1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: Chapter ten, Mannie, it couldn't have been much past ten 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: in the morning when they arrived at the City of Wheels, 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: Topaz and Skullfucker. Mike had helped him and Reggie into 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: an open topped red buggy they had apparently driven out 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: to the ambush. The old vehicle beat the hell out 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: of walking, but it had not been built with comfort 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: in mind. Every bump and jostle on the road sent 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: Payne shooting up from Mannie's fucked knee to what felt 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: like a small forest of tears in his shoulder muscles. 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Mike the driver kept the vehicle at a conspicuously slow pace, 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: but he heard all the same. The ten minute drive 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: was agony, but then rolling Fuck came into view and 13 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: all thought of pain faded from Mannie's mind. The main 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: structure of the city had once been a colossal Bagger 15 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: two eighty eight strip mining machine. It looked like a 16 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: sideways skyscraper sized spider made of scaffolding and cranes. At 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: the center of the vehicle was a four story building 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: on a massive set of treads. Four spindley towers rose 19 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: up out of that main structure and in a giant 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 1: half circle in the air around it. A gantryway the 21 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: length of a football field connected the spindles to a 22 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: mighty steel arm at the end of the structure. It 23 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: had once housed an enormous wheel bucket mining apparatus, but 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: that had been replaced by a queer cube structure. It 25 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: sat high in the air and gleamed in a shade 26 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: of black that made Manny's stomach hurt. The overwhelming motif 27 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: of Rolling Fuck was after market. The spindle towers had 28 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: originally looked like scaffolding and mainly existed to offset the 29 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: weight of that Titanic arm, but they'd been built on 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: and added to with a series of tree house looking contraptions. 31 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: He saw people, hundreds of them, climbing from door to 32 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: door via a series of ladders, ropes, and what looked 33 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: like vines. Below the main body of the city, a 34 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: series of vehicles surrounded the vast rolling building that made 35 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: up the city's foundation. Many saw long haul trucks, deuce 36 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: and a half army transports, and at least one old 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: Abrams tank. Hundreds of sets of solar panels glistened under 38 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: the Texas sun. God Reggie whispered ah temporarily overwhelming his pain, 39 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: but didn't realize any of the road tribes with this lodge. 40 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: There were easily two or three thousand people visible in 41 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: the sprawling camp. Mike glanced back at Reggie a somewhat 42 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: stern look on his face. This is not a tribe, 43 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: it's a city, oh, said Reggie. That's just how a 44 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: lot of people back home refer to I get it, 45 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: Mike interrupted, But there are actual indigenous tribes out on 46 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: these roads, Comanche bands and the Panhandle roving up from 47 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: New Mexico to Colorado. We've got defensive and trade agreements 48 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 1: with a few different groups of Apache out west. The 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: Navajo have the only stable territory south of Mormon Land 50 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: and north of Albuquerque. Mike glanced back at the road 51 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: long enough to steer around a pothole and turn them 52 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: in the direction of what looked to be a greater station. 53 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: Then he continued, anyway, there are tribes out west, but 54 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: we're a city. The fact that we don't hold any 55 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: land or control any territory is important to most of 56 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: the folks here. Think of it as a kind of 57 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: rebellion from people born to a settler culture. Ah. Reggie nodded, 58 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: that's absolutely fascinating. I have so much I want to 59 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: ask in good time, Buddy Mike said, Let's get y'all 60 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: settled in first. Manny knew that every foreign correspondent he'd 61 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: never met would kill to have the opportunity Reggie had 62 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 1: just lucked into the road. People were a popular topic 63 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: in world media. He supposed that wasn't surprising. They all 64 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: led visually spectacular lives. Rolling Fuck was just the grandest 65 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: variation on a theme. It was famous across the West 66 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: for having the highest proportion of post human citizens. Something 67 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: like a third of them were chromed enough to no 68 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: longer fit into the Homo sapiens category. Manny had never 69 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: heard of them traveling this close to Dallas before they 70 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: were banned in all of the Republic cities. People with 71 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: military grade mods were uncontrollable. That and cultural PTSD from 72 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: the war made them pariahs pretty much everywhere. The main 73 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: structure of the city was encircled by a ring of 74 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: thirty ish large and heavily customed to r vs. A 75 