no e who wo ed ha he ad-hoc c a e wou dn coun owa d he deg ee Foo ke me a e na ed be ween he ou doo and ndoo c a e no ea n ng much o any h ng No one d d The p o pen he cou e- me who ng o Whu e ead ng he em na ke encoun e g oup n ead o ec u e The ad-hoc pen he me badmou h ng he p o and ea ng apa he cou ewo k A he end o he eme e eve yone go a c ed and he Un ve y Sena e d banded he Soc o ogy p og am n avo o a d ance-ed o e ng om Conco d a n Mon ea Fo y yea a e he gh wa e ed o eve Once you ook backup-and- e o e he e o he B chun y u o owed a va ue- y em e ng ove you Tho e who d dn ake backup-and- e o e may have ob ec ed bu hey hey a d ed # The L be y Squa e ad-hoc ma ched hou de o hou de h ough he u do and a a ma ook back he Haun ed Man on Dan L and we e up on ca e u no o b u h aga n one ano he a we wa ked qu ck y h ough he back age doo and a ed a bucke -b gade pa ng ou he ma e a ha Deb a peop e had a hed he e a ong a ne ha naked back o he on po ch o he Ha o P e den whe e hey we e unce emon ou y dumped Once he ma n a h wa vaca ed we p up and oamed he de e v ce co do and d o ama he b eak- oom and he ec e pa age ound ng up eve y c ap o Deb a c ap and pa ng ou he doo n he a c cene an n o K m and h ee o he g gg y e end he eye g n ng n he d m gh The gagg e o an human k d made my gu c ench made me h nk o Zed and o L and o my unmed a ed b a n and had a udden u ge o h ed hem ve ba y No No Tha way ay madne and wa Th wa abou ak ng back wha wa ou no pun h ng he n e ope K m h nk you hou d eave a d qu e y She no ed and gave me a d e ook Who d ed and made you bo ? he a d He end hough ve y b ave hey made c ea w h doub e- o n ed h p- h u and g a e K m you can eave now o you can eave a e The onge you wa he wo e w be o you and you Whu e You b ew and you e no a pa o he Man on anymo e Go home go o Deb a Don ay he e and don come back Eve Eve Be ca ou o h h ng ha you ove ha you ob e ove ha you wo ked o Now a d qu e dange ou ba e y n con o They aun e ed n o he g aveya d h ng v o a me Oh hey had o o new ma e a o po o he an -me e me age ha wou d ge hem Whu e w h peop e who hough wa he cum o he ea h A popu a v ew ho e day go ou o he Man on and ooked a he bucke -b gade o owed o he on o he Ha The Pa k had been open o an hou and a he d o gue wa ched he p oceed ng n con u on The L be y Squa e ad-hoc pa ed he oad a ound n c ea emba a men know ng ha hey we e v o a ng eve y p nc p e hey ca ed abou A wa ched gap appea ed n he bucke -b gade a ca membe pped away ace bu n ng ca e w h hame A he Ha o P e den Deb a p e ded ove an o de y e oca on o he h ng a chee u cad e o he ca membe qu ck y mov ng a o age d dn have o ook a my handhe d o know wha wa happen ng o ou Whu e # By even ng we we e back on chedu e Suneep upe v ed he p acemen o h e ep e ence g and L wen ove eve y y em n m nu e de a bo ng a c ew o ad-hoc ha a ed beh nd he doub e- and p e- check ng a Suneep m ed a me when he caugh gh o me hand- ca e ng du n he pa o Cong a u a on he a d and hook my hand wa ma e u y done Thank Suneep m no u e how ma e u wa bu we go he ob done and ha wha coun You pa ne hey e happ e han ve een hem nce h who e bu ne a ed know how hey ee My pa ne ? Oh ye Dan and L How happy we e hey wonde ed Happy enough o ge back oge he ? My mood e even hough a pa o me a d ha Dan wou d neve go back o he no a e a we d been h ough oge he m g ad you e g ad We cou dn have done w hou you and ook ke we be open o bu ne n a week Oh hou d h nk o A e you com ng o he pa y on gh ? Pa y? P obab y ome h ng he L be y Squa e ad-hoc we e pu ng on wou d a mo ce a n y be pe ona non g a a don h nk o a d ca e u y p obab y wo k a e he e He ch ded me o wo k ng oo ha d bu once he aw ha had no n en on o be ng d agged o he pa y he e o And ha how came o be n he Man on a 2 a m he nex mo n ng doz ng n a back age b eak oom when hea d a commo on om he pa o Fe ve vo ce happy and oud and a umed wa L be y Squa e ad-hoc com ng back om he pa y ou ed my e and en e ed he pa o K m and he end we e he e pu h ng hand- uck o Deb a gea go eady o hou ome h ng ho b e a hem and ha when Deb a came n mode a ed he hou o a nap opened