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|00000000| 46 72 6f 6d 20 72 65 63 | 2e 61 72 74 73 2e 73 66 |From rec|.arts.sf|
|00000010| 2e 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e | 2e 72 6f 62 65 72 74 2d |.written|.robert-|
|00000020| 6a 6f 72 64 61 6e 20 57 | 65 64 20 4e 6f 76 20 31 |jordan W|ed Nov 1|
|00000030| 33 20 31 30 3a 31 37 3a | 35 32 20 31 39 39 36 0a |3 10:17:|52 1996.|
|00000040| 50 61 74 68 3a 20 63 63 | 2e 67 61 74 65 63 68 2e |Path: cc|.gatech.|
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|00000790| 20 64 69 73 63 6c 61 69 | 6d 65 72 2e 0a 0a 49 20 | disclai|mer...I |
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|00000890| 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e | 20 52 61 6e 64 6c 61 6e | role in| Randlan|
|000008a0| 64 2e 0a 0a 0a 2d 2d 4a | 6f 65 6c 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a |d....--J|oel..***|
|000008b0| 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a | 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a |********|********|
|000008c0| 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a | 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a |********|********|
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|00002f00| 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 | 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 |had the |face and|
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|00003070| 22 0a 09 22 57 65 6c 6c | 2c 20 79 65 73 2e 22 20 |".."Well|, yes." |
|00003080| 20 47 6c 61 6e 63 69 6e | 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 | Glancin|g around|
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|000030b0| 65 6c 73 65 0a 74 6f 20 | 73 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 |else.to |say. "W|
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|000030d0| 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 | 73 65 65 6e 20 68 69 6d |haven't |seen him|
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|00003180| 70 72 6f 73 70 65 63 74 | 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d |prospect| was alm|
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|000031a0| 0a 09 48 61 77 6b 20 66 | 65 6c 6c 20 73 69 6c 65 |..Hawk f|ell sile|
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|000032a0| 44 79 6c 61 6e 2e 22 20 | 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 |Dylan." | Her voi|
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|000032d0| 20 42 69 6c 6c 27 73 20 | 67 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 09 | Bill's |gone?"..|
|000032e0| 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 |"He was |one of t|
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|00003460| 77 6b 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 | 20 62 69 74 74 65 72 6c |wk spoke| bitterl|
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|00003660| 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 | 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 |"I don't| think y|
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|000036a0| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 2e 2e 2e 20 63 68 61 6e |, Andrea|... chan|
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|00003790| 2e 20 20 22 42 75 74 20 | 69 66 0a 79 6f 75 27 6c |. "But |if.you'l|
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|000037b0| 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 6f 72 | 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d |hink for| the mom|
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|000038c0| 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 64 | 65 20 42 69 6c 6c 20 64 |What mad|e Bill d|
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|000038e0| 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 77 65 6c 6c 2d 72 65 73 | He was |well-res|
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|00003960| 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 0a | 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 |." She.|paused, |
|00003970| 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 | 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 |not quit|e sure w|
|00003980| 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 | 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 |hat had |made her|
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|000039d0| 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 |bout thi|s whole |
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|000039f0| 0a 09 22 4f 68 2c 20 69 | 74 27 73 20 6d 75 63 68 |.."Oh, i|t's much|
|00003a00| 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 | 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e | more th|an that.|
|00003a10| 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 6c | 6f 6f 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 | Just l|ook arou|
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|00003a30| 6e 67 0a 6d 6f 72 65 20 | 64 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 |ng.more |desponde|
|00003a40| 6e 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 | 65 76 65 72 2c 20 48 61 |nt than |ever, Ha|
|00003a50| 77 6b 20 77 61 76 65 64 | 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e |wk waved| one han|
|00003a60| 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 | 20 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 |d in the| hair. |
|00003a70| 22 54 68 65 73 65 0a 50 | 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 |"These.P|eople's |
|00003a80| 4e 65 77 73 67 72 6f 75 | 70 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 |Newsgrou|p speake|
|00003a90| 72 73 20 6b 65 65 70 20 | 70 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 |rs keep |popping |
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|00003ac0| 0a 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 | 4e 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 |.down. |No one e|
|00003ad0| 76 65 6e 20 74 72 69 65 | 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 |ven trie|s to for|
|00003ae0| 6d 61 74 20 74 68 65 69 | 72 20 70 6f 73 74 73 20 |mat thei|r posts |
|00003af0| 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c | 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 |correctl|y, excep|
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|00003b10| 67 69 6e 67 20 72 65 67 | 75 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 |ging reg|ulars. |
|00003b20| 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 65 77 | 62 69 65 73 20 6e 6f 77 |Most new|bies now|
|00003b30| 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 | 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 | refuse |to read |
|00003b40| 74 68 65 20 46 41 51 20 | 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 74 |the FAQ |as a mat|
|00003b50| 74 65 72 20 6f 66 0a 70 | 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 |ter of.p|rinciple|