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: few dozen smaller vehicles, many of them bearing sundry armaments, 76 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: were scattered throughout the campground. The only thing that resembled 77 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: a checkpoint was a tidy, little one room trailer with 78 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: a bright welcome sign above it. Mike steered them into 79 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: park in front of it. The guard who approached them 80 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: was a shirtless, dreadlocked person with dusky brown skin and 81 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: an automatic shotgun to pass kissed them. Then the guard 82 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: greeted Manny and Reggie, Welcome to Rolling Fuck. Rules are 83 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: don't start, no ship, won't be no ship cool. Manny nodded, 84 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: so did the brit All right, they said, enjoy. Manny 85 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: was a little shocked by how loud it was. Several 86 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: of the camps appeared to have been built mainly out 87 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: of speakers. There were a handful of open air bars 88 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: outside the main structure of the city, heterogeneous mixes of 89 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: teaky torches, brightly colored silk shade structures, and scrap metal 90 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: bar tables. Despite the early hour, quite a few people 91 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: were drinking and dancing. Manny noted more p what we're 92 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: doing the former than the latter. Most people were either 93 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: naked or wearing a few pieces of light ornamental clothing. 94 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: Nearly everyone carried a firearm. He looked over to the 95 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: journalist and noticed that Reggie was blinking rapidly and working 96 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: his jaw. His arm was still dislocated, and it seemed 97 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: to pain him as much as Manny was pained by 98 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: his leg. Manny sense of professional pride lit up again, 99 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: and he leaned forward to speak to their hosts. I 100 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: don't mean to seem ungrateful, he said, but is there 101 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: some way we could see a medic? We're pretty shredded 102 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: back here? Yeah? Yeah, skullfucker Mike grunted topes, and I 103 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 1: got some meta ship in our trailer. We'll get you. 104 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: Just suck it up a bit longer, and oh. He 105 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: popped open the glove compartment. Inside it, Manny could see 106 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: a handgun, a battered can of Miller High Life, and 107 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: a large bottle of pills. Skullfucker Mike passed the bottle 108 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: back Boxy printed him out myself like two weeks back. 109 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: Probably shouldn't take more than two or three unless you've 110 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: got a robust, fucking Narco suite in your brain. Meat. 111 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: Manny took two, Reggie took four. Mike added the little 112 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: buggy through the organized chaos of the encampment and towards 113 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: a large silver air stream parked about a dozen feet 114 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: away from what Manny guessed was the backside of rolling fuck. 115 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: He guessed that because someone had bolted a twenty foot 116 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: tall license plate to that end of the city. It 117 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: said honk please in glowing white letters. The Bucky slowed 118 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: to a stop and skullfucker Mike hopped out. He put 119 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: out a hand as Manny and Reggie started to stand, 120 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: Hold up, guys, y'all are just covered in pieces of 121 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: dead people. He went up to the air stream and 122 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: came out moments later with one armful of towels and 123 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: a large jug of hot, soapy water. Manny and Reggie 124 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: washed their hands and faces, pulled off their shirts, and 125 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: scrubbed the blood from their chests. The brit looked over 126 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: at Topaz when it came time to take off his pants. Um, 127 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: he said. When she made no motion to hide her face, 128 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: she asked, would you mind turning around? Oh? She seemed surprised. 129 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: Her face went a bit red, but not with embarrassment 130 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: at their impending nudity. I didn't even think about it. 131 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: Do people come from the world? She turned. Reggie and 132 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: Manny scrubbed most of the blood off their aching wounded bodies. 133 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: Skullfucker Mike brought them a pair of fluffy white robes, 134 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: buddled them up and ushered them inside the air stream. 135 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: It was tame by comparison to the grand weird wheeled 136 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: city above them. The gleaming silver vehicle had been modified 137 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: with a roof top greenhouse that was filled with pot 138 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: plants and some squat bush with red berries Manny had 139 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: never seen before. The back had been extended, and the 140 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: stainless steel replaced by an enormous bay window. As he entered, 141 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: Mannie was hit by a wave of cold air and 142 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: the strong smell of marijuana. Roughly half the trailer's interior 143 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: was taken up by a huge popissan bed covered in 144 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: velvet blankets and dozens of furs. A circular table started 145 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: right where the bed ended, and the rest of the 146 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: trailer was a large glass walled combination bathroom bar. There 147 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: did not appear to be a kitchen. Manny's leg had 148 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: started throbbing as soon as he stood up to eggit 149 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: the buggy, so he dropped into the first seat he 150 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: could find, a little padded bench by the table opposite 151 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: the bed. Reggie sat down on the other side of 152 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: the table table. Manny noticed that he looked nervous, sweaty. 