\documentstyle{article}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0in}
\setlength{\textwidth}{6.5in}
\setlength{\topmargin}{-1in}
\setlength{\textheight}{9in}
\begin{document}
\setcounter{page}{14}
\parindent=0pt
\begin{center}
{\Huge \bf The Harrison Chapters \\}
\vspace{.075in}
{\large \sf \copyright \ 1990 Jim Vassilakos. All Rights Reserved.}
\end{center}
{\sf Permission is
hereby granted by the copyright holder to copy and freely redistribute copies
of this work, so long as no commercial or barter consideration is obtained in
exchange for such copies.\\ }
\vspace{.3in}


These are the first two of several chapters Jim wrote during the late 80's as a
prose exercise in description of the setting of his Traveller game. He says
he writes exactly the same way he GM's: without any semblance of plan
or preconception. \\

\begin{center}
{\Large One \\}
\end{center}

\parindent=30pt
\vspace{.2in}

{\noindent
The morning sun's golden rays glided peacefully along the quiet
coast, sparkling across the ocean waves as the water's edge
shifted randomly between sea and shore. A chilly breeze swept its
way over the waters and along the damp beach, quietly winding its
way through the little used barbecue pits past a long, wooden
pier, and then withdrew back out to sea.}\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
Bright beams of sunlight danced across the eastern horizon as
the coastal palm trees cut the early summer winds into multiple
streams of cool jet and spray and the light into stark showers of
silver and scarlet.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
Michael Harrison walked barefoot along the shifting earth that
divides land and sea. The ankles of his patched worktrousers
skidded into the cold waters as he made his way home. The thin
blue fabric of a wet dress shirt stretched down his muscular
frame to near his knees. His mind pulsated with an overflowing
emptiness; thoughts doubled back upon themselves, twisting and
turning with the cold waves, drifting against the overwhelming
tide.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
He slowly turned and walked up the whitish sands climbing a
thin railed stairway in contest with gravity. The thick wooden
doors were already open, and entering, he stumbled in between the
white walls of his beach home searching for the null-tube. The
entire structure seemed to wobble slowly around him. Squinting
between the specks of salt and sand which stung his eyes, he
grabbed one wall with his right hand, keeping the left stiffly
extended in case he should find another. Suddenly, the room 
turned sharply, and an invisible foot kicked his legs out from
under him. A pleasant softness enveloped his senses as he rolled
up warm and passed out cold.\\

\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent ``Michael...."}\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He awoke to a calm feminine voice. Kitara? Still sleepdazed,
his bloodshot eyes roamed the room.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why am I on the floor?" he mumbled.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Because that is where you retired for the..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike groaned as he sat upright hearing the now familiar voice.
``I was just talking to myself. You know Cindy, you don't have
to..." Mike's voice drifted off as he slowly realized he was
talking to his home's computer system. Her voice circuits paused
momentarily waiting for him to continue as he masaged his numb
arm.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Talking to oneself is a sign of mental collapse.... Mr.
Linden is on line one."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   His boss. Mike slumped back on the floor and closed his eyes.
``I'm too tired, tell him to fuck off."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Cindy paused for analysis. Mike heard a quiet buzz and a
voice, ``Hello... Mike?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No Mr. Linden. This is Cindy again. Mike said he was tired
and he told me to tell you to..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Stop!" Mike's voice echoed around the entire house. Cindy's
voice promptly cut off transmission. ``Cut off the video unit and
transfer the line... voice only... to this room."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mr. Linden's voice broke over the speakers, ``...there? Hello?
Cindy, I didn't get that?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike sat up again and rubbed his eyes, ``Chuck, Mike here...."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Hi, Mike? How's it going?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Great.... What's up?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, I've got a gentleman over here from the board who'd
like to congratulate you on your last piece. I told him I didn't
know whether or not you'd be in today, so he suggested I call.
How'd you like to come over and lunch with us?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike paused, ``Sure, you two gonna be in the Gee-Pee?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah, he's checking out our facilities, and he really wants
to meet you."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   It suddenly occured to Mike that he should feel flattered. He
rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head sideways until
the spine popped.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ok. I'll be over in... how's three cents sound?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Sounds great."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Good."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay, thanks. We'll see you then."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Bye."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Line one closed with a short breaker. A computer a thousand
kilometers away had already multiplied the duration of the call
by its distance and tolled Chuck's fund. Mike wondered what the
editor wanted.\\