|00003b60| 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 | 6f 6e 65 20 6a 75 73 74 |. Every|one just|
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|00003b90| 69 6e 67 20 77 68 6f 20 | 4a 6f 68 6e 0a 4e 6f 76 |ing who |John.Nov|
|00003ba0| 61 6b 20 69 73 2c 20 61 | 73 20 69 66 20 61 6e 79 |ak is, a|s if any|
|00003bb0| 6f 6e 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 | 2e 20 20 49 20 74 65 6c |one knew|. I tel|
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|00003bd0| 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d | 65 73 20 49 20 66 65 65 | sometim|es I fee|
|00003be0| 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 0a 6c | 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6d |l like.l|eaving m|
|00003bf0| 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a | 09 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 |yself.".|."What?"|
|00003c00| 20 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c | Andrea| suddenl|
|00003c10| 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c | 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 |y felt l|ike her |
|00003c20| 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f | 74 68 6f 6c 64 20 77 61 |last foo|thold wa|
|00003c30| 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e | 69 6e 67 0a 74 6f 20 63 |s beginn|ing.to c|
|00003c40| 72 75 6d 62 6c 65 2e 20 | 20 22 42 75 74 2e 2e 2e |rumble. | "But...|
|00003c50| 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 | 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 70 6f | you cou|ldn't po|
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|00003ca0| 75 73 20 62 6f 74 68 2e | 20 20 42 75 74 20 64 6f |us both.| But do|
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|00003cc0| 20 6f 66 0a 72 61 73 66 | 77 72 2d 6a 20 6d 65 61 | of.rasf|wr-j mea|
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|00003cf0| 76 65 64 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 6c |ved this| group l|
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|00003d10| 63 68 69 6c 64 21 22 0a | 09 22 45 78 63 75 73 65 |child!".|."Excuse|
|00003d20| 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 20 54 | 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 | me?" T|here was|
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|00003d40| 65 72 6f 75 73 20 67 6c | 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 |erous gl|int in t|
|00003d50| 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 | 0a 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 |he other|.woman's|
|00003d60| 20 65 79 65 2e 0a 09 22 | 57 65 6c 6c 2e 2e 2e 20 | eye..."|Well... |
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|00003d80| 20 73 69 73 74 65 72 2c | 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 | sister,| then," |
|00003d90| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 73 | 74 61 6d 6d 65 72 65 64 |Andrea s|tammered|
|00003da0| 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 0a | 63 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 |. "How.|can you |
|00003db0| 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 20 | 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6e |abandon |it all n|
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|00003e20| 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 | 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 68 | any mor|e, so wh|
|00003e30| 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 22 |at's the| point?"|
|00003e40| 20 20 45 79 65 73 20 73 | 61 64 2c 20 73 68 65 0a | Eyes s|ad, she.|
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|00003ee0| 72 72 69 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 | 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a 09 |rrillo."|..****..|
|00003ef0| 54 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 | 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 |The part|y was we|
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|00003f70| 6f 6f 66 20 74 6f 0a 63 | 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 20 74 |oof to.c|onceal t|
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|00004170| 0a 09 46 6c 61 76 69 6f | 20 64 27 41 72 72 69 6c |..Flavio| d'Arril|
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|000041a0| 68 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 | 67 75 65 73 74 73 20 69 |h three |guests i|
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|00004240| 74 62 6f 6f 6b 2d 2d 20 | 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 |tbook-- |and had |
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|00004280| 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 | 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 |proached|, Andrea|
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|000042c0| 68 69 73 0a 66 61 6d 6f | 75 73 20 70 6f 6c 69 73 |his.famo|us polis|
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|000042f0| 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 61 62 | 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 |ccountab|le trans|
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|00004330| 54 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 | 20 6f 76 65 72 68 65 61 |Then she| overhea|
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|00004360| 74 68 72 65 65 20 63 6f | 6d 70 61 6e 69 6f 6e 73 |three co|mpanions|
|00004370| 2e 0a 09 22 2e 2e 2e 42 | 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 |..."...B|ut I do |
|00004380| 68 65 61 72 20 77 68 61 | 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 |hear wha|t you're|
|00004390| 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 | 61 62 6f 75 74 20 52 6f | saying |about Ro|
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|000043b0| 6c 69 6e 67 0a 63 6f 75 | 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 20 73 |ling.cou|ntless s|
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|00004430| 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 | 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e |I have t|he time.|
|00004440| 22 0a 09 48 65 61 72 74 | 20 73 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 |"..Heart| sinking|
|00004450| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 |, Andrea| stood t|
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|000044c0| 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 | 65 20 41 69 65 6c 2c 0a |about th|e Aiel,.|
|000044d0| 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 |I though|t their |
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|000044f0| 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 | 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6f | were re|ally coo|
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|00004510| 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 61 | 74 0a 66 69 67 68 74 65 | of grea|t.fighte|
|00004520| 72 73 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e | 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 |rs movin|g throug|