153 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: The journalist's hand shook just a little. His skin seemed pale. 154 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: Topaz came in after them, followed by skullfucker Mike. She 155 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: hopped over the table with a grace of a deer 156 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: jumping a fence, and in one smooth motion, spun round 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: and settled into a cross legged sit on the plush mattress. 158 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: Schoolfucker Mike walked up to the bar and pulled down 159 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: a large white bottle with the words Rufies written across 160 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: it in black marker. He took two pint glasses, filled 161 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: them three quarters up with the white liquid, and then 162 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: added a splash of cranberry juice to each glass. Scully 163 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: Topaz sounded reproachful. Mike stiffened, then dropped his shoulders in contrition. 164 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: He turned towards them, Sorry, guys, my manners are burnt out. 165 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: Would either of you like a G teeny? Neither of 166 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: them answered for a long second. It was Reggie who 167 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: finally responded, gee teeny. Mike laughed, Yeah, that's what Topes 168 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: and I call G HB and cranberry juice really hits 169 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: the spot after shooting something, I can make you, guys, 170 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: some human sized portions. No thanks, Manny and Reggie said 171 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: at the exact same time. The big man handed one 172 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: glass to Topaz and belted down the other himself. The 173 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: woman took two gulps to finish hers. She handed her 174 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:14,719 Speaker 1: cup to Mike and he walked back to the bar 175 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: to fill both glasses again. Reggie looked shocked. I'm fairly 176 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: certain you just ingested enough GHB to kill two normal humans. 177 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: Tope has shrugged. Let's say what we've had so far 178 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: as only or so of a fatal dose for some 179 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: one your size and metabolism and mods Scully is better 180 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: at drugging people, though, skullfucker. Mike finished pouring two more 181 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: g tenys and nodded, She's about right. The brit drinks more, 182 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 1: though I'd say he could take a heavier dose than 183 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: what what was your name again, Manny? Manny gasped out, 184 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: and would it be too much to ask for like 185 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,119 Speaker 1: some medical care? We are both in tremendous pain. Topaz 186 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: and skullfucker Mike looked ashamed. Geez, Topaz side fucking hell, guys, 187 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 1: We're so sorry, added Mike. Then he grabbed a long 188 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: knife from his belt and gouged it deep into his wrist. 189 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: Reggie damn near jumped out of his chair. Manny kept still. 190 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: The pills had started to help, but he was in 191 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: too much pain to react to anything with Gusto. It's 192 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: all right, Topez assured them, and the kind of voice 193 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: Manny remembered his mom using on their cat when it 194 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: was sick. I know it looks weird, but he's helping, helping, 195 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: Reggie gasped as Skullfucker Mike positioned his open wound over 196 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: a shot glass, jammed the knife and slightly to the left, 197 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: and let a thick strand of his syrupy red blood 198 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: fill the glass. He filled a second one in the 199 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: same manner. Then he pulled the knife free, set it 200 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: on the bar counter, and handed the shots to Manny 201 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: and Reggie. By the time he reached them, many noticed 202 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: that the big man's wounded arm had already scabbed over. 203 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: Don't worry, skullfucker, Mike smiled. My blood's pretty sterile, and 204 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: it's full of good robots. They'll take care of you. 205 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 1: Manny took the shot right away. He knew it was 206 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: working when he felt pain from the wounds in his 207 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: back again. That meant Mike's blood had fixed whatever god 208 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: awful thing had happened to his knee well enough that 209 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: it barely throbbed. Mertus Santa, the curse slipped out. Man. 210 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: He felt better, great, in fact, but kind of queasy. 