my mou h o peak opped Beh nd Deb a we e L pa en ozen he e ong yea n he canop c a n K mmee ========= CHAPTER 9 ========= L pa en wen n o he a w h e ce emony aw hem u be o e hey wen n when hey opped n a L and my p ace o k he goodbye and w h he we Tom and ood awkwa d y o he de wh e L and he mo he he d an ach ng y ch ppe and po e a ewe So a d o Tom Deadhead ng He cocked an eyeb ow Yup Took he backup h mo n ng Be o e com ng o ee he daugh e hey d aken he backup When hey woke h even -- eve y h ng o ow ng he backup -- wou d neve have happened o hem God hey we e ba a d When a e you com ng back? a ked keep ng my ca membe ace on ca e u y h d ng away he d gu We be amp ng mon h y u ge ng a d ge dumped o u When h ng ook n e e ng enough we come on back He wagg ed a nge a me be keep ng an eye on you and L an -- you ea he gh you hea ? We e u e go ng o m you wo a ound he e a d He p h o hed and a d You won even no ce we e gone Th you wo d now -- we e u ge ng ou o he way o a wh e e ng you-a ake a un a We wou dn be go ng down we d dn have a h n you wo L and he mom k ed one a me He mo he wa mo e a ec ona e han d eve een he even o he po n o ea ng up a e He e n h momen o van h ng con c ou ne he cou d be whomeve he wan ed know ng ha wou dn ma e he nex me he awoke u u he a d ak ng my hand queez ng hem You ve go ome wonde u me ahead o you -- be ween L and he Pa k you e go ng o have a emendou expe ence u know She wa nn e y e ene and compa ona e and knew d dn coun S m ng hey go n o he unabou and d ove away o ge he e ha n ec on o become d embod ed con c ou ne e o o e he a momen w h he da ng daugh e # They we e no happy o be e u ned om he dead The new bod e we e mpo b y young pube cen and ho mona and do e u and k ed ou n he a e endy y e n he company o K m and he pa hey made a o d ma o a e ado e cence u wha he he do you h nk you e do ng? R a a ked hov ng me ha d n he che umb ed back n o my ca e u y ca e ed du a ng a c oud R a came a e me bu Tom he d he back u u go away You ac on a e o a y nde en b e Keep you mou h hu and go away he d up a hand ed o wave away h wo d opened my mou h o peak Don ay a wo d he a d Leave Now _Don ay he e and don come back Eve _ K m a d an ev ook on he ace No a d No goddamn no You e go ng o hea me ou and hen m go ng o ge L and he peop e and hey e go ng o back me up Tha no nego ab e We a ed a each o he ac o he d m pa o Deb a made a w dd ng mo on and he gh came up u and ha h The expe y c a ed g oom wen away and wa u a du y oom w h a ake ep ace Le h m peak Deb a a d R a o ded he a m and g a ed d d ome ea y aw u h ng a d keep ng my head up keep ng my eye on hem can excu e hem and don a k you o o g ve hem Bu ha doe n change he ac ha we ve pu ou hea and ou n o h p ace and no gh o ake om u Can we have one con an co ne o he wo d one b ozen n me o he peop e who ove ha way? Why doe you ucce mean ou a u e? Can you ee ha we e ca y ng on you wo k? Tha we e end ng a egacy you e u ? A e you h ough? R a a ked nodded Th p ace no a h o ca p e e ve u u a de you don unde and ha you e n he w ong p ace no my goddamn au ha you dec ded ha you up d y wa on my beha and doe n make any e up d A you ve done con m my wo ea Deb a ma k o mpa a y pped You up d de uded a ho e he a d o y You o e a ound p ng and moan ng abou you e mu de you e hea h p ob em -- ye ve hea d -- you e xa on on keep ng h ng he way hey a e You need ome pe pec ve u u You need o ge away om he e D ney Wo d n good o you and you e u e a he no any good o D ney Wo d wou d have hu e hadn come o he ame conc u on my e omewhe e a ong he way # ound he ad-hoc a a Fo W de ne camp e ng a ound a e and ng ng neck ng augh ng The v c o y pa y udged n o he c c e and hun ed o L She wa ng on a og a ng n o he e a m on m e away Lo d he wa beau u when he e ed ood n on o he o a m nu e and he a ed gh h ough me un apped he hou de She gave an nvo un a y queak and hen m ed a he e L a d hen opped _You pa en a e home and hey ve o ned he o he de_ Fo he me n an age he ooked a me o y m ed even She pa ed he og nex o he a down e he hea o he e on my ace he body hea on my de God how d d c ew h up? W hou wa n ng