|00004530| 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 | 73 65 72 74 20 65 6e 20 |h the de|sert en |
|00004540| 6d 61 73 73 65 20 61 6e | 64 20 6f 75 74 72 75 6e |masse an|d outrun|
|00004550| 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 72 | 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 |ning hor|ses to t|
|00004560| 61 6b 65 0a 6f 76 65 72 | 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 |ake.over| walled |
|00004570| 63 69 74 69 65 73 20 6d | 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6f |cities m|ust be o|
|00004580| 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 | 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 69 |ne of th|e best i|
|00004590| 64 65 61 73 20 74 68 65 | 20 43 72 65 61 74 6f 72 |deas the| Creator|
|000045a0| 27 73 20 68 61 64 20 79 | 65 74 21 20 20 49 0a 63 |'s had y|et! I.c|
|000045b0| 61 6e 27 74 20 77 61 69 | 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 |an't wai|t for th|
|000045c0| 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 74 | 61 72 74 20 77 6f 72 6b |em to st|art work|
|000045d0| 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 | 20 74 68 65 20 41 73 68 |ing with| the Ash|
|000045e0| 61 6d 61 6e 21 22 0a 09 | 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 74 |aman!"..|Andrea t|
|000045f0| 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 | 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 |hought s|he was t|
|00004600| 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 | 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 |he only |one who |
|00004610| 64 65 74 65 63 74 65 64 | 20 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 |detected| Flavio'|
|00004620| 73 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 | 0a 70 65 72 63 65 70 74 |s barely|.percept|
|00004630| 69 62 6c 65 20 66 6c 69 | 6e 63 68 2e 20 20 48 69 |ible fli|nch. Hi|
|00004640| 73 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 | 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 63 |s smooth| voice c|
|00004650| 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 | 20 62 65 74 72 61 79 65 |ertainly| betraye|
|00004660| 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e | 67 20 61 73 20 68 65 0a |d nothin|g as he.|
|00004670| 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 41 | 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c |said, "A|ctually,|
|00004680| 20 49 20 68 61 64 6e 27 | 74 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 | I hadn'|t though|
|00004690| 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 | 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 69 |t about |the mili|
|000046a0| 74 61 72 79 20 61 73 70 | 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 74 |tary asp|ect of t|
|000046b0| 68 65 20 73 65 72 69 65 | 73 0a 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 |he serie|s.all th|
|000046c0| 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 2e | 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 |at much.| I just|
|000046d0| 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 | 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 | suppose|d that s|
|000046e0| 69 6e 63 65 20 4a 6f 72 | 64 61 6e 20 61 74 74 65 |ince Jor|dan atte|
|000046f0| 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 | 20 43 69 74 61 64 65 6c |nded the| Citadel|
|00004700| 2c 20 68 65 0a 6b 6e 65 | 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 |, he.kne|w what h|
|00004710| 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f | 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 77 |e was do|ing in w|
|00004720| 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 | 68 65 20 62 61 74 74 6c |riting t|he battl|
|00004730| 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 73 | 2e 2e 2e 20 20 4f 68 2c |e scenes|... Oh,|
|00004740| 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 | 6e 27 74 0a 6b 6e 6f 77 | you did|n't.know|
|00004750| 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 | 61 20 43 69 74 61 64 65 | he was |a Citade|
|00004760| 6c 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 | 74 65 3f 2e 2e 2e 22 0a |l gradua|te?...".|
|00004770| 09 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 | 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 |.At this| point, |
|00004780| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 |Andrea f|inally c|
|00004790| 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 68 | 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 |leared h|er throa|
|000047a0| 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 | 65 70 70 65 64 0a 66 6f |t and st|epped.fo|
|000047b0| 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 | 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 73 |rward. |Flavio's|
|000047c0| 20 65 79 65 73 20 62 72 | 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 | eyes br|ightened|
|000047d0| 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 | 20 67 72 61 63 65 66 75 |, and he| gracefu|
|000047e0| 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 73 73 | 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 |lly kiss|ed her e|
|000047f0| 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 0a | 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 |xtended.|hand. "|
|00004800| 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 | 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 |You must| excuse |
|00004810| 6d 65 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 | 61 66 72 61 69 64 2e 2e |me, I'm |afraid..|
|00004820| 2e 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 | 73 20 4d 69 73 73 20 4c |. this i|s Miss L|
|00004830| 65 69 73 74 72 61 2e 20 | 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 |eistra. | She and|
|00004840| 20 49 0a 61 72 65 20 6f | 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e | I.are o|ld frien|
|00004850| 64 73 2e 22 20 20 57 69 | 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 61 |ds." Wi|thout wa|
|00004860| 69 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f | 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 |iting fo|r an ans|
|00004870| 77 65 72 2c 20 68 65 20 | 73 74 72 6f 64 65 20 6f |wer, he |strode o|
|00004880| 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 | 68 65 0a 6e 65 61 72 65 |ver to t|he.neare|
|00004890| 73 74 20 62 61 79 20 77 | 69 6e 64 6f 77 3b 20 74 |st bay w|indow; t|
|000048a0| 68 65 72 65 20 68 65 20 | 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c |here he |stopped,|
|000048b0| 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 69 | 6c 65 64 20 77 69 6e 6e | and smi|led winn|
|000048c0| 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 61 74 | 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 22 48 |ingly at| her.."H|
|000048d0| 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e | 64 72 65 61 2e 20 20 48 |ello, An|drea. H|