\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent The warm shower spray dissolved the dirt and sweat in no time,
and Mike put on a blue mendwear dress shirt, white gelknicks, and
a pair of light gravboots. He combed his long, thin, brown hair
and tied it in the back. In a few minutes he was in the pantry
searching for the standard grub. Picking up a flimsy and light
pen he headed back to the living room and straightening his shirt
stepped down the stairs into the street.}\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The sun was at high-noon, and the short walk to the subway
entrance proved uneventful. There was the usual strain of
gravcars and flycycles lined along the beachway, and the hundreds
of floaters sailing above the coast made a moving pokadot design
of shadows along the sands, but there was nothing unusual in the
way the tourists eyed Mike over as if he were a specimen at an
alien exhibit. Being the only decently dressed person within
several kilometers he walked with a pretended importance, as if
he owned the entire beach and could toss them all off at the snap
of a finger. He grinned at the thought as he coasted down the
escalator at the subway entrance.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Showing his all-month pass, he headed past security and
straight to the terminal. The gravbuses entered and left the port
in perfect succession; and within two minutes his bus had
arrived. He boarded and easily found a seat. An old lady eyed him
from across the car, and a handsome couple with kids quarreled
over where to eat. He sat back and looked out the window. His
hangover was nearly unnoticeable, and he rubbed his arm where
Cindy had indubitably injected him with the get-well juice.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The train rose above the surface and fell again to catch
another station more inland, the sudden shift from daylight
to fluorescence leaving the passengers momentarily blind as
their eyes adjusted to the rhythmic tempo of the passing
cold lanterns. Two young men entered as the doors opened, their
faces twisted in mutual consternation as each tried to make
his point more loudly than the other. They fell silent as they
headed awkwardly toward the back of the car, the second's long, bony
finger still pointed in exaggerated certainty.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The train started rolling again, and this time quickened its
pace for some time before eventually rising to the surface. Out
the window Silver-Tri-Towers stood as a testament to the might of
man. Its arms branching from the main structure reached near the
clouds, and the top of the structure blurred with the refraction
of light against the atmosphere. The couple's children rushed to
the window and pressed their noses against its surface leaving
little spots of dense fog on the layered plastic.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The train lost speed and dipped under the surface to stop. The
old lady got off and the two young men quietly resumed their
discussion. The couple sat quietly, and one of their children
asked when they would get to eat.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Soon the train was off again, and as it rose above the surface
the kids resumed their former positions at the window, panting
puppy dogs with eyes bent skyward. The train turned toward the
structure, dipped below the surface, and accelerated. It pulled
into a large underground station. Mike quickly exited as a car
load of people pressed in.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He made his way through the crowds to a lift. Dozens of people
entered as the doors closed against the stragglers. The lift
stopped on several floors, picking up and dropping off people
along the way, until it reached public floor 872, and Mike
stepped off. A short walk through the busy halls led him to the
Gee-Pee. Mike peeked between the columns and spotted Linden
talking with an elderly gentleman and a young woman over three
highbowls of zardocha.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike held his position and studied the trio. His boss, the
section's copy-editor, was putting on a smiley-face for his
administrative counterparts. His small body wrapped itself into a
tangled web of false composure, as a dim fluorescent beam caught
his olive brown face, receding hairline, and large brown eyes at
just the right angle to make Mike wish he'd been carrying his
trusty camera.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The gentleman sitting across from the editor was well known to
many in the press office. He had a reputation as somebody who
could pull stings, and his white hair and often brittle manner
did little to detract from his prestige. Just the opposite, they
served to make him appear more distinguished. Mike had seen his
picture a dozen times and fit together a dozen odd facts in his
mind about the man, but he couldn't connect a name to the face.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The lady caught Mike's attention. She seemed strangely
familiar. Aside from being simply a woman, her long blonde hair,
tan skin, and lithe figure made her appearance incredibly
attractive. She sipped her drink carefully, letting the ice
flakes clink against the inside of her highbowl as she watched
the two men talk.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The chatter from the rest of the room blurred together with
their own conversation so well that Mike had trouble picking out
specific words. He watched Linden's face. The editor looked like
he was geared into brag-mode. The other two listened with
facinated expressions.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike slipped his consumer card through the scanner as he
entered the room. Linden noticed him immediately and motioned him
over.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well speak of the devil; Michael, this is Mr. John Clay from
the company board, and his niece Miss Robin Clay."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Harrison. Charles has just
been telling us a great deal about your work."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Does that mean I get a raise?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They all laughed, especially Robin. She seemed to have a
special twinkle in her eyes as if there were a secret she wanted
to tell him. Her eyes captivated Mike. They were deep sea blue,
or maybe sky blue; he couldn't decide. They weren't too dark or
too light. Must be implants, Mike thought as he shook off the
fascination.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Then Robin extended her golden tanned arm as if she wanted it
to be either kissed from pinky to armpit or broken in half at the
elbow. Deciding on the third alternative, Mike extended his own
arm in response, and with a smile he shook her hand. It was an
archiac gesture to be sure, but one still used among gatherers.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Michael sat in the empty chair across from Robin. A fourth
highbowl filled with zardocha dropped from overhead and floated
in front of Mike. He tested it and sent it aside with a gentle
nudge. The dark liquorice cafe stung his taste with its frigid
strength.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``We were actually thinking along the lines of a different sort
of compensation."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Mr. Clay, I was joking."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Within every joke, there must be an element of truth. Without
it, the joke isn't funny."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled, ``Okay, get to the point."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Michael, we at the Board of Galactic Press \& Publications
have been watching this division for a number of years. Your rapid
progress and personal achievements have not gone unnoticed by the
administration. Granted, there have been pieces of your research,
some quite extraordinary pieces of information gathering, which
were never published... with good reason."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm sure." Mike echoed.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You, perhaps more than any other gatherer within the sector,
understands that we are much more than a news source, and that our
gatherers are much more than reporters. They're investigators,
they're a form of police, they go into situations where they
often risk life and limb."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``The point."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, it's actually somewhat stale. I hope you're not
offended, but we'd like to hold an awards' banquet for the
division as a whole. Just something to boost morale, and to
recognize a job well done."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike sipped the zardocha and glanced sideways at Linden. The
editor smiled back; his cajoling face Mike thought.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Go ahead."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, as one of the key figures... as the key figure in your
division's success I should say, we'd like you to speak at the
ceremony."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden beamed, ``You have become somewhat of a celebrity Mike."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike floated the highbowl in front of his chin, spinning in
with one finger to quicken the fluid.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm honored... but I wouldn't know what to say."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What, with all your experience, with all the various worlds
you've visited, not to mention those you've infiltrated," Clay
laughed at his own joke, ``I'm sure you could think of something
to say."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I really doubt it, sir."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Clay smiled, but Mike sensed something in the older man's eyes
that told him to reconsider.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Michael, Charles here has already hinted to me that you might
feel this way, and in your shoes, I might feel the same.
Afterall, a gatherer needs a certain amount of anonimity in order
to be effective... and just considering what a high profile you
have been earning lately... how long do you really think you can
keep it up?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I really haven't thought about it, sir," he lied.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, perhaps you should really think about it. This banquet
isn't just to fill space and give our people something to do and
be happy about. It's opportunity time. An opportunity for us to
examine our talent, to redefine our direction, to recruit new
prospects into the hierarchy... Charles tells me that you dislike
social functions. Is that true, Michael."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That would depend."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``On what?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``On what's in it for me."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Clay paused dumbfounded and then suddenly burst out laughing.
Charles and Robin chimed in as if on cue, but Mike was sure he
felt someone kick him under the table.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Shy, Mr. Harrison, you're not."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden set the floating highbowl down on the table. He looked
a little tired and annoyed.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Mike, what Mr. Clay is saying is that you've done a good job,
but that with the success you're losing your value as a gatherer.
It's time to step up the ladder."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You mean behind a desk."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Mr. Harrison," Robin spoke for the first time in the
conversation, ``if you were more valuable behind a desk than in
the field, where would you rather be?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm still pulling my own weight."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You and who's army?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What's that suppose to mean?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay, ask yourself this. How much of your gathering in the
field is physically carried out by a third party? If your answer
is more than half, then you already over the hill, and half way
down the other side."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Clay coughed, ``Take care with the metaphors, my dear. Mr.
Harrison, forgive my niece, but we understand you've been
training a number of research assistants?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm not going to take a job training gatherers. I've got
enough of that already."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``We're not asking for that. We are simply proving a point,
that your useful life is swiftly coming to a close unless you
change your field of endeavor."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I couldn't be an administrator, and I know I couldn't edit."
   Clay smiled, this time genuinely Mike thought.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You'll be surprised at what you can do when opportunity
beckons. Isn't that right Charles. Why, we ourselves are living
examples. You think, Mr. Harrison, that your editor was born
behind the desk, flimsy in hand? He started just like you. But we
all must move on. The banquet is in three days, yes, it's
honoring the anniversary of the founding. It will be at the
Lion's Den in GreenFlower. Everything has already been set-up,
the promotion has already been released in this morning's update,
and all you have to do is be there and say a few words to
entertain the masses, rub a few noses, and... and pretend that
you're having fun."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mr. Clay stood up and grimmaced at the inside of his wrist.
The timepiece implant seemed to tell him he was late. He shot
Mike a departing glance, ``Then we'll see you at the Banquet, Mr.
Harrison... Mr. Linden."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike stood up, ``Will your niece be there?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Of course."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Then I won't," Mike felt like saying.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Miss Clay shook his hand in a comfortable contrast to the
trial run. For the second time during the encounter she spoke,
``Will you sit by me at the banquet, Mr. Harrison? I am very much
interested in your work."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike grinned, ``I really don't have a choice about this, do I?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Not if you know what's good for you."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike paused and tried to recall the question. He deceded later
that it was her blue eyes that made him give in so easily.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'd be delighted, Miss Clay. If you would like, stop by my
house, and I can show you a few items of the trade."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled, or perhaps blushed. ``I might take you up on that.
Where do you live?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mr. Clay conveniently interrupted, ``Come now dear, we must be
off."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike defused the interception, ``Sector E-12, 81152 Beach
Boulevard."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled apologetically as her uncle grabbed her arm and led
her out the door.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   When Mike turned around Linden was looking a little angry.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What?" Mike asked defensively.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden turned away and then tried to keep from laughing.
``Nothing. Just..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Just what?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Just don't blow it, Harrison." Linden was smiling.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled back, and they laughed. Everything was still okay.\\