he pu he a m a ound me and hugged me ha d hugged he back no e n he ha wood moke me and hampoo and wea We d d he wh pe ed e ce y he d on o he _No we d dn _ L a d aga n and pu ed away Wha ? he a d he eye h n ng She wa oned aw ha now You pa en a e back They came o he Man on She wa con u ed h nk ng and p e ed on They we e w h Deb a She ee ed back a d apped he o d hem d b ng he who e g oup back o a k ove She hung he head and he hou de hook and en a ve y pu an a m a ound he She hook o and a up She wa c y ng and augh ng a he ame me have a e y en ove he a d # a n he back o he e y w h Dan away om he con u ed and ang y ad-hoc an we ed h que on w h e e one-wo d an we and he gave up We ode n ence he ee on he edge o he Seven Sea Lagoon wh pp ng back and o h n an app oach ng o m The ad-hoc ho cu ed h ough he we pa k ng o and moved h ough he qu e ee o F on e and app ehen ve y a une a p oce on ha opped he n gh me cu od a a n he ack A we d ew up on L be y Squa e aw ha he wo k- gh we e b az ng and a emendou wo k-gang o Deb a ad-hoc we e mov ng om he Ha o he Man on undo ng ou ea down o he wo k Wo k ng a ong de o hem we e Tom and R a L pa en eeve o ed up o ea m bu g ng w h new oned mu c e The g oup opped n ack and L wen o hem umb ng on he wooden dewa k expec ed hug The e we e none n he ead pa en and daugh e a ked each o he h ng we gh and po u e o ack each o he ma n a n a con an z ng d ance Wha he he a e you do ng? L a d na y She d dn add e he mo he wh ch u p ed me d dn u p e Tom hough He d pped o wa d he hu e o h ee oud n he qu e n gh We e wo k ng he a d No you e no L a d You e de oy ng S op L mo he da ed o he hu band de no ay ng any h ng u and ng he e Wo d e y Tom he ed he box he wa ho d ng and headed o he Man on L caugh h a m and e ked o he d opped h oad You e no en ng The Man on _ou _ _S op_ _ _ L mo he gen y ook L hand o Tom a m he d n he own m g ad you e pa ona e abou L an he a d m p oud o you comm men Even a a d ance o en ya d hea d L choked ob aw he co ap e n on he e He mo he ook he n he a m ocked he e ke a voyeu bu cou dn b ng my e o u n away Shhh he mo he a d a b an ound ha ma ched he u ng o he eave on he L be y T ee Shhh We don have o be on he ame de you know They he d he emb ace and he d L a gh ened hen ben aga n and p cked up he a he box ca ed o he Man on One a a me he e o he ad-hoc moved o wa d and o ned hem # Th how you h bo om You wake up n you end ho e oom and you powe up you handhe d and won og on You p e he ca - bu on o he e eva o and g ve you an ang y buzz n e u n You ake he a o he obby and no one ook a you a hey o e pa you You become a non-pe on Sca ed emb ed when a cended he a o Dan oom when knocked a h doo oude and ha de han mean a pan cked bang ng Dan an we ed he doo and aw h eye go o h HUD back o me e u he a d a on he edge o my bed head n my hand Wha ? a d wha happened wha happened o me? You e ou o he ad-hoc he a d You e ou o Whu e You e bo omed-ou he a d Th how you h bo om n Wa D ney Wo d n a ho e w h he h ng o he mono a and he un eam ng h ough he w ndow he hoo ng o he eam eng ne on he a oad and he d an how o he eco ded wo ve a he Haun ed Man on The wo d d op away om you ecede un you e no h ng bu a peck a mo e n b ackne wa hype ven a ng gh -headed De be a e y owed my b ea h pu my head be ween my knee un he d zz ne pa ed Take me o L a d D v ng oge he hamme ng c ga e e a e c ga e e n o my ace emembe ed he n gh Dan had come o D ney Wo d when d d ven h m o my -- _L _ -- hou e and how happy d been hen how ecu e ooked a Dan and he pa ed my hand S ange me he a d wa enough We ound L n an unde g ound b eak- oom gh y doz ng on a a y o a He head e ed on Tom ap he ee on R a A h ee no ed o y They d had a ong n gh Dan hook L awake She e ched ou and opened he eye ooked eep y a me The b ood d a ned om he ace He o u u he a d co d y Now Tom and R a we e awake oo L a up We e you go ng o e me? a ked qu e y O we e you u go ng o k ck me ou and e me nd ou on my own? You we e my nex op L a d Then ve aved you ome me pu ed up a cha Te me a abou The e no h ng o e R a napped You e ou You had o know wa com ng -- o God ake you we