|000048e0| 6f 77 20 68 61 76 65 20 | 79 6f 75 20 62 65 65 6e |ow have |you been|
|000048f0| 3f 22 0a 09 22 49 27 64 | 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 79 |?".."I'd| heard y|
|00004900| 6f 75 27 64 20 63 68 61 | 6e 67 65 64 2c 20 46 6c |ou'd cha|nged, Fl|
|00004910| 61 76 69 6f 2c 22 20 73 | 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 |avio," s|he said |
|00004920| 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 | 2c 20 72 65 66 75 73 69 |steadily|, refusi|
|00004930| 6e 67 20 74 6f 0a 73 75 | 72 72 65 6e 64 65 72 20 |ng to.su|rrender |
|00004940| 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 | 68 65 65 72 79 20 73 65 |to his c|heery se|
|00004950| 6c 66 2d 61 73 73 65 72 | 74 69 76 65 6e 65 73 73 |lf-asser|tiveness|
|00004960| 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 6f | 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 |. "I co|uldn't b|
|00004970| 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 79 | 6f 75 27 64 0a 63 68 61 |elieve y|ou'd.cha|
|00004980| 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 69 | 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 22 |nged thi|s much."|
|00004990| 0a 09 48 65 20 72 61 69 | 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 |..He rai|sed one |
|000049a0| 66 69 6e 65 6c 79 20 73 | 63 75 6c 70 74 65 64 20 |finely s|culpted |
|000049b0| 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e | 20 20 22 43 68 61 6e 67 |eyebrow.| "Chang|
|000049c0| 65 64 2c 20 4d 69 73 73 | 20 4c 65 69 73 74 72 61 |ed, Miss| Leistra|
|000049d0| 3f 20 20 49 0a 63 61 6e | 27 74 20 69 6d 61 67 69 |? I.can|'t imagi|
|000049e0| 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 | 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 |ne what |you're t|
|000049f0| 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 | 62 6f 75 74 2e 22 20 20 |alking a|bout." |
|00004a00| 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 | 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 |Before s|he could|
|00004a10| 20 73 61 79 20 61 6e 79 | 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 0a 68 | say any|thing,.h|
|00004a20| 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 | 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 |e glance|d over h|
|00004a30| 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c | 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 |er shoul|der and |
|00004a40| 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 | 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 66 |sighed. | "I'm af|
|00004a50| 72 61 69 64 20 77 65 27 | 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 |raid we'|re about|
|00004a60| 20 74 6f 20 62 65 0a 69 | 6e 74 65 72 72 75 70 74 | to be.i|nterrupt|
|00004a70| 65 64 2e 22 0a 09 41 20 | 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 68 |ed."..A |rather h|
|00004a80| 61 72 72 69 65 64 2d 6c | 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 |arried-l|ooking y|
|00004a90| 6f 75 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e | 20 77 69 74 68 20 5f 54 |oung man| with _T|
|00004aa0| 68 65 20 57 65 61 6c 74 | 68 20 6f 66 20 4e 61 74 |he Wealt|h of Nat|
|00004ab0| 69 6f 6e 73 5f 0a 74 75 | 63 6b 65 64 20 75 6e 64 |ions_.tu|cked und|
|00004ac0| 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 | 72 6d 20 70 75 73 68 65 |er one a|rm pushe|
|00004ad0| 64 20 62 72 75 73 71 75 | 65 6c 79 20 70 61 73 74 |d brusqu|ely past|
|00004ae0| 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 | 61 63 63 6f 73 74 20 74 | her to |accost t|
|00004af0| 68 65 69 72 20 68 6f 73 | 74 2e 0a 22 46 6f 72 74 |heir hos|t.."Fort|
|00004b00| 79 2d 74 77 6f 20 79 65 | 61 72 73 2c 20 4d 69 73 |y-two ye|ars, Mis|
|00004b10| 74 65 72 20 64 27 41 72 | 72 69 6c 6c 6f 21 20 20 |ter d'Ar|rillo! |
|00004b20| 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e | 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 |That's n|ot what |
|00004b30| 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 | 62 75 74 20 73 75 72 65 |I said, |but sure|
|00004b40| 6c 79 0a 79 6f 75 20 6d | 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 |ly.you m|ust see |
|00004b50| 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 | 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6e |that the|re are n|
|00004b60| 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 | 65 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 |o more r|eserves |
|00004b70| 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 74 | 68 65 20 6f 6e 65 73 20 |except t|he ones |
|00004b80| 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 | 79 65 74 0a 74 6f 20 66 |we have |yet.to f|
|00004b90| 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 | 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 |ind and |the Midd|
|00004ba0| 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 20 | 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 6c |le East |cannot l|
|00004bb0| 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 74 61 | 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 72 |ong reta|in its r|
|00004bc0| 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 63 65 | 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 |elevance| under t|
|00004bd0| 68 65 73 65 0a 63 69 72 | 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 |hese.cir|cumstanc|
|00004be0| 65 73 2e 22 0a 09 46 6c | 61 76 69 6f 20 70 61 75 |es."..Fl|avio pau|
|00004bf0| 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 | 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6d |sed for |a long m|
|00004c00| 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 | 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 63 |oment, s|taring c|
|00004c10| 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 61 74 | 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 |oldly at| the int|
|00004c20| 72 75 64 65 72 2c 0a 61 | 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 |ruder,.a|nd opene|
|00004c30| 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f | 75 74 68 20 61 73 20 69 |d his mo|uth as i|
|00004c40| 66 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 | 61 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 |f to spe|ak. The|
|00004c50| 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6d 69 | 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6c 6d |n he smi|led, alm|
|00004c60| 6f 73 74 20 62 65 61 74 | 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 |ost beat|ifically|
|00004c70| 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 73 68 | 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 |,.and sh|rugged. |
|00004c80| 20 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 | 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 | "Whatev|er you s|
|00004c90| 61 79 2c 20 50 72 61 73 | 65 6e 6a 69 74 2e 20 20 |ay, Pras|enjit. |
|00004ca0| 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 | 69 67 68 74 2c 20 49 27 |You're r|ight, I'|