\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent Mike returned to the house. He recalled that he hadn't seen the
morning update, but then he had no will to hear, see, smell, or
otherwise comprehend what one dull reporter considered news. He
entered the bathroom and relieved himself of the last night's
merrymaking. The medical scanner's blue light twirled about until
it found and homed in on Mike. He knew Cindy was conducting an
analysis. Just as long as she kept to herself about it.}\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He strolled into his room and sat back on the circular bed.
The entire chamber glimmered with an eerie, dim blue light. An
opaque window on the wall farthest from the door kept out
sunlight and the bothersome noises of modern civilization. He
relaxed a bit on the edge of the bed and gathered his senses. A
shimmering multicolored light on the controller wall betrayed
Cindy's presence.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What is it?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   It blinked and moved to the center of the wall. ``What is what,
Michael?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He frowned. Computers weren't supposed to answer questions
with questions. ``What are you doing in my room?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The light blinked a few times. ``I work here." Her feminine
voice was as matter-of-fact as ever he knew it to be.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He decided to beat her at her own game rather than simply
getting frustrated. ``Obviously you work here. Please allow me to
rephrase myself. Why don't you switch off?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Would you like me to switch off?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She did it again. He contemplated servicing the system by hand
with a laser rifle but quickly decided against it. ``No. You're to
hard to deal with right now. Switch to lower brain mode."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Done," the response was instantaneous.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   From there he decided to do a little learning as long as
Cindy's logic circuits were switched off. ``Access. File.
Information. Library. Galactic Press. Person. John Clay. Personal
history.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Insufficient person specification. Please respecify at
person."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``John Clay, Boardmember of Galactic Press. Personal History.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...File accessed."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Write Picture."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Insufficient picture specification. Please specify picture
type."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Facial, forward, most recent."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The light at the controller wall danced about for a moment,
and suddenly the entire wall surface lighted up with a picture of
Mr. Clay. Next to him was another man and a woman. They were all
walking down a flight of stairs. The others looked vaguely
familiar to Mike, but he couldn't place their names.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Read picture from wall. Identify. Persons. All."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Persons identified."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say identifications."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Specify data format."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Left to right. Name and official occupation."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Mrs. Helen Jaden, Galactic Press, Tizarian Division,
Boardmember. Mr. Edmund Sandair, Galactic Press, Tizarian
Division, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. John Clay,
Galactic Press, Tizarian Division, Boardmember."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike jotted down notes on a flimsy. ``Clear wall." When he
turned back toward the controller wall, the entire surface was
black.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say personal history, format brief."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The light at the center of the wall reappeared and began to
flicker on and off. ``...Personal history, Mr. John Clay in
memory. Loading format brief.... Mr. John Clay. Born two-hundred
and twelve standard days into the Imperial year five-hundred and
ninty-one. Attended University of Arcadia majoring in
interstellar corporate business. Highest degree received,
Master's, at age of twenty-four standard years. Joined with
Galactic Press Arcadian Division as marketing advisor in Imperial
year six-hundred and sixteen. Was promoted to chief marketing
advisor..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Stop," Mike was getting bored, so he decided to zoom in on
his real object of interest. ``Access file. Information. Library.
Galactic Press. Person. Miss Robin Clay, niece of Mr. John Clay,
Boardmember of Galactic Press. Personal History."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...File Accessed."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Write picture, Planetary Identification, Tizar, most
current."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   A mug shot of the girl he met that afternoon slowly rotated on the
controller wall. Mike studied it quickly and then prepared to jot
down more notes.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say name. Format first, middle, last."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Robin Athena Clay."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say official occupation."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Independent contractor, gatherer, Galactic Press, Tizarian
Division."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike blinked in disbelief. ``That's what I am."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Illegal command ignored."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He went to the kitchen, got an algea-cooler and some
nutrichips, and returned to the bedroom. Sitting once again in
front of the controller wall, he watched the flickering light at
the center of the wall for nearly a minute before deciding on a
course of action.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say list of accomplishments."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Illegal command ignored."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Say list of articles where subject is mentioned."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The light at the center of the screen flickered for a while
longer. With Cindy's interpretive processor shut down, the
command would take time to be understood.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The light disappeared.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Stop." Mike was becoming impatient.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No process in effect. Command Ignored."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Illegal command ignored."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Is subject mentioned in any articles?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Illegal command ignored."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike began to drink the cooler. He didn't stop until it was
finished.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Switch to higher brain mode."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Hello Michael." The artistically feminine voice of the SNDI
system, so often applauded by computer evaluators, had never
sounded sweeter.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike got right down to business. ``I assume you have all the
data of my conversation with your lower brain."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You assume correctly."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Is Robin mentioned in any articles?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Has she written any articles?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What is her occupation?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``She's a gatherer."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...Who hasn't written anything."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That is correct."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``She has to have been mentioned in at least one article."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``She isn't."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Cindy, check for birth announcements."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``There are none."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Is there a copy of her birth certificate on file?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``When was she born?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``On the ninty-first day of six thirty-three."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Nearly a year before Niki."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That is correct."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Where was she born?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Greenflower, Silver-Tri county, Tizar."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's close."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike opened the package of nutrichips and began to munch.
``Cindy, in all your experience, when have you ever encountered a
person who was born without the mandatory birth announcements?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Offhand, Michael, I know of no single instance."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Cindy, randomly choose one thousand people from that county,
all who were born in six thirty-three, and tell me how many of
those people do not have corresponding birth announcements in the
news on the day of their birth."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...There are zero people who do not have birth
announcements."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike popped a few chips into his mouth, ``Check Tizarian
Library files. See if her birth announcements are there."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...There are birth announcements in the files of the Tri-
Towers Library."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why don't we have them?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Because when the file was loaded into my banks, the birth
announcements weren't in place." She changed her tone of voice as
if a little annoyed at the obvious question.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Check in our own files for her birth certificate. When was it
loaded into your banks."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``The ninety-ninth day of this year, six fifty-six."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why wasn't her birth announcement also loaded in."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``News files are read-only after their initial loading. There
are no editing features available with this system due to the
inherent unlawfulness."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike munched on some more nutrichips. They tasted good for a
change, and he wondered what the deal was about Robin.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Mike, you have a visitor at the front door."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Identify."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``The visitor is not identifiable from the people in your
files."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Describe"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``The visitor is female. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, her
height..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Stop. Open the door." Mike headed out of the bedroom and
toward the front door. Robin was dressed in the white summer
dress she wore to lunch.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled, ``Hi."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike stepped outside. The sun was into its brilliant afternoon
splendor, and the entire coast was lined with tanning bodies,
just waiting to be sizzled to a crisp.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He smiled as if surprised, ``Hi. Come on in. I wasn't expecting
you so soon."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She stepped forward cautiously, a little embarrassed, and at
the same time enjoying her predicament. ``Well, I just happened to