211 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: At the same time, he felt somehow in motion, almost 212 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: as if his whole body were shifting and burbling, like 213 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: the contents of his gut. The fixer glanced at his 214 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: journalist and nodded to the empty shot. It's a it's good. 215 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: Reggie looked terrified. His knuckles were white. The journalist gripped 216 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: the edges of the table like he was holding on 217 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: for dear life. I am fine, he gritted out, A 218 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: damn it, Scully. Topaz said, you've scared the poor kid 219 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: with your damned wizard blood shit, said skullfucker Mike. Sorry, 220 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: we were trying real hard not to trip your head. 221 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: Topaz nodded. The gesture looked a little telegraphed, as if 222 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,239 Speaker 1: she were out of practice with making it stock Sapiens 223 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: like yourself don't always do well around folks like me 224 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: and Mike. We moved too fast, or we've got too 225 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: many weird extra parts. I don't know. It's probably different 226 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: for every one of us, but your brains definitely read 227 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: monster when you see us. Oh, Reggie croaked, You're not 228 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: mom sters. You've both been very polite private hoasts ah, 229 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: said Mike. It's got nothing to do with how nice 230 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: we are, aren't. It's how your brain reacts to the 231 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: way we look and move. It's because we're fucking monsters, Scully, 232 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: She fixed her eyes on the journalist. I don't mean 233 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: that in a bad sense, but like we've taken a 234 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: big damn step out of anything near to nature. Nothing 235 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: is supposed to be the way we are. It's normal 236 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: for humans to feel weird when they're around us for 237 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: the first time. Oh well, said Reggie. Maybe don't slice 238 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: your wrists open in front of company in the future, 239 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: or at least do it behind a screen. Mike nodded 240 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: as if that had been a profound suggestion. Then he 241 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: handed Topaz her second g teny and belted down his own. 242 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: They were both visibly intoxicated now. Topas his eyes looked unfocused, 243 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: and she sprawled out backwards on the bed and cuddled 244 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: absent mindedly with one of the fur blankets on her bed. 245 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: Mike drifted off to tapping his foot to a beat 246 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: Manny couldn't hear, and drumming his fingers on the bar 247 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: top to what looked like a completely different beat. The 248 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: journalist stared at his bloodshot. It looked like it had 249 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: begun to clot. A thin rind had formed across the top. 250 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: Reggie was an obvious pain, but he was just as 251 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: obviously too squeamish to drink a stranger's blood. Manny felt 252 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: a lot better, though it was weird how fast Mike's 253 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: blood had worked. He found himself worrying at the scab 254 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: for a gash he'd received on his forearm, only for 255 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: the scab to fall away and reveal clean new skin underneath. 256 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: An hour ago it had been a bleeding wound. It 257 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: really works, man, he told Reggie. Just trust me, choke 258 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: it down. Reggie didn't look convinced. Think about what a 259 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: story this will make for everyone back home, Manny said, 260 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: you escaped to kill your drone and drink the blood 261 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: of an immortal. You'll dine out on that for years. 262 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: Reggie still looked pale and rather disgusted, but he put 263 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: his fingers around the shot, closed his eyes, and then 264 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: gulped it down. Many heard him wretch once and then twice. 265 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: Tears beat it at the corners of the journalist's eye, 266 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: but then he swallowed and slumped back in his chair. Schofucker. 267 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: Mike was hard at work mixing up another batch of cocktails. 268 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: These ones seemed to just be normal gin and tonics, 269 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: four of them. There's not anything fucking crazy about those drinks, 270 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: is there, Manny asked. Mike shrugged two shots of gin, 271 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: splash a tonic. Nothing you normies can't handle. Neither of 272 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: us asked for a drink. Manny said, yeah. Topez yawned 273 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: from her place stretched out on the bed. But he 274 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: almost died today. You should always have a drink after 275 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: almost dying. Listen to Topez, said Mike, as he passed 276 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: out the drinks. She's almost died more than almost anyone 277 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: I know. Reggie came alive as his hands touched the drink. 278 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: He gulped it down faster than either of the post humans. 279 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: Manny took a couple of slight SIPs of his own. 280 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: It was heinously strong before he sat the glass down 281 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: and asked, polite as he could manage, So why are 282 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: we here and why were you there? That kind of 283 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: luck doesn't just happen, and now we're just all gonna 284 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: what hang out in your trailer getting lit? Would that 285 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: really be so bad, asked Mike Scully. Topaz said, in 286 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: a warning tone, He's right, and it'd be rude of 287 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: us to pretend we've got altruistic motives here. She looked 288 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: Manny in his eyes. It was a little unnerving because 289 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: her left eye was a notably different shade of brown 290 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: than her right one, and then there were her metal fangs. 