|00004cb0| 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 22 | 0a 09 54 68 65 20 79 6f |m sure."|..The yo|
|00004cc0| 75 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 20 | 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 |ung man |paused, |
|00004cd0| 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 62 | 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 42 |taken ab|ack. "B|
|00004ce0| 75 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c | 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 |ut surel|y some d|
|00004cf0| 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 | 65 20 6f 66 0a 6f 70 69 |ifferenc|e of.opi|
|00004d00| 6e 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 | 6a 75 73 74 69 66 69 65 |nion is |justifie|
|00004d10| 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 | 74 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 |d given |the admi|
|00004d20| 74 74 65 64 6c 79 20 75 | 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 |ttedly u|nlikely |
|00004d30| 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f | 20 49 20 6f 75 74 6c 69 |scenario| I outli|
|00004d40| 6e 65 2e 2e 2e 0a 49 20 | 6d 65 61 6e 2e 2e 2e 20 |ne....I |mean... |
|00004d50| 20 68 61 76 65 20 79 6f | 75 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 | have yo|u no res|
|00004d60| 70 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 | 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f |pect for| these o|
|00004d70| 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 73 3f | 22 0a 09 22 48 61 76 65 |pinions?|".."Have|
|00004d80| 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 | 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 | you any| respect|
|00004d90| 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 | 6d 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 | for the|m?" The|
|00004da0| 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f | 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 | questio|n was li|
|00004db0| 67 68 74 20 62 75 74 20 | 68 61 72 64 2e 0a 22 49 |ght but |hard.."I|
|00004dc0| 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 | 64 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 |f you di|d, I'm s|
|00004dd0| 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 27 | 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 |ure you'|d offer |
|00004de0| 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 72 | 74 20 6f 66 20 66 61 63 |some sor|t of fac|
|00004df0| 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 6f | 6c 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 |ts to bo|lster th|
|00004e00| 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 0a 6e | 6f 74 20 77 61 73 74 65 |em and.n|ot waste|
|00004e10| 20 6f 75 72 20 74 69 6d | 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 | our tim|e with s|
|00004e20| 6f 70 68 6f 6d 6f 72 69 | 63 20 70 72 61 74 74 6c |ophomori|c prattl|
|00004e30| 65 2e 20 20 42 75 74 20 | 66 72 61 6e 6b 6c 79 2c |e. But |frankly,|
|00004e40| 20 49 27 76 65 20 6d 6f | 72 65 20 6f 72 0a 6c 65 | I've mo|re or.le|
|00004e50| 73 73 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 | 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 |ss lost |interest|
|00004e60| 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 | 73 2e 20 20 41 73 20 79 | in fact|s. As y|
|00004e70| 6f 75 20 73 61 79 2c 20 | 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c |ou say, |it's all|
|00004e80| 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 | 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f | a quest|ion of o|
|00004e90| 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 2d 2d | 0a 73 6f 20 62 79 20 61 |pinion--|.so by a|
|00004ea0| 6c 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 | 2c 20 6c 65 74 20 75 73 |ll means|, let us|
|00004eb0| 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 | 74 68 65 20 41 72 61 62 | ignore |the Arab|
|00004ec0| 73 2e 22 0a 09 22 46 6c | 61 76 69 6f 21 22 20 20 |s.".."Fl|avio!" |
|00004ed0| 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 63 | 6b 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f |The shoc|k was to|
|00004ee0| 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 | 6f 20 62 65 61 72 2e 20 |o much t|o bear. |
|00004ef0| 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 | 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 | Andrea |brushed |
|00004f00| 70 61 73 74 0a 74 68 65 | 20 64 75 6d 62 66 6f 75 |past.the| dumbfou|
|00004f10| 6e 64 65 64 20 6e 65 6f | 2d 4d 61 6c 74 68 75 73 |nded neo|-Malthus|
|00004f20| 69 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 | 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 |ian and |grabbed |
|00004f30| 74 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c | 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 79 |the smil|ing lawy|
|00004f40| 65 72 27 73 20 73 68 6f | 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 0a 22 |er's sho|ulder.."|
|00004f50| 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 | 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 |You don'|t mean t|
|00004f60| 68 61 74 2e 20 20 54 65 | 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f |hat. Te|ll me yo|
|00004f70| 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 | 6d 65 61 6e 20 77 68 61 |u don't |mean wha|
|00004f80| 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 | 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 2d |t you ju|st said-|
|00004f90| 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a | 66 61 63 74 20 61 6e 64 |- about.|fact and|
|00004fa0| 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e | 2e 20 20 54 65 6c 6c 20 | opinion|. Tell |
|00004fb0| 6d 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 | 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 |me they |haven't |
|00004fc0| 67 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e | 22 0a 09 46 6c 61 76 69 |got you.|"..Flavi|
|00004fd0| 6f 20 64 72 65 77 20 68 | 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 |o drew h|er away |
|00004fe0| 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 | 20 63 72 6f 77 64 2c 20 |from the| crowd, |
|00004ff0| 61 6e 20 69 72 6f 6e 69 | 63 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 |an ironi|c smile |
|00005000| 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 0a 70 | 65 72 66 65 63 74 6c 79 |on his.p|erfectly|
|00005010| 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 72 74 | 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 66 61 | proport|ioned fa|
|00005020| 63 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 | 6e 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f |ce. Whe|n none o|
|00005030| 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 | 68 65 72 20 67 75 65 73 |f the ot|her gues|
|00005040| 74 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 | 20 68 65 61 72 0a 74 68 |ts could| hear.th|