be cruising by... and when I remembered your address... and..."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They both laughed.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She stopped in front of him and smiled. The sunlight caught
her bright blue eyes, but he was prepared for them this time.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, since you're here... would you like something to
drink?" He was careful not to talk into her. He didn't want to
blow the second impression by the smell of munchies.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Sure, if you have water."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He grinned, ``Sorry, we're all out. No, just kidding... c'mon."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He led her to the living room. Getting two glasses and filling
them with water was no major task, and soon he found himself
sitting at the chair next to the sofa he had missed the night
before. She nimbly seated herself on the couch and accepted the
glass of water from his hand.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So," he started, ``Why ya really here?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She paused and then smiled, ``You said you'd show me some of
the tools of the trade?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Oh, sure." Mike went to the bedroom and picked up his camera
and workset. When he returned, Robin was in the kitchen looking
for a place to drop the empty glass.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Should I just put it here on the countertop."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah. That'd be fine."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She walked back into the living room while Mike hooked
together the camera. ``This is a Niko 700AR. The small lens in
front here is an all-purpose zoom."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She walked over to him. ``Can I?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Sure," he put it into her delicate fingers. ``Careful, it's
kind of heavy."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She looked through the lens and smiled, ``Wow. Thirty all the
way to a thousand millimeters... plus light intensification. No
need for a flash."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah." Mike was pleased that she knew something about
cameras. ``That's not all, look." He showed her the storage drive,
printer, viewer, and controller board. ``Y'know what this is,
too?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She stared in wonder. ``So this is top of the line."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He laughed. ``For external stills, it's as close to as is
practical to use. I mean, it low tech enough that it can fixed on
most worlds if it gets damaged, and, of course, it's replacable.
That's its best feature. This thing here is the storage drive. It
can hold up to ten-thousand photos in color. More in black and
white. I can plug this hundred picture cartridge into the camera,
take pictures, and then transfer them to the drive. If I decide
that I don't like them later, poof; I delete them. This thing
lets me see 'em, and this printer makes a hard copy. With the
controller board you can also edit the pictures in a number of
different ways-- splicing them, shooting color in, mixing them
together, going in pixel by pixel and drawing. Like Niko says,
`It defies the imagination.' So what'd'ya think?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Pretty wild," She smiled.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``By the way, I heard you were a gatherer with the company."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Who told you that?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Linden said something about it."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She bit her lip, ``I'm just kind of getting into it. Right now
I do some research for my uncle."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Oh," Mike was disappointed, but he was far from through. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What kind of research," he smiled innocently.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
    She mimicked the smile, staring straight into his eyes,
"Y'know, research."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He stopped the questioning. It was still too early.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So," she continued, ``do you really make money at this."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike theatrically looked around the house. She laughed.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Of course I make money at this."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``But how can you? Information is so cheap these days."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Double meaning, Mike thought. ``Yeah, it's cheap. But there are
a lot of buying customers. Every two to four weeks the Tizarian
Division puts out an issue of 'The Galactican.' Every year, I get
a good enough story to convince them to give me a large cut of
the paper. That, plus front page stories three or four times a
year keep me going nicely. We sell to almost a trillion people in
this sector alone. Now even if I took only a millicredit off of
every buyer every year, you start adding up the numbers and tell
me how rich I'd be."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She grinned, ``Very rich."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ridiculously rich. And I don't settle for any mere
millicredit."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Wow!" She was being obviously sarcastic.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``And that's only half the story."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled, ``What's the other half?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Through writing these articles people get to recognize my
name; and when I turn around to sell other writings, they'll go
ahead and load copies into their own terminals since the price of
information, as you put it, is so cheap."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What other writings do you do?" She seemed genuinely
interested this time.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike shrugged, ``Political stuff, argumentative essays, that
sort of thing."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You must be a fantastic writer." She looked serious.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike grinned, ``Not really.... Y'see, when it comes to writing,
it's not the style or the syntax or anything like that. It's your
subject. Most of the news people I've met are great writers, but
they simply can't research a story. They fall flat on their faces
when it comes to the subject simply because they start out with
boring material."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin looked confused, ``How can you say that? You're supposed
to be a writer."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No, I'm a gatherer, big difference. It's like your uncle
said, the most important thing that I do right now is
investigate. All the polishing can be left to the editor and
staff, but researching the facts and getting them down is the
most important thing for a gatherer. Hey, what're you doing?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm putting this thing together." Robin connected the storage
drive and monitor. She began paging through the memory.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You sound like you're already missing it. What's this?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The picture was of a shallow sea. Sulferous storm clouds
loomed heavy over the horizon, and a still yellow mist shrouded
the water. Far away, a number of humanoid creatures crouched in
the steaming mud and pointed toward the camara.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's Aiwelk"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Are those reptiles?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Amphibians. They actually the decendants of mutated humans if
you want to get technical."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What are they doing there?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled, ``They live there."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin rabbit-punched him in the ribs. ``You know what I mean.
What were you doing there?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I was taking pictures."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike braced his ribs for the second blow.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay, they say one picture's worth a thousand words. I was
working on a safari expedition at the time."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin gasped.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``It's not what you think. We were low on cash, so were hiring
ourselves out as animal catchers. Aiwelk's a protectorate, so
were couldn't catch there, but this science team hired us on to
catch a few of these critters for 'scientific purposes.' They
eventually set-up a base on-world, but at the time, they were
working from a circular satelite. I took some picture, because
the scientists wanted to know exactly where they came from, and
what their physical and social environment was like. They already
knew the physical pretty much, but they thought it was important
to know who was standing next to who and how they were acting
among themselves before we caught them. I don't know if that
makes any sense."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin nodded, ``So what'd you find out?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay, y'see this character here, in the middle. He's like
their shaman. No, I'm not kidding. One thing you learn in this
job is that everybody's got their own screwed-up religion. Now,
before he was, 'examined' physically all-the-way, okay, the
scientists were able to decipher a good portion of their language
from him, and with it a good portion of their beliefs."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Because every language is constructed of beliefs and values."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's right. I couldn't have said it better. Now, he wasn't
the stong guy, but he was more or less their leader, and without
these stills with him in the center, and without the moving
pictures we caught of him giving instructions, he'd have never
gotten the special attention such an important 'specimen'
deserves."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What'd he think about being a specimen?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm not sure he really thought about it at all."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin zoomed in on him and refocused. The dark scales showed
well in the poor light of the dim red star.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So how'd they examine him physically?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Oh, you know scientists." Mike looked away from the monitor.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Sometimes I just wish we let them be."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Did they find anything unusual?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Would it matter if they did?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robin suddenly looked irritated, ``Mind if I use the ladies
room?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Through that door and to your left."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
    She got up from the couch and went through the hallway to the
bathroom, leaving Mike to gather his wits and wonder what it was
that he said.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He looked toward the speaker unit by the videophone. Its black
shiny surface glittered in the blue fluorescent light.\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Cindy?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes Michael?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Use the medical scanner on Robin but keep its light off."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What do you want to know about her?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Anything unusual."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...She's taking her ear off."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike's heartbeat jumped. ``She's what?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``...She's taking her ear off, and she's not human."\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No shit.... What is she?"\\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``An android."\\