e ea ng L be y Squa e apa How wou d you know? a ked ugg ed o ema n ca m You ve been a eep o en yea We go upda e R a a d Tha why we e back -- we cou dn e go on he way wa We owed o Deb a And L an Tom a d And L an R a a d ab en y Dan pu ed up a cha o h own You e no be ng a o h m he a d A ea omeone wa on my de We ve been mo e han a L a d You know ha be e han anyone Dan We ve o g ven and o g ven and o g ven made eve y a owance He ck and he won ake he cu e The e no h ng mo e we can do o h m You cou d be h end Dan a d The gh -headedne wa back and umped n my cha ed o con o my b ea h ng he pan cked hump ng o my hea You cou d y o unde and you cou d y o he p h m You cou d ck w h h m he way he uck w h you You don have o o h m ou on h a L had he good g ace o ook gh y hamed ge h m a oom he a d Fo a mon h n K mmee A mo e p ck up h ne wo k acce ha a ? mo e han a R a a d Why d d he ha e me o much? d been he e o he daugh e wh e he wa away -- ah Tha m gh do a gh don h nk wa an ed you wan o ake ca e o h m you can none o my am y bu ne L eye b azed Le me hand e h he a d A gh ? R a ood up ab up y You do wha eve you wan he a d and o med ou o he oom Why a e you com ng he e o he p? Tom a d eve he vo ce o ea on You eem capab e enough m go ng o be ak ng a e ha n ec on a he end o he week Dan a d Th ee day Tha pe ona bu you a ked Tom hook h head _Some end you ve go you e _ cou d ee h m h nk ng Tha oon? L a ked a h ob n he vo ce Dan nodded n a d eam ke buzz ood and wande ed ou n o he u do ou h ough he we e n ca membe pa k ng and away wande ed a ong he cobb ed d u ed Wa k A ound he Wo d each ag one eng aved w h he name o a am y ha had v ed he Pa k a cen u y be o e The name wh pped pa me ke ep aph The un came up noon h gh a ounded he bend o de e ed beach be ween he G and F o d an and he Po yne an L and had come he e o en o wa ch he un e om a hammock a m a ound each o he he Pa k p ead ou be o e u ke a gh ed oy v age Now he beach wa de e ed he Wedd ng Pav on en e udden y co d hough wa wea ng ee y So co d D eam ke wa ked n o he ake wa e ng my hoe ogg ng my pan wa m a b ood wa m on my che on my ch n on my mou h on my eye opened my mou h and nha ed deep y wa e ng my ung chok ng and wa m A pu e ed bu wa n con o now and nha ed aga n The wa e h mme ed ove my eye and hen wa da k # woke on Doc o Pe e co n he Mag c K ngdom e a n a ound my w and ank e a ube n my no e c o ed my eye o a momen be ev ng ha d been e o ed om a backup p ob em o ved memo e beh nd me So ow kn ed h ough me a ea zed ha Dan wa p obab y dead by now my memo e o h m gone o eve G adua y ea zed ha wa h nk ng non en ca y The ac ha emembe ed Dan mean ha hadn been e e hed om my backup ha my b oken b a n wa he e chu n ng a ong n unmed a ed o a on coughed aga n My b ached and h obbed n coun e po n o my head Dan ook my hand You e a pa n n he a you know ha ? he a d m ng So y choked You u e a e he a d Lucky o you hey ound you -- ano he m nu e o wo and d be bu y ng you gh now _No_ hough con u ed _They d have e o ed me om backup_ Then h me d gone on eco d e u ng e o e om backup a e hav ng ecommended by a med ca p o e ona No one wou d have e o ed me a e ha wou d have been u y and na y dead a ed o h ve Ea y Dan a d Ea y a gh now Doc o ay you ve go a c acked b o wo om he CPR bu he e no b a n damage No _add ona _ b a n damage Doc o Pe e a d w mm ng n o v ew He had on h p o e ona y ca m bed de ace and ea u ed me de p e my e He hooed Dan away and ook h ea Once Dan had e he oom he hone gh n my eye and peeked n my ea hen a back and con de ed me We u u he a d Wha exac y he p ob em? We can ge you a e ha n ec on ha wha you wan bu o ng you e n he Seven Sea Lagoon u n good how n he mean me wou d you ke o a k abou ? Pa o me wan ed o p n h eye d ed o a k abou and he d o d me o go o he and now he change h m nd? Bu d d wan o a k d dn wan o d e a d Oh no? he a d h nk he ev dence ugge he con a y wa n y ng o d e p o e ed wa y ng o -- Wha ? wa y ng o _abd ca e_ Take he e e h w hou choo ng w hou hu ng ou he a yea o my be end e Re cue my e om he nk ng p d unk n o w hou u h ng Dan away a ong w h Tha a ha a wa n h nk ng -- wa u ac ng wa an ep ode o ome h ng Doe ha mean m nu ? Oh p obab y Doc o Pe e a d o handed y Bu e wo y abou one h ng a a me You can d e you wan o ha you gh d a he you ved you wan my op n on and doub ha m he on y one Whu e be damned you e go ng o ve d ke o eco d you ay ng o u n ca e We have a backup o you on e -- d ha e o have o de e e Ye a d Ye d ke o be e o ed he e no o he op on wa ue d dn wan o d e A gh hen Doc o Pe e a d on e and m a happy man Now a e you nu ? P obab y A e No h ng a e coun e ng and ome R&R wou dn x you wan my op n on cou d nd you omewhe e you wan No ye a d app ec a e he o e bu he e ome h ng e e have o do # Dan ook me back o he oom and pu me o bed w h a an de ma opo c ha knocked me ou o he e o he day When woke he moon wa ove he Seven Sea Lagoon and he mono a wa en ood on he pa o o a wh e h nk ng abou a he h ng h p ace had mean o me o mo e han a cen u y happ ne ecu y e c ency an a y A o gone wa me e Maybe back o pace nd Zed and ee cou d make he happy aga n Anywhe e bu he e Once Dan wa dead -- God wa nk ng n na y -- cou d ca ch a de down o he Cape o a aunch Wha on you m nd? Dan a ked om beh nd me a ng me He wa n h boxe h n and angy and ha y Th nk ng abou mov ng on a d He chuck ed ve been h nk ng abou do ng he ame he a d m ed No ha way a d u go ng omewhe e e e a ng ove Ge ng away om h Go ng o ake he e e h? he a ked ooked away No a d don be eve w may be none o my bu ne he a d bu why he uck no ? e u u u wha e you a a d o ? You don wan o know ad be he udge o ha Le have a d nk a d Dan o ed h eye back o a econd hen a d A gh wo Co ona com ng up A e he oom- e v ce bo had e we c acked he bee and pu ed cha ou on o he po ch You u e you wan o know h ? a ked He pped h bo e a me Su e a hoo n he a d don wan e e h becau e wou d mean o ng he a yea a d He nodded By wh ch you mean my a yea he a d R gh ? nodded and d ank hough m gh be ke ha u u you a e many h ng bu ha d o gu e ou you a e no have ome h ng o ay ha m gh he p you make he dec on you wan o hea ha Wha cou d he have o ay? Su e a d Su e n my m nd wa on a hu e headed o o b away om a o h had you k ed he a d Deb a a ked me o and e up You we e gh a a ong The hu e exp oded n en ow mov ng pace and pun away om opened and hu my mou h wa Dan u n o ook away Deb a p opo ed We we e a k ng abou he peop e d me when wa do ng my m ona y wo k he one c az e who d have o cha e away a e hey d e o ned he B chun Soc e y One o hem a g om Cheyenne Moun a n he o owed me down he e kep eav ng me me age o d Deb a and ha when he go he dea d ge he g o hoo you and d appea Deb a wou d g ve me Whu e -- p e o and he eam wou d o ow u d be mon h c o e o my goa Tha wa a cou d h nk abou back hen you emembe emembe The me o e uve and de pe a on n ou e co age and Dan p o ng my dea h We p anned hen Deb a had he e e e hed om a backup -- no memo y o he even u he Whu e o me Ye a d Tha wou d wo k P an a mu de k you e have you e e e hed om a backup made be o e he p an How many me had Deb a done e b e h ng and e a ed he memo e ha way? Ye he ag eed We d d m a hamed o ay can p ove oo -- have my backup and can ge ean ne o e oo He d a ned h bee Tha my p an Tomo ow e L and he o k K m and he peop e he who e ad-hoc A go ng-away p e en om a h y end My h oa wa d y and gh d ank mo e bee You knew a a ong a d You cou d have p oved a any me He nodded Tha gh You e me g oped o he wo d You e me u n n o They wou dn come d d he a d A h me L and he and ng on _my_ po ch e ng me needed he p Doc o Pe e e ng me needed e e h om backup me ay ng no no no no wan ng o o e my a yea w h Dan ve done ome p e y h y h ng n my day he a d Th he ab o u e wo You he ped me and be ayed you m u e g ad don be eve n God -- ha d make wha m go ng o do even ca e Dan wa go ng o k h m e n wo day me My end and my mu de e Dan c oaked cou dn make any en e o my m nd Dan ak ng ca e o me he p ng me ck ng up o me ca y ng h ho b e hame w h h m a a ong Ready o d e wan ng o go w h a c ean con c ence You e o g ven a d And wa ue He ood Whe e a e you go ng a ked To nd ean ne he one who pu ed he gge mee you a he Ha o P e den a n ne a m # wen n h ough he Ma n