|00005050| 65 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 73 | 70 6f 6b 65 20 67 65 6e |em, he s|poke gen|
|00005060| 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 | 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 |tly. "W|hat's th|
|00005070| 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c | 20 4d 69 73 73 20 4c 65 |e point,| Miss Le|
|00005080| 69 73 74 72 61 3f 20 20 | 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 |istra? |They cla|
|00005090| 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 0a | 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 69 |im that.|their ri|
|000050a0| 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 61 | 6e 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f |ght to a|n opinio|
|000050b0| 6e 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 | 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 |n is mor|e import|
|000050c0| 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 6e | 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 |ant than| their r|
|000050d0| 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 | 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f |esponsib|ility to|
|000050e0| 0a 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e | 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 |.live in| the rea|
|000050f0| 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e | 20 20 57 68 6f 20 61 6d |l world.| Who am|
|00005100| 20 49 20 74 6f 20 64 69 | 73 69 6c 6c 75 73 69 6f | I to di|sillusio|
|00005110| 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 | 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 |n them? | It's a |
|00005120| 66 75 74 69 6c 65 20 61 | 6e 64 0a 74 68 61 6e 6b |futile a|nd.thank|
|00005130| 6c 65 73 73 20 6a 6f 62 | 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 |less job|, and I |
|00005140| 73 65 65 20 6e 6f 20 72 | 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f |see no r|eason to|
|00005150| 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 | 20 69 74 20 66 75 72 74 | attempt| it furt|
|00005160| 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 09 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 73 74 |her."..A|ndrea st|
|00005170| 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 | 63 6b 2c 20 66 65 65 6c |epped ba|ck, feel|
|00005180| 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 | 74 68 69 6e 67 20 64 69 |ing some|thing di|
|00005190| 65 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e | 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 |e within| her. "|
|000051a0| 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 | 65 0a 79 6f 75 27 72 65 |I suppos|e.you're|
|000051b0| 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 | 4d 72 2e 20 64 27 41 72 | right, |Mr. d'Ar|
|000051c0| 72 69 6c 6c 6f 2c 22 20 | 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 |rillo," |she said|
|000051d0| 20 64 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 | 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 | dully. | "What's|
|000051e0| 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 | 6e 74 3f 20 20 57 68 6f | the poi|nt? Who|
|000051f0| 20 69 73 0a 4a 6f 68 6e | 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 3f 22 | is.John| Novak?"|
|00005200| 0a 09 41 20 73 74 72 61 | 6e 67 65 20 67 6c 69 6e |..A stra|nge glin|
|00005210| 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 69 | 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 |t came i|nto her |
|00005220| 68 6f 73 74 27 73 20 65 | 79 65 2e 20 20 22 54 68 |host's e|ye. "Th|
|00005230| 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 76 | 69 6c 65 20 70 68 72 61 |at's a v|ile phra|
|00005240| 73 65 2e 22 0a 09 22 49 | 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2d 2d 20 |se.".."I| know-- |
|00005250| 49 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 | 69 74 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 |I hated |it too, |
|00005260| 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 | 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d |from the| first m|
|00005270| 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 20 | 68 65 61 72 64 20 69 74 |oment I |heard it|
|00005280| 2e 22 0a 53 75 64 64 65 | 6e 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 |.".Sudde|nly, she|
|00005290| 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 73 | 68 61 6d 65 64 2e 20 20 | felt as|hamed. |
|000052a0| 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 | 73 74 2e 2e 2e 20 69 74 |"It's ju|st... it|
|000052b0| 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 | 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 |'s on ev|eryone's|
|000052c0| 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 | 74 68 65 73 65 0a 64 61 | tongue |these.da|
|000052d0| 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 | 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 |ys. I g|uess it'|
|000052e0| 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 67 | 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 09 |s contag|ious."..|
|000052f0| 22 42 75 74 20 79 6f 75 | 20 73 65 65 2c 20 49 20 |"But you| see, I |
|00005300| 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 | 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e |know the| answer.|
|00005310| 22 20 20 46 6c 61 76 69 | 6f 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 |" Flavi|o smiled|
|00005320| 2c 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 | 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 |, a bit |sadly. |
|00005330| 22 49 0a 6b 6e 6f 77 20 | 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 |"I.know |exactly |
|00005340| 77 68 6f 20 4a 6f 68 6e | 20 4e 6f 76 61 6b 20 69 |who John| Novak i|
|00005350| 73 2e 22 0a 09 46 6f 72 | 20 6e 6f 20 61 63 63 6f |s."..For| no acco|
|00005360| 75 6e 74 61 62 6c 65 20 | 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2c 20 |untable |reason, |
|00005370| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 |Andrea f|elt her |
|00005380| 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 65 | 61 70 2e 20 20 22 59 6f |heart le|ap. "Yo|
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|000053a0| 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 27 73 | 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 |Flavio's| eyes we|
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|00005400| 67 72 61 64 65 20 74 68 | 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 |grade th|e final |
|00005410| 65 78 61 6d 73 20 6f 66 | 20 74 77 6f 20 68 75 6e |exams of| two hun|
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|00005440| 64 75 61 74 65 73 2e 20 | 20 4e 6f 74 20 61 20 73 |duates. | Not a s|
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|00005470| 61 20 43 2b 2c 20 62 75 | 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 |a C+, bu|t the st|
|00005480| 75 64 65 6e 74 73 20 70 | 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 64 |udents p|rotested|