\vspace{.3in}
\begin{center}
{\Large Two \\}
\end{center}
\vspace{.2in}

{\noindent Faint moonbeams caressed the dark ocean swells as they washed the
damp beach with the gloomy remnants of memories past. Mike laid
still along the water's edge, his bare feet slowly dipping in and
out of the quiet tide. An empty flask rested at arm's length from
his tired body as he dreamt about years past, and worlds far
across the vast sea of space.} \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He remembered a gentle Sirian voice warning him of his own
impending assassination just hours before her execution and
recalled the words of a wealthy industrialist, ``People are
profits; individuals: losses." He dug out of the past a friend
who committed suicide after having found freedom from an Imperial
correctional institute and thought on the immoral techniques once
practiced by a medical research lab on all assortments of
non-volunteers. He remembered a gang of youths beating a elderly
man to death because he was an off-worlder and fought back the
recollection of twisted arms and limbs as all the remains of a
Tizarian Foreign Embassy staff after a terrorist bombing. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Suddenly, he woke. The familiar sickness was there, but the
feeling of being forcibly thrust out of the warmth and safety of
Sleep's benign womb was lost to an insidious fear, as if he had
barely escaped from the black pit of an ancient nightmare. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You okay?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike jumped, his nerves swinging his head around nearly to the
point of whiplash. It was only Niki, and she promptly began her
little giggle at Mike's initial surprise. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He looked over his research assistant with considerable 
distaste, ``What're ya doin' here?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She drew her hands to her mouth trying to control the spasms 
of hysteria which only succeeded in making matters worse. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike regarded her with a grin, ``Fine." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He groggily got to his feet as she rolled on the cold sands 
clenching her ribs in a coughing fit of laughter.\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``C'mon, it wasn't that funny." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Out of breath, she began slowing down. Mike reached for under 
her shoulders and lifted her small frame off the ground. She put 
up a mock struggle, laughing all the while.\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Michael... No! Put me down!" He carried her over his shoulder 
towards the house as she whined, squealed, and laughed.\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The house was dark and lonely when they finally arrived. Mike 
walked in and tumbled Niki on the couch. She rolled herself up 
around a large pillow and beamed up at him with a smile. He shook 
his head in disbelief and grinned. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Aren't ya' gonna say hi?" She was in a playful mood. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Hi." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They looked at each other for a moment before he continued. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So, how's my psyche doin'?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Just fine... Boss." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Don't call me that." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She laughed, ``Why not? Is it a dirty word?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He nodded, ``Yes. And how's Mr. Fork doin'?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay-fine." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Still locked up?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yep, but he's gettin' better." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike laughed, ``That's sayin' nothin'." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No, Really. He's a lot better than he was. He's even 
beginning to talk now." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What have you gotten out of him?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Nothin' much so far. It's still too scrambled to tell what 
he's thinkin'." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Bet that makes for some interesting reading though. Look, I'm 
gonna get a beer, ya want one?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Her smile faded. ``Naw, ya' don't want beer." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes I do," he headed for the kitchen. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Drink some zardocha instead." She sounded hopeful. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike thought about it for half a moment, ``Yuchi-foo." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``How 'bout milk?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He mimicked, ``How 'bout beer?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You'll get drunk." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He tapped the nozel release, and twisted the setting nob down 
to Niki's favorite. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled, ``You're not gonna get drunk." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He looked at her, mock-seriousness molding his features into a 
neutral expression. ``Do I ever?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She started giggling, ``Tee hee hee... you were so surprised." \\
   ``Was not." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Hee hee... was too." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Was not you little sneak. Besides, you never told me why you
were there." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She stopped laughing, ``Just came by to see how you were." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike glanced at the clock, ``At ten after midnight? How'd you 
know where I was." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``And I thought ya' had intelligence. Where are ya' always when 
its dark outside and you're too lazy to answer the door?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He gulped down half the glass, ``Excuse the stupid question. 
I'm a little buzzed right now." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why do ya' sleep out there?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike wondered whether she was requesting information or making 
small talk. ``You've asked me that before." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ya' never answered me." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike paused. ``To sleep............ perchance to dream." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Did ya dream?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He thought a moment. ``Yeah." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What about?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I dunno." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She laughed, ``Liar." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He sipped his milk. It was as cold as ice but felt strangely 
good going down. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You didn't read me while I was out?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Nah. I saw your eyes goin' though. But I still 'member when 
you said not to read you." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I wonder why...." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Aw c'mon. Y'know you can tell me." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He replied laughing, ``I do?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes." For once, her tone was convincing.\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He paused, ``Okay. You remember hearing about the Tizarian 
embassy on Calanna?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah, I heard got blown up. Hey, that wasn't when you were a 
correspondent down there, was it?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike nodded, ``I was pulled shortly before that, but I was 
still... sightseeing." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Of course," she was smiling. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Now... I had nothing to do with..." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Don't even try lying, Michael." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay... well anyway, the short of it is that I was there just 
a cent before it happened. I went out to make this call... the 
embassy was a notoriously bad place to carry on a private 
conversation. While I was walking back... I heard the..." He 
stretched out his arms to form the visual image. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Boom?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Boom," Mike agreed hesitantly. ``I started running to see what 
happened." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki watched him sympathetically, ``No one survived." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They fell silent for a time as Niki let her milk sit scarcely 
touched. Mike's dream had shattered her mood. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Her eyes slowly grew glossy in the blue fluorescent light. 
``I'm sorry." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Surprised, he looked up, ``About that?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm just sorry." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``It's okay." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike looked into her eyes and then averted his gaze downward 
toward the floor. ``Drink your milk." \\
 