291 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: Look kid, she said. We got a duty to help 292 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: strangers in immediate need. It's rule number one for all 293 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: the monsters here. But we were out there because we 294 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: were looking for someone like you, a fixer. He felt 295 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: dumb as soon as he asked to her credit, Topas 296 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: just smiled. A citizen of the Republic of Texas, one 297 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: who's not afraid of dangerous work, Mike added, and judging 298 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: by the day you've had, I'm I guess you've a 299 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: certain familiarity with danger. What about me, Reggie asked. Mike 300 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: put a hand on the journalist's shoulder. Man He guessed 301 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: it was meant as a calming gesture, but the Brits 302 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: still flinched at the contact. Don't worry, Guy said, Mike. 303 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: We'll get you back to Austin or wherever's got an 304 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: airport that'll fly at home. Your friends the only one 305 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: who's help we need. What help do you need? Manny asked. 306 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: The best person to take that question is up in 307 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: the city. Topaz said, you guys up for a bit 308 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: of a trick men. He stood halfway to test the 309 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: strength of his knee. It felt good as good as new. 310 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: In fact, his back and shoulders, which had been peppered 311 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: with shrapnel, just itched now. He didn't even feel particularly tired. 312 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: On the other side of the table, Reggie looked to 313 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: be doing well too. He worked his formerly dislocated shoulder 314 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: in its socket and gave Manny the thumbs up. Apparently so, 315 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: he said. Rolling Fuck had not been built by the 316 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: mines or for the comfort of mortal men. That much 317 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: was obvious. The second the elevator doors closed, the narrow 318 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: metal box launched up with the force of a rocket. 319 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: It climbed six stories in the space of about a second. 320 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: By the time it stopped and the doors slid open 321 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: with a pleasant ding, Manny and Reggie were both on 322 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: the edge of vomiting. A ship topes, Mike said, you 323 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: forgot to drop the speed back down to normal. Topez 324 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: looked genuinely distraught. Fuck me with a splintery dick, she cursed. 325 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, guys. This is the nearest elevator to our trailer. 326 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: It doesn't normally take humans. The city's got an elevator 327 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: under each spindle, Mike explained. There's also a big lift 328 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: under the main roller that's what we call the big 329 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: building on treads in the middle, and another behind the 330 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: rear roller. Humans tend to stick to the rollers. It 331 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: gets weird up in the spindles. Weird, Reggie asked, weird skullfucker. 332 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: Mike leaned down and hissed the word into the journalist's ear. 333 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: He winked at the brit in a way that somehow 334 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: suggested both coitus and violence. Topaz punched Mike's shoulder and annoyance. 335 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: She gestured for Manny and Reggie to follow her down 336 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,959 Speaker 1: the narrow metal hallway. We live life on a different 337 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: scale than the rest of you, she said. We see 338 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: more colors, hear more sounds. Most of us have at 339 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: least a thousand times as many nerve endings, and no 340 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: fear of mortality to draw the line between pleasure and pain. 341 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: The kind of environments we enjoy can be intense to 342 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: unmodified humans. Right as she said humans, the group emerged 343 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: from the hallway into a wide, open gantry way. There 344 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: were no there was no ceiling above them now, and 345 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 1: a huge rectangular metal frame loomed over them, connected to 346 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 1: the other spindles of the vehicle city via thick metal 347 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: tension wire. The surface of the spindles had been covered 348 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: in colorful bits of metal and wood, welded and nailed 349 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: into dozens of crude structures that stippled up the iron 350 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: frames like technicolor mushrooms. Everything was covered in lights and 351 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: screens and buzzed with the hum of a thousand speakers. 352 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: Reggie's pace slowed, the journalist's jaw was slack. He mouthed 353 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: what must have been a curse, and then asked their guides, 354 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: Is it okay if I record Skullfucker might grinned and 355 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: clapped him on the shoulder. Of course, it's okay. If 356 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: you ask nice, I might even let you film me 357 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: in one of the fondel boats. What the hell is 358 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: a Reggie started to ask, but then the first fondel 359 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: boat came into view. At least many assumed that's what 360 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: it was. A very large lifeboat hung off the gantry 361 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: as if it was the deck of a cruise ship. 362 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: The interior of the boat was all soft cushions, pillows, blankets, 363 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,959 Speaker 1: and about two dozen writhing naked people. Some of them 364 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: were surely having sex, but it was hard to tell 365 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: exactly what was going on. Manny saw several tails curled 366 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: around limbs or jerking spasmodically in the air. His eyes 367 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: were drawn to one mechanical limb that looked like a 368 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: large metal chicken's foot. He watched it kick repeatedly into 369 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: the chest of a young woman. She cried with joy 370 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 1: at every impact. The whole mass of coiled post humanity 371 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: gleamed wet in the morning light, coated with a mixture 372 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: of blood and what looked like motor oil. Christ Reggie whispered. 