|00005490| 20 6c 6f 75 64 6c 79 2c | 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 69 | loudly,| demandi|
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|000054b0| 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 79 | 0a 63 75 72 76 65 2c 20 | them by|.curve, |
|000054c0| 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 | 61 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 |and thre|atened h|
|000054d0| 69 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 |im with |the loss|
|000054e0| 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 | 6a 6f 62 20 69 66 20 68 | of his |job if h|
|000054f0| 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 | 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 79 2e |e didn't| comply.|
|00005500| 0a 53 6f 20 68 65 20 74 | 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 |.So he t|ook all |
|00005510| 74 68 65 20 65 78 61 6d | 73 2c 20 70 75 62 6c 69 |the exam|s, publi|
|00005520| 63 6c 79 20 6d 61 72 6b | 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 |cly mark|ed them |
|00005530| 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 | 20 61 6e 20 46 2c 20 74 |all with| an F, t|
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|00005550| 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 71 | 75 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 |in the q|uad and |
|00005560| 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 74 | 68 65 20 61 73 68 65 73 |shoved t|he ashes|
|00005570| 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 69 | 73 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e | down hi|s studen|
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|00005600| 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 41 | 6e 64 72 65 61 20 77 61 |"Oh." A|ndrea wa|
|00005610| 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 | 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 62 |s a bit |taken ab|
|00005620| 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 57 | 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 |ack. "W|ell. Th|
|00005630| 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 | 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 0a |at wasn'|t quite.|
|00005640| 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 64 | 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 |what I'd| expecte|
|00005650| 64 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 | 70 6f 73 65 2e 22 0a 09 |d, I sup|pose."..|
|00005660| 54 68 65 20 79 6f 75 6e | 67 20 64 27 41 72 72 69 |The youn|g d'Arri|
|00005670| 6c 6c 6f 27 73 20 67 61 | 7a 65 20 61 62 72 75 70 |llo's ga|ze abrup|
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|000056c0| 61 70 68 6f 72 2c 20 6d | 79 20 64 65 61 72 20 4d |aphor, m|y dear M|
|000056d0| 73 2e 20 4c 65 69 73 74 | 72 61 2e 20 20 49 27 6c |s. Leist|ra. I'l|
|000056e0| 6c 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 | 6e 0a 69 74 20 74 6f 20 |l explai|n.it to |
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|00005710| 6f 77 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 | 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 22 |ow, good| night."|
|00005720| 0a 09 48 65 20 72 65 61 | 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 64 20 |..He rea|lly did |
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|00005740| 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 6b | 62 6f 6e 65 73 2e 20 20 |ed cheek|bones. |
|00005750| 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 | 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 |Her eyes| were sa|
|00005760| 64 20 61 73 0a 73 68 65 | 20 62 6f 77 65 64 20 62 |d as.she| bowed b|
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|00005780| 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c | 20 46 6c 61 76 69 6f 2e |t, then,| Flavio.|
|00005790| 22 0a 0a 2a 2a 2a 2a 0a | 0a 5b 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e |"..****.|.[contin|
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|000057c0| 6e 2e 72 6f 62 65 72 74 | 2d 6a 6f 72 64 61 6e 20 |n.robert|-jordan |
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|00005c20| 48 61 77 6b 20 77 61 73 | 20 72 69 67 68 74 3b 20 |Hawk was| right; |
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|00005c90| 73 75 72 72 65 6e 64 65 | 72 2c 0a 73 68 65 20 63 |surrende|r,.she c|
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|00005cc0| 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 69 | 6e 2c 20 77 68 61 74 20 | given i|n, what |
|00005cd0| 68 6f 70 65 20 77 61 73 | 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 66 |hope was| there f|
|00005ce0| 6f 72 0a 61 6e 79 6f 6e | 65 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 0a |or.anyon|e else?.|
|00005cf0| 09 43 68 65 63 6b 69 6e | 67 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e |.Checkin|g her in|
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|00005d30| 3e 20 57 65 6c 63 6f 6d | 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 |> Welcom|e back, |
|00005d40| 64 65 61 72 69 65 21 20 | 20 43 61 72 65 20 66 6f |dearie! | Care fo|
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|00005d60| 73 3f 0a 3e 09 09 09 09 | 41 75 6e 74 69 65 20 45 |s?.>....|Auntie E|
|00005d70| 72 69 63 61 0a 0a 09 57 | 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 |rica...W|ithin th|
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|00005da0| 45 72 69 63 61 27 73 20 | 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 45 |Erica's |door. E|
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|00005e30| 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 | 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 09 22 |in the b|ack.".."|
|00005e40| 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 | 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 |How did |you know|
|00005e50| 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 68 | 65 72 65 20 61 67 61 69 | I was h|ere agai|
|00005e60| 6e 3f 22 20 20 41 6e 64 | 72 65 61 20 66 6f 75 6e |n?" And|rea foun|
|00005e70| 64 20 61 20 68 6f 6f 6b | 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 0a |d a hook| on the.|
|00005e80| 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 | 20 62 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 |door and| boldly |
|00005e90| 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 | 20 63 6f 61 74 20 66 72 |hung her| coat fr|
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|00006020| 63 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 | 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 61 |c and ex|tended a|
|00006030| 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 | 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 | comfort|ing hand|
|00006040| 2e 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 | 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 |.."Why d|on't you|