Ga e no a ca membe any onge a Gue w h ba e y enough Whu e o c ape n u e he wa e oun a n and and n ne we e ucky a ca membe m gh pa e me a choco a e banana P obab y no hough ood n he ne o he Ha o P e den O he gue checked my Whu e hen ave ed he eye Even he ch d en A yea be o e hey d have been k ng up conve a on a k ng me abou my ob he e a he Mag c K ngdom a n my ea a he Ha o P e den wa ch ng he ho m w h he e ng pa en y wh e hey ocked n he ea unde he b a o he a h-bake A ca membe p cked up he age de m c and hanked eve yone o com ng he doo wung open and he Ha wa emp y excep o me The ca membe na owed he eye a me hen ecogn z ng me u ned he back and wen o how n he nex g oup No g oup came n ead Dan and he g d een on he ep ay en e ed We ve c o ed down o he mo n ng he a d wa a ng a he g ee ng he m k a he pu ed he gge on me ee ng he now w h a con e ca ed exp e on She wa e ed o me You mu be ean ne ad ood and hook he hand m u u He hand wa co d and he ook back and w ped on he pan My ca membe n nc ook ove P ea e have a ea Don wo y a be ne Rea y No ha d ee ng opped ho o o e ng o ge he a g a o wa e _Pu he a he ea e_ a d a no y vo ce n my head _She make a be e w ne O make he ne vou pa he c -- ha wo k oo make Deb a ook even wo e_ o d he vo ce o hu up and go he a cup o wa e By he me came back he who e gang wa he e Deb a L he o k T m Deb a gang and L gang now one un ed eam Soon o be ca e ed Dan ook he age u ed he age de m c o b oadca h vo ce E even mon h ago d d an aw u h ng p o ed w h Deb a o have u u mu de ed u ed a end who wa a e con u ed a he me u ed he o pu he gge wa Deb a dea ha hav ng u u k ed wou d cau e enough con u on ha he cou d ake ove he Ha o P e den wa The e wa a oa o conve a on ooked a Deb a aw ha he wa ng ca m y a hough Dan had u accu ed he o neak ng an ex a he p ng o de e L pa en o e he de o he we e e angu ne Tom aw wa e and ang y R a wa peak ng ang y o Deb a H cko y ack on n he o d Ha u ed o ay _ w hang he man can ay hand on om he ee can nd_ Deb a had he e e e hed om backup a e we p anned Dan wen on a hough no one wa a k ng wa uppo ed o do he ame bu d dn have a backup n my pub c d ec o y -- anyone can exam ne R gh now d ke o b ng ean ne up he go a ew wo d he d ke o ay he ped ean ne ake he age She wa emb ng and he ad-hoc we e an n en a e babb e o ec m na on De p e my e wa en oy ng He o ean ne a d o y She had a ove y vo ce a ove y ace wonde ed we cou d be end when wa a ove She p obab y d dn ca e much abou Whu e one way o ano he The d cu on wen on Dan ook he m c om he and a d P ea e Can we have a e e pec o ou v o ? P ea e? Peop e? G adua y he d n dec ea ed Dan pa ed he m c back o ean ne He o he a d aga n and nched om he ound o he vo ce n he Ha PA My name ean ne m he one who k ed u u a yea ago Dan a ked me o and d d d dn a k why u ed -- u -- h m He o d me ha u u wou d make a backup a ew m nu e be o e ho h m and ha he cou d ge me ou o he Pa k w hou ge ng caugh m ve y o y The e wa ome h ng o -k e abou he ome o he ance and wo d ha e you know he wa n a he e G ow ng up n a moun a n m gh do ha o you nuck a ook a L who e p we e p e ed oge he G ow ng up n a heme pa k m gh do ha o you oo Thank you ean ne Dan a d ak ng back he m c You can have a ea now ve a d eve y h ng need o ay -- u u and have had ou own d cu on n p va e he e anyone e e who d ke o peak -- The wo d we e ba e y ou o h mou h be o e he c owd e up ed aga n n wo d and wav ng hand Be de me ean ne nched ook he hand and hou ed n he ea Have you eve been on he P a e o he Ca bean? She hook he head ood up and pu ed he o he ee You ove a d and ed he ou o he Ha ========== CHAPTER 10 ========== booked u ng de ea a he Po yne an Luau d ng h gh on a e h ound o ympa hy Whu e and Dan and d ank a dozen apu- apu n ho owed-ou p neapp e be o e g v ng up on he dea o ge ng d unk ean ne wa ched he e-dance and he o ch- gh ng w h eye ke auce and p cked da n y a he pa e b w h one hand neve ave ng he a en on om he oo how When hey danced he a hu a he eye gg ed chuck ed F om whe e we a cou d ee he po whe e d waded n o he Seven Sea Lagoon and b ea hed n he b ood- emp wa e cou d ee C nde e a Ca