\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent ``Mike...?"} \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike awoke stiffly on the floor. Niki sat over him, one hand 
on his shoulder, gently shaking him to consciousness. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He squinted groggily in the dim light. ``What time is it?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Twenty. Mike, Fork's in trouble." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike was suddenly wide awake. ``What is it?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I dunno. I think somebody woke him up in the middle of a 
nightmare." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Enough to wake you?" Mike asked in hopeful disbelief. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No. I was still up. I just happened to be open to it." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Did he wake up by himself?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No. I'm pretty sure somethin's up." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ok, let's go." Mike picked himself off the floor grabbing his 
black camera bag on the way out the door and headed straight for 
the back terrace. He hopped on the fly-cycle, felt under the seat 
cushion for the key, and switched on the grav-plates while Niki 
hopped on behind him and held to his waist. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The vehicle raced over the shoreline using its natural flat 
surface to pick up speed. The crisp ocean waves, remarkably 
changed in the past few hours, lashed the coast and pounded the 
beach crag with an unrelenting fury as the bright full moon rose 
to its apex in an otherwise pitch black sky. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Within five minutes they landed just outside the nearby 
Tizarian medical center. Only a mile inland, the smell of salt 
carried by the chilly morning breeze floated through the air. A 
cargo shuttle rested on a pad under a hundred meters from the 
complex, and two guards in dark night-uniforms stood outside the 
entrance in the bleak, morning cold. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike dismounted the vehicle and quickly trotted towards the 
guards. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki grabbed Mike's arm cutting short his advance. ``I don't 
have my doctor I.D." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He shrugged, ``Forget it. We'll play it straight." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike stopped short of the guards and drew out his press card. 
``Michael Harrison, Gatherer, Galactic Press, Tizarian Division. I 
need access to this facility to see one of the patients." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The guard in front laughed, ``At twenty in the morning?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes. This may be an emergency." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The guard mocked seriousness, ``Well, it must be a pretty big 
one. What do ya' think George? Do we let little Mikey in?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The other guard was older. His grey eyes depicted a sternness 
not much impressed by his partner's attitude. He coughed before 
speaking, perhaps to be sure he had everyone's attention, 
``Nobody's allowed in the medical center, mister..." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Harrison. I'm with the Tizarian Division. I have permanent 
press clearance to this center. See? It says so right here." Mike 
pointed toward the card, but neither guard paid any attention. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The first guard laughed again, ``Hey, who's your psych?" Niki's
dark, Sirian features hinted at her purpose. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike talked while getting out his flimsy. ``Didn't you here 
what I said? I have clearance. By the way, I didn't get you guys' 
service numbers." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The older guard broke in, ``Look, buddy. We have orders not to 
let anybody in. Anybody! Do you understand? Now why don't you 
just hop back on your play-scooter with your girly-friend and get 
your snot-nosed face off our turf!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Orders from who?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``From our commanding officer. Who do you think?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Who is?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The older guard shouted, ``I just said who!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``As in a name." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The guard paused, not quite sure how to phrase his response. 
``That's classified." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike looked up from the flimsy. The guard who spoke reinforced 
his position by standing in front of the door, his plain, black 
uniform blending nicely with the purple background. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You guy's aren't even wearing Tizarian badges. Who the hell 
are you?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Starlaw." The answer came simultaneously from both. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike shot a wary glance at the pair, ``You Imperial police have 
some sort of identification?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They pulled badges from their pockets. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why aren't you guy's wearing these things?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   There was no answer. Mike was fairly certain they couldn't 
arrest him. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Oh, I guess that's classified too. Look, I'd like to speak 
with your commanding officer!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The young guard pushed Mike backward and began to draw his 
gun, but the other held him back, the older guard's stare 
belieing a temptation to let his partner carry out the threat. 
Suddenly, Niki gasped as if shocked. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What is it?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She paused, regaining her breath. ``He's gone." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No more signal." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike drew out his camera and backed away from the guards, 
pulling Niki back with one hand clenched around her shoulder. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Smile dudes." Mike snapped the shot, and retreated quickly to 
the cycle. \\
 