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|00006060| 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 64 | 65 61 72 3f 22 0a 09 43 | down, d|ear?"..C|
|00006070| 6f 6c 64 6c 79 20 69 67 | 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 |oldly ig|noring t|
|00006080| 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 66 | 65 72 65 64 20 61 69 64 |he proff|ered aid|
|00006090| 2c 20 41 6e 64 72 65 61 | 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 |, Andrea| walked |
|000060a0| 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 | 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 |through |the door|
|000060b0| 2c 0a 68 65 61 64 20 68 | 65 6c 64 20 68 69 67 68 |,.head h|eld high|
|000060c0| 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f | 74 68 65 72 20 77 6f 6d |. The o|ther wom|
|000060d0| 61 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 | 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c |an stepp|ed back,|
|000060e0| 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 | 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 | retract|ing her |
|000060f0| 68 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 | 68 0a 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 |hand wit|h.gentle|
|00006100| 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 | 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 2e 20 | underst|anding. |
|00006110| 20 54 6f 67 65 74 68 65 | 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 | Togethe|r they s|
|00006120| 74 72 6f 64 65 20 74 68 | 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 |trode th|rough th|
|00006130| 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2c | 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a |e house,| to the.|
|00006140| 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 72 6f | 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 |small ro|om where|
|00006150| 20 41 75 6e 74 20 45 72 | 69 63 61 20 53 61 64 75 | Aunt Er|ica Sadu|
|00006160| 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e | 20 65 72 75 64 69 74 65 |n and an| erudite|
|00006170| 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 | 20 4e 6f 72 77 65 67 69 |-looking| Norwegi|
|00006180| 61 6e 2d 0a 41 6d 65 72 | 69 63 61 6e 20 77 65 72 |an-.Amer|ican wer|
|00006190| 65 20 73 69 70 70 69 6e | 67 20 74 65 61 2e 20 0a |e sippin|g tea. .|
|000061a0| 09 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2c | 20 45 72 69 63 61 2e 20 |."Hello,| Erica. |
|000061b0| 20 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 | 52 69 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 | Hello, |Rick." |
|000061c0| 41 6e 64 72 65 61 20 66 | 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 |Andrea f|orced he|
|000061d0| 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 | 74 6f 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 |r voice |to sound|
|000061e0| 0a 6e 65 75 74 72 61 6c | 2e 0a 09 42 6f 74 68 20 |.neutral|...Both |
|000061f0| 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 | 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 |met her |eyes and|
|00006200| 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 | 74 65 6c 79 20 6b 6e 65 | immedia|tely kne|
|00006210| 77 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 | 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f |w better| than to|
|00006220| 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 61 | 6e 79 0a 73 79 6d 70 61 | offer a|ny.sympa|
|00006230| 74 68 79 2e 20 20 41 75 | 6e 74 69 65 20 45 72 69 |thy. Au|ntie Eri|
|00006240| 63 61 20 77 61 73 20 74 | 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 |ca was t|he first|
|00006250| 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 | 6b 2c 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 | to spea|k, maint|
|00006260| 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 | 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 |aining a| tone of|
|00006270| 0a 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 20 | 61 62 73 74 72 61 63 74 |.polite |abstract|
|00006280| 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 | 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 41 6e |ion. "H|ello, An|
|00006290| 64 72 65 61 20 64 65 61 | 72 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 63 |drea dea|r. Welc|
|000062a0| 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b | 20 74 6f 20 72 61 73 66 |ome back| to rasf|
|000062b0| 77 72 2d 6a 2e 20 20 4e | 6f 74 0a 74 68 61 74 20 |wr-j. N|ot.that |
|000062c0| 77 65 27 76 65 20 6d 69 | 73 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 |we've mi|ssed you|
|000062d0| 2d 2d 20 74 68 61 74 20 | 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d |-- that |would im|
|000062e0| 70 6c 79 20 77 65 20 6e | 65 65 64 65 64 20 79 6f |ply we n|eeded yo|
|000062f0| 75 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d | 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6f |u in som|e way, o|
|00006300| 72 0a 6c 61 63 6b 65 64 | 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 |r.lacked| somethi|
|00006310| 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f | 75 72 20 61 62 73 65 6e |ng in yo|ur absen|
|00006320| 63 65 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 | 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c |ce-- but| it's al|
|00006330| 77 61 79 73 20 61 20 70 | 6c 65 61 73 75 72 65 20 |ways a p|leasure |
|00006340| 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 0a | 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 |to have.|somewhat|
|00006350| 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 | 67 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f | intelli|gent peo|
|00006360| 70 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 | 6e 64 2e 20 20 43 61 72 |ple arou|nd. Car|
|00006370| 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 69 | 6c 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 |e for mi|lk with |
|00006380| 79 6f 75 72 20 74 65 61 | 3f 22 0a 09 22 4e 6f 20 |your tea|?".."No |
|00006390| 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f | 75 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 73 |thank yo|u. No s|
|000063a0| 75 67 61 72 20 65 69 74 | 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 53 |ugar eit|her." S|
|000063b0| 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 | 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f |he waite|d for so|
|000063c0| 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f | 20 6f 66 66 65 72 0a 61 |meone to| offer.a|
|000063d0| 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 | 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 | chair, |and sat |
|000063e0| 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 | 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f |with a f|eeling o|
|000063f0| 66 20 74 72 69 75 6d 70 | 68 20 77 68 65 6e 20 6e |f triump|h when n|
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