373 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: Mannie was at a loss for words. He felt a 374 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: bit nauseous. He never considered himself a prude, but something 375 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,479 Speaker 1: about what was going on in the fondel boat just 376 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: seemed wrong in the physic sense, not the moral sense. 377 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: Probably best not to watch, said Topaz. It can make 378 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: humans sick er. Yeah, Reggie coughed. Is that a common sight? 379 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: Mike shrugged, It's not uncommon. We try to keep stuff 380 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: like that on the outside spindles away from the rollers 381 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: as a courtesy. They walked on, passed the boat and 382 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: threw another covered section of the gantry way, surrounded by 383 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: a half dozen little buildings that looked like shops. Many 384 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: saw fruits and vegetables hanging in one, an assortment of 385 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: labeled decks and other electronic googas on tables in another. 386 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: It had the look of a Middle Eastern bazaar, but 387 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: with no shopkeepers present. Y'all want food. Topaz stopped and 388 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: gestured at the shop filled with produce. Manny held up 389 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: his left hand, which had his cash ship, and planted 390 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: in it. I've got Republic of Texas currency and some 391 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: Californian crypto, if you guys take either. Mike and Topaz 392 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 1: both laughed, and then Mike grabbed an apple and tossed 393 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: it Manny's way. Many caught the fruit, although it was 394 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: a near thing. We don't use money, not within the city, skullfucker, 395 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: Mike explained. We do sell a lot of what we 396 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: grow for foreign money's but that's mostly used to book 397 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: bands or buy stuff. We can make. Nothing costs anything here, 398 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: not to us and not to our guests. Y'all are guests. 399 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: Topaz clarified. Manny hadn't really had time to think about 400 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: his stomach in the hour since their explosion he wake 401 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: up call. They'd been on the run and endanger the 402 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: old time, but now that he had a moment to think, 403 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: he felt a mild gnawing sensation in his gut. The 404 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 1: journalist must have been in the same way, because he 405 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: immediately set to piling fruit, bags of nuts, and a 406 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 1: paper sack of vat grown jerky into his arms. Manny 407 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: went for a bag of shelled pistachios himself, and the 408 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: two munch to Skullfucker. Mike and Topaz led them across 409 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 1: the spindles gantry and down towards the main roller. The 410 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: main roller had once held the control center and engine 411 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: room for the gargantuan strip mining vehicle and its conversion 412 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: to rolling fuck. Two new levels built from a half 413 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: dozen sorely abused airstream trailers had been added to the 414 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: top four of the spindles, met on the roller's roof, 415 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: which also hosted a lively cafe. There were around a 416 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: dozen patrons drinking at the circular center bar, and perhaps 417 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: a dozen lounging on cushions around low slung Moroccan style tables. 418 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,199 Speaker 1: Most of the customers looked human to Manny's eye. They 419 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: wore an assortment of colorful, loose fitting garments, sarongs, long skirts, 420 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: and caffeia's. Most of it looked handmade, although Manny was 421 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: hardly an expert on such things. As they walked past 422 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: the bar, Mike scooped up four pint glasses of dark 423 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: brown lagger. He kept them in one hand. As he 424 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: opened a metal hatch on the rooftop, Manny could see 425 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: a ladder that led down into semi darkness. Mike nodded 426 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 1: towards the ladder. Down you go. Beer. At the bottom, 427 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: Manny and Reggie descended into a luxurious conference room. It 428 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: was candlelit, dim enough to seem intimate, but bright enough 429 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: for human navigation. A single redwood table dominated the space. 430 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: It was twelve feet in diameter and low to the ground, 431 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: like all the tables he'd seen in the cafe. Cushions 432 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: and other colorful, lumpy, soft things surrounded it. One man 433 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: and one woman were already seated cross legged around the table. 