\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent The personal office of Charles Linden, copy editor for the 
Tizarian Division of Galactican Press, rested near the top of the 
center section of Silver Tri-Towers. It was, as Chuck liked to 
put it, a room with a view. Out the sky window, if the day was 
clear enough, the entire expanse of land all the way to the coast 
could be surveyed. From well over two kilometers high, it was a 
wondrous sight.} \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike sat at the edge of the editor's dark, mahogany desk 
staring blankly out the window as the clouds blew by. Niki, 
leaning against the close, white wall, quietly watched his 
profile, collecting his emotions, reading his worries. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   The faint noise of footsteps approached the enterence, Niki 
turning to look as the antique, brass doorknob turned clockwise. 
Linden, stood in the doorway smiling suspiciously while surveying 
the duo. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well! If it isn't Mik and Nik." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike intentionally suppressed his smile. ``Hi Chuck." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's Mister Linden to you Harrison. So, how's it going?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``It sucks." The voice was Niki's. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden turned his head toward her, leaning his body on the 
desk toward Mike. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Does it really?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah, it sure does." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden laughed, ``You teaching her slang, buddy?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled, ``Y'know Chuck, you really have a way of breaking 
the mood." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah. I saw your entry this morning; suggested headline: 
`Imperial Police Seize Hospital.' Very catchy." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You don't like it?" \\
 
\vspace*{-10pt}
  ``First off, it isn't a hospital. It's a medical center. Big 
difference. Secondly, they didn't seize it." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``They refused my clearance." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I just got off the phone with a Lieutenant Robertson. He 
tells me you tried to assault one of his guards." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike held the smile, ``He's lying." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden confidently continued, ``He also told me you never 
showed your press I.D. to the guards." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Chuck, He's lying." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden looked Mike in the eyes, ``Prove it." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I have a witness." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Do you have the encounter on crystal?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why not?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``We were in a hurry when we left. I forgot the recorder. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You forgot the recorder; no substantiation. The paper gets 
sued. I lose my job. And as for your so-called witness... who has 
been illegally posing as a psychotherapist at the medical center 
for the past doce so that you could get a story which was never 
registered with the paper! What the hell are you trying to pull, 
Mike!?!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``The last time I registered a story with the paper my research 
assistant got her brains blown out by a firing squad!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's because all your, quote-unquote, research assistants 
are unregistered telepaths!!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki winced. Mike shook his head in disbelief as his boss 
continued. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Look buddy, it's not like I don't believe you. I do. But 
you're just doing everything the wrong way." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm doin' my best." \\
   ``I know. That's 'cause you are the best... usually." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike looked up hopefully, ``So what do I do now?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Lieutenant Robertson is coming over. He'll be here in a few 
minutes. I suggest you wait around 'til he gets here. Question 
him. If you can, trap him." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small, 
pocket recorder. He placed it on the desk in front of Mike. 
``You're still on Tizarian turf. Use the advantage." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   By that last remark, Linden meant that there were several 
advantages press gatherers had on Tizar which weren't granted to 
them on many other worlds. The right to publish recorded 
statements without the approval of the speaker, the right to use 
registered telepaths to gather information, and the right to 
access the non-classified records of any subject were just a few 
examples. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike sat down at the computer terminal in the far corner. 
Linden, a lover of antiquities, rarely ever touched it, and the 
file on Robertson revealed nothing out of the ordinary. The 
twenty-seven year old, Starlaw officer entered the service after 
attending Duke Marc's College. He earned a degree in Enforcement 
of Justice, and served Starlaw in the public relations 
department. He'd been promoted during his first four-year hitch 
and was now working through his second. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike looked up from the file as Linden's secretary knocked at 
the door to announce the lieutenant's arrival. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Send him in, Jo... and tell the floor that I'll be down in a 
few minutes." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Alrighty Mr. Linden." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   A tall man with short blond hair and smooth brown eyes entered 
the office. His practiced smile was as wide as it was non-deceiving. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden returned the smile, ``Lieutenant, please come in." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Mr. Linden? How good it is to finally meet you in person. I 
must confess, I didn't know who to greet at first." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's quite understandable." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You should get a videophone. That's what everyone I know 
uses." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yes. Well, on an editor's salary, I think I'll just stick to 
the basics. This is Michael Harrison, the reporter who spoke with 
your guards; and this is Nikita Sen, a research assistant with 
the press." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled at the lie as he shook hands with the Lieutenant. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson also shook hands with Niki but avoided her eyes. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
  ``Mr. Linden. You hire Sirians. I am surprised." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson laughed uncomfortably, ``Have you not heard the 
Imperial convention against psionic trespassing?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Lieutenant, the Psionics Suppression is a matter for 
historians. Besides, this is Tizar. We have been granted freedom 
in those areas by your Archduke's grandfather long ago." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson seemed to physically squirm in his stance, ``Still, 
editor. I must insist that my mind... not be... violated." He 
smiled shyly at Niki. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike wondered what kind of people the Imperials were hiring, 
"You've got something to hide, Lieutenant Robertson?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Of course not. There are just certain classified matters.... 
Unrelated, you understand." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled, ``No problem. Niki's telepathy is very... weak." 
He decided to stretch the truth, ``She can only read the answers 
to yes or no questions, feel surface emotions, and even for that 
she has to be looking at the subject in question." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Still Mr. Harrison, I must insist that she at least leave the 
room." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki broke in, ``I don't mind leaving, but I would like to hear 
what is said. After all, I am to a certain extent involved. If I 
turn around, I'll be largely unable to use my telepathy. Would 
that be all right Lieutenant?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson shrugged, ``I guess that'll have to do. Sorry about 
the inconvenience." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki smiled, ``That's okay. I'm used to it." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson looked at Mike and began to grope for a place to 
begin. ``So Mr. Harrison, the guards at the medical center told me 
they had a little trouble with you." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I suppose they did, Lieutenant. I wanted entrance; they 
denied it." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well, did you tell them you were a gatherer?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah, I showed them my press card." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Well... that's not their story. What were you doing out there 
so early anyway?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Me and Niki suspected that something may be wrong with one of 
the patients." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Which one was this?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``John Doe, number eighteen." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson looked surprised. ``Hmmm... that's quite a 
coincidence. That patient died in his sleep at around midnight 
last night." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike's mouth fell open, ``What?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``There's nothing you could have done. He was well on his way 
to the golden arches when you arrived, or wherever it is that he 
went. Wasn't he the insane gentleman who murdered a guard with a 
carving fork and injured two civilians?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike tried desperately to regain his wits. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson continued, ``So, Mr. Harrison, what made you suspect 
that there was something wrong with the patient." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike looked back up at the Lieutenant. ``Niki, turn around." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson instinctively withdrew a step. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike continued as Niki turned about to face the lieutenant, 
"Is he lying?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She nodded yes; her eyes burning red with antipathy. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson avoided both her's and Mike's stare and turned to 
Linden for support. ``I doubt I'd be the first. Mr. Linden, I 
protest." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike stood directly in front of Robertson. ``Lieutenant, what 
was Starlaw doing there?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``That's confidential, Mr. Harrison." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Can't you at least tell me the branch of personnel, the name 
of the commanding officer?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson shrunk under the direct questions. ``Internal 
Counter-Insurgency. ISIS Division. That's all I can say." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``ISIS?!?" Mike almost jumped back into Linden's lap. ``The 
Imperial Secret Police?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Please Mr. Harrison. You have me at an awkward position. I'm 
only regular Starlaw." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Then why are you lying!?!" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Lieutenant Robertson withdrew to the door. ``I won't stand to 
be interrogated in such a fashion," he weakly complained. ``I'm 
leaving." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Robertson opened the door and quickly escaped from the hateful 
stares of the three people he was sent to pacify. Mike took the 
recorder out of his pocket and turned it off. ``Can I publish it 
now?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Linden sat down and crossed his legs, a twinkling of a smile 
lighting his otherwise sharp countenance. ``No. You can go out 
there and get some more facts, and then come back with a real 
story. I've got a feeling this'll be a winner once you've got it 
fully researched, and I won't even make you register Niki." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled gravely, ``It's a little too late for that; they 
already know about her. But thanks anyway. We'll take the offer. 
We'll also try to get some more info. I'd also appreciate it if 
you'd keep quiet about the story." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay. But I don't see how that's going to help you now 
either." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Trust me, it will. Look, I'll catch you later. Thanks for the 
help." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ok, I'll see you two later." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike and Niki exited the office. Once in the outer hall, Niki 
tugged at the gatherer for attention. ``Hey, ya' really know how 
to get people t' listen to ya'." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He looked her in the eyes, ``I'm sorry." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She smiled, ``About you or about Fork?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm just sorry." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She shrugged, ``Let's get some milk." \\
 