e ac o he agoon cou d ee he mono a and he e e and he bu e mak ng he bu y way h ough he Pa k hu ng eem ng ma e o gue om p ace o p ace Dan oa ed me w h h p neapp e and oa ed h m back d ank d y and be ched n a ac on Fu be y good end and he un e beh nd a oupe o awny ha - naked hu a dance Who need he B chun Soc e y anyway? When wa ove we wa ched he ewo k om he beach my oe dug n o he c ean wh e and Dan pped h hand n o my e hand and ean ne ook my gh When he ky da kened and he gh ed ba ge pu e ed away h ough he n gh we h ee a n he hammock ooked ou ove he Seven Sea Lagoon and ea zed ha h wa my a n gh eve n Wa D ney Wo d wa me o eboo aga n a a e h Tha wha he Pa k wa o on y omehow h v d go en uck Dan had un uck me The a k u ned o Dan mpend ng dea h So e me wha you h nk o h he a d hau ng away on a g ow ng c ga e e Shoo ad m h nk ng -- why ake e ha n ec on? mean may be done he e o now bu why hou d make an eve b e dec on? Why d d you wan o be o e? a ked Oh wa he macho h ng gue The na y and a Bu he don have o p ove any h ng gh ? Su e a d magnan mou y So he a d hough u y The que on m a k ng how ong can deadhead o ? The e a e o k who go down o a hou and yea en hou and gh ? So you e h nk ng wha a m on? oked He aughed A _m on_? You e h nk ng oo ma on T y h on o ze he hea dea h o he un ve e The hea dea h o he un ve e epea ed Su e he d aw ed and en ed h g n n he da k Ten o he hund ed yea o o The S e e ou Pe od -- when a he b ack ho e have un d y and h ng ge you know upendou y du Co d oo So m h nk ng -- why no eave a wake-up ca o ome me a ound hen? Sound unp ea an o me ad B No a a gu e e - epa ng nano-ba ed canop c a ma enough o eed -- ay a on- on a e o d -- and a o o o ude when he me come a ound poke my head n eve y cen u y o o u o ee wha wha bu no h ng ea y upendou c op up ake he ong de ou The na on e Tha p e y coo ean ne a d Thank Dan a d You e no k dd ng a e you? a ked Nope u e a n he a d # They d dn nv e me back n o he ad-hoc even a e Deb a e n Whu e-penu y and hey a ed o pu he Man on back he way wa T m ca ed me o ay ha w h enough uppo om mag nee ng hey hough hey cou d ge up and unn ng n a week Suneep wa eady o k omeone wea _A hou e d v ded aga n e can_no _ and_ a M L nco n u ed o ay a he Ha o P e den packed h ee change o c o he and a oo hb u h n my hou de bag and checked ou o my u e a he Po yne an a en a m hen me ean ne and Dan a he va e pa k ng ou on Dan had a unabou he d p cked up w h my Whu e and p ed n w h ean ne n he m dd e We p ayed o d Bea e une on he e eo a he ong way o Cape Canave a Ou hu e ed a noon The hu e docked ou hou a e bu by he me we d been h ough decon am and o en a on wa uppe me Dan nea y a Whu e-poo a Deb a a e h con e on neve he e ea ed u o a mea n he b g bubb e queeze- ube o heady booze and eaky pa e and we wa ched he un ve e ge co de o a wh e The e we e a coup e guy amm ng e he ed o a gu a and a e o ub and hey we en ha bad ean ne wa uncom o ab e hang ng he e naked She d gone o pace w h he o k a e Dan had e he moun a n bu wa n a ong-hau gene a on h p She d abandoned a e a yea o wo and deadheaded back o Ea h n a uppo -pod She d ge u ed o e n pace a e a wh e O he wou dn We Dan a d Yup a d ap ng h acon c d aw He m ed ha me he a d Sphe e o a ne ea o med n ean ne eye and b u hed hem away e ng hem ad n he bubb e d deve oped ome ea ende b o he - e ype ee ng o he nce d wa ched he auce -eye he way h ough he Mag c K ngdom No omance -- no o me hank Bu cama ade e and a en e o e pon b y See you n en o he hund ed Dan a d and headed o he a ock a ed a e h m bu ean ne caugh my hand He ha e ong good-bye he a d know a d and wa ched h m go # The un ve e ge o de So do So doe my backup ng n edundan d bu ed o age d de eady o he day ha pace o age o up d y k me ecede w h he yea and w e ou my e onghand a e e o he me ha be when e o ed n o a c one omewhe e omewhen mpo an ha whoeve am hen know abou h yea and go ng o ake a o o e o me o ge gh n he mean me m wo k ng on ano he ymphony one w h a e b o G m G nn ng Gho and a nod o a Sma Wo d A e A and e pec a y The e a G ea B g Beau u Tomo ow ean ne ay p e y good bu wha doe he know? She