\begin{center}
{\large \bf *\ \ \ \ \     *\ \ \ \ \      *}
\end{center}

{\noindent The bar was cool and dimly lit. Several ceiling fans twirled 
silently above as Mike drank his milk on the rocks; Niki had 
her's straight.} \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So," she began, cutting the solemn mood, ``where do we start 
this time?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike sipped thoughtfully, ``I haven't the faintest idea." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Liar." She was smiling. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   He grinned back and took another sip.\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She grew impatient, ``Well?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Okay. I met this girl a while ago." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki laughed, ``Is this one of your drunk maid stories?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No. This happened just yesterday. I don't know whether Chuck 
told you, but me and him met Mr. Clay and his daughter for 
lunch." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Boardmember Clay?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Uh huh." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``And the girl's his daughter?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Yeah. Anyway, so we talked, and then they had to leave, but 
that afternoon she came over to my house."\\ 

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Alone?" Niki looked concerned. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Uh huh." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``And you let her in?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why not?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She had no reply. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So anyway, While she was in the bathroom, I found out she was 
an android." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What were you doing in the bathroom with her?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I wasn't in the bathroom. I was in the living room." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What was she doing?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Taking her ear off, or putting it on. I don't remember, but 
that's not important." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You saw her take her ear off. Ooh gross." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No, Cindy did." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki laughed, ``What? You asked your computer what she was 
doing in the bathroom?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike paused, ``Yeah." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I was curious?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Have you no shame? Guy, ya' won't be seeing me go to the 
bathroom at your place no more." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike laughed, ``Oh, c'mon. Just one more time. I want to shoot 
some pictures." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She laughed, ``No way, bud. So what happened then?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``She had to take off, but I'm sure she was there to check me 
out." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki nodded, ``I'm sure she was too." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``No. I mean for somebody else." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Heck Mike, everybody's after you. Me, an android, your 
computer, now somebody else." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Oh, c'mon." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``So where's Clay's real daughter?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``He doesn't have one." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You mean, Mrs. Clay gave birth to an android?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They both laughed. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Look, stop it. I want you to check up on her... and on Mr. 
Clay." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I can't read an android." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Read Mr. Clay then. No! wait a mil, it was his niece, not his 
daughter, his niece." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She laughed, ``You've really got your facts straight." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I was recovering from a hangover at the time." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Excuses. Excuses." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   They laughed and ordered some more milk. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   She began again, ``So what about Fork. I mean, this could be a 
dead end." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'm fairly sure his mind was shot by one of those Imperial 
mind scanners. They probably just decided to kill him." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Why?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I dunno, and that's no lie." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What do we do?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You do nothing." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Aw, c'mon. I wanna help." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike refused, ``No, they already know about you. I want you 
where you can do some good. Clay doesn't know about you, and I've 
got a suspicion he's tied up in this." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``How's that?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I think I remember seeing Robin, that's his niece's... I mean 
android's name... I swear I remember seeing her down at the 
medical center one of those times I visited Fork." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Then she'd know me." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Nope. You're not registered. I am. She wouldn't have any 
reason to remember your face unless you spoke to her or 
something, or unless you were registered with Galactic Press, and 
you're not..." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Ya' don't think Mr. Linden would say anything about me?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Nah, Chuck doesn't talk to Boardmembers. You're in the 
clear." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``What about you?" She knew the answer to that without asking. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``I'll manage. Look, I'm gonna go home and grab a quick nap." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Liar." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Mike smiled, ``Look, I'll be okay. I promise. Come see me 
tonight." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You mean next morning?" \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``Whenever. I'll see ya' later." He got up and headed toward 
the exit. \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki put down her milk, ``Be careful." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   ``You too." \\

\vspace*{-10pt}
   Niki stayed at the table as the highbowls slowly rose to the 
ceiling and coasted across the bar. From the opposite aisle a 
burley man in a heavy, tan coat rubbed a lather of foam from his 
moustache, his eyes scanning the morning headlines as they 
scrolled across the surface of his table. In the background, she 
heard a group of people laughing. Michael didn't want to be 
followed. She glanced toward the escalator ramp and watched a 
sprinkling of people zoom by, the cushion of propelled wind 
whining where its outskirts met the stop-off. The bar seemed warm 
and snug when compared with some of the other places she had been 
recently; it was a good place to stay and pout. But not as good 
as a boardmember's house. She smiled at the thought as she threw 
on her wrapper. \\

\end{document}