ba e y y We ve bo h go a o o v ng o do be o e we know wha wha -- ================= Acknow edgemen ================= cou d neve have w en h book w hou he pe ona uppo o my end and am y e pec a y Roz Doc o ow Go d Doc o ow and Ne Doc o ow Amanda Foub e S eve Samen k Pa Yo k G ad Conn ohn Hen on ohn Ro e he w e a he Cec S ee egu a and Ma k F auen e de owe a g ea deb o he w e and ed o who men o ed and encou aged me ame Pa ck Ke y ud h Me Damon Kn gh Ma ha Soukup Sco Ede man Ga dne Dozo Renee W me h Te e a N e en Hayden C a e Eddy Bob Pa k and Robe K he e am a o ndeb ed o my ed o Pa ck N e en Hayden and my agen Dona d Maa who be eved n h book and he ped me b ng o u on F na y mu hank he eade he geek and he mag nee who n p ed h book Co y Doc o ow San F anc co Sep embe 2002 -- ================= Abou he au ho ================= Co y Doc o ow Ou each Coo d na o o he E ec on c F on e Founda on www e o g and ma n a n a pe ona e a www c aphound com He he co-ed o o he popu a web og Bo ng Bo ng a www bo ngbo ng ne w h mo e han 250 000 v o a mon h He won he ohn W Campbe Awa d o Be New W e a he 2000 Hugo Awa d Bo n and a ed n To on o he now ve n San F anc co He en oy u ng Goog e o ook up n e e ng ac abou ong wa k on he beach -- ============================= O he book by Co y Doc o ow ============================= A P ace So Fo e gn and E gh Mo e - ho o y co ec on o hcom ng om Fou Wa E gh W ndow n a 2003 w h an n oduc on by B uce S e ng E en a B ogg ng O Re y and A oc a e 2002 - w h Rae Do n e Sco ohn on She ey Powe Ben am n T o and Mena G T o The Comp e e d o Gu de o Pub h ng Sc ence F c on A pha Book 2000 - co-w en w h Ka Sch oede -- ========================== Mach ne- eadab e me ada a ========================== < d RDF xm n = h p web e ou ce o g cc xm n dc= h p pu o g dc e emen 1 1 xm n d = h p www w3 o g 1999 02 22- d - yn ax-n # > <Wo k d abou = h p c aphound com down > <dc e>Down and Ou n he Mag c K ngdom< dc e> <dc da e>2003-1-9< dc da e> <dc de c p on>A nove by Co y Doc o ow u e a young man ba e y a cen u y o d He ved ong enough o ee he cu e o dea h and he end o ca c y o ea n en anguage and compo e h ee ymphon e and o ea ze h boyhood d eam o ak ng up e dence n D ney Wo d D ney Wo d The g ea e a c ach evemen o he ong&#45 ago wen e h cen u y Now n he ca e o a ne wo k o vo un ee ad&#45 hoc who keep he c a c a ac on unn ng a hey a way have enhanced w h on y he ma e h gh&#45 ech ouche Now hough eem he ad hoc a e unde a ack A new g oup ha aken ove he Ha o he P e den and ep ac ng vene ab e aud oan ma on c w h new mme ve d ec &#45 o&#45 b a n n e ace ha g ve gue he u on o be ng Wa h ng on L nco n and a he o he Fo u e h an a ack on he a c pu y o D ney Wo d e Wo e appea h new g oup ha had u e k ed Th up e h m on y h ou h dea h and ev va a e a Now wa wa o he ou o he Mag c K ngdom a wa o eve &#45 h ng epu a on echn ca w za d y and en e y unp ed c ab e ou come Bu ng w h cu ng&#45 edge pecu a on and human n gh Down and Ou n he Mag c K ngdom ead ke Nea S ephen on mee N ck Ho nby a com ng&#45 o &#45 age oman c comedy and a k ck&#45 bu cybe ne c ou de o ce < dc de c p on> <dc c ea o ><Agen > <dc e>Co y Doc o ow< dc e> < Agen >< dc c ea o > <dc gh ><Agen > <dc e>Co y Doc o ow< dc e> < Agen >< dc gh > <dc ype d e ou ce= h p pu o g dc dcm ype Tex > < cen e d e ou ce= h p c ea vecommon o g cen e by-nd-nc 1 0 > < Wo k> <L cen e d abou = h p c ea vecommon o g cen e by-nd-nc 1 0 > < equ e d e ou ce= h p web e ou ce o g cc A bu on > <pe m d e ou ce= h p web e ou ce o g cc Rep oduc on > <pe m d e ou ce= h p web e ou ce o g cc D bu on > <p oh b d e ou ce= h p web e ou ce o g cc Comme c a U e > < equ e d e ou ce= h p web e ou ce o g cc No ce > < L cen e> < d RDF> eo *** END OF THE PRO ECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOWN AND OUT N MAG C K NGDOM *** Th e hou d be named domkg10 x o domkg10 z p Co ec ed ED T ONS o ou eBook ge a new NUMBER domkg11 x VERS ONS ba ed on epa a e ou ce ge new LETTER domkg10a x We a e now y ng o e ea e a ou eBook one yea n advance o he o c a e ea e 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