434 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: Manny was shocked to see they were both quite old. 435 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: The man was heavy set, with a lot of curly 436 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: black hair piled atop his head and around his craggy 437 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: lined face. Startlingly bright blue eyes stood out over the 438 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: flickering candle light. He wore an old fashioned suit with 439 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: a necktie and everything. It was the kind of suit 440 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: a banker might have worn fifty years ago. If the 441 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: old movies man he'd watched were close to act, You're it. 442 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: He looked to be in his sixties, while the woman 443 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: next to him seemed considerably older. Her face was so 444 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: lying and her skin so thin she almost looked fake, 445 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: like some kind of animatronic creation. No one looked that 446 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: old anymore. The Austin Autonomous Region wasn't wealthy, but basic 447 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: juven treatments were cheap and heavily subsidized. Even the poor 448 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: could afford to combat the worst side effects of aging. 449 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: Things were different in the Republic of Texas proper, but 450 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: none of the poor there lived long enough to look 451 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: like this woman. She wore high waisted purple yoga pants 452 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: and a very tight T shirt with a faded print 453 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: of a five fingered bart Simpson flipping the bird. Her 454 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: hair was completely white and bound behind her in a 455 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,479 Speaker 1: tight ponytail. She smiled at Manny when he looked at her. 456 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: The old woman's teeth were as white as her hair. 457 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: Hello there, young men, she said, in a voice that 458 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: evoked the platonic ideal of a grandma. Hello, Topaz, Mike schofucker, Mike, 459 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: ma'am skullfucker. Mike correct at her. As he came down 460 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: the ladder. He handed Manny and Topaz each a beer 461 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: and then found a cushion large and plush enough for 462 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: his bulk and dropped down. Manny took his cue and 463 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: found a seat. Reggie grabbed the cushion next to him. 464 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,879 Speaker 1: Topaz leaned against the back wall but stood as she 465 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: introduced them. This is Mannie Sanchez, he's a fixer from 466 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: the Austin region. And this is Reggie Sullivan. He works 467 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: for the BBC. Manny Reggie, this is Nanna Yazzie, she's 468 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: our eldest. And the less old fart is Donnie Ferris. 469 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: He's a guest and a brit too. Wait the Donald Ferris, 470 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: Reggie asked, the guy who made visions of blood. Yes, 471 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 1: said the old man. Did you actually watch it or 472 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: have you just seen a handful of ten second clips 473 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: in your media feed over the years? Both actually, Reggie 474 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: replied Donald grunted. Many had heard of Visions of Blood 475 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: back in school. It was a documentary released a year 476 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: before the Second American Civil War caught fire. It followed 477 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,719 Speaker 1: two Navajo Special Forces veterans as they organized a massive 478 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: direct action campaign that started in Santa Fe but spread 479 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: throughout the Southwest. His textbook had called it one of 480 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: the major seeds of the Old u s as elapse. 481 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 1: Reggie was clearly starstruck by Donald. Manny was more curious 482 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: about the old woman. No matter where he turned his head, 483 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: he couldn't quite seem to escape her eyes. She had 484 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 1: this strange way of staring at him without really staring. 485 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: It made Mannie feel somehow naked and vaguely comforted all 486 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 1: at the same time. Nana meant grandma, which made sense, 487 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: but he wasn't sure what the rest of her title 488 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: meant exactly. Are you in charge, then, he asked her. 489 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: In response, everyone but Reggie chuckled. No one is in 490 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: charge here, said Nana Yazzi. That will become increasingly clear 491 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: the longer you stay. I'm the eldest, which means exactly 492 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: what it sounds like. I'm old as dirt, and I'm 493 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 1: older than any of the other dirt around here too. 494 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: She eyed Donald Ferris and continued, when I give advice 495 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: or have an opinion, some people listen. This is not 496 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: a state, and I am not a head of state, 497 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: but sometimes I play one for the folks outside or 498 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: in policy, diplomatic relations, that sort of thing, mainly because 499 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: no one else can be arst by the way. She added, 500 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: Welcome to the city of Wheels or she frowned a 501 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: little rolling fuck. I argued rather strenuously against that name, 502 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: but I was outvoted. I like the name, said skullfucker Mike. 503 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: It's fun city. Shouldn't take themselves too seriously. That's when 504 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: the problems start. So why are we here, Manny asked. 505 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm grateful, and all we're grateful. He nodded 506 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: to Reggie. But I know y'all aren't just being nice. 507 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: Mike said, you had dangerous work. Skullfucker Mike. Skullfucker Mike 508 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 1: insisted again. Nanni Yazzi ignored him and replied to Manny, 509 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: we do have a job for you, Miho. You are 510 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: not required to take it, though if you say no, 511 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: we'll still return you when your journalist friend to Austin, 512 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,719 Speaker 1: and if you do help us, you'll be compensated. So 513 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: what is it you need? The old woman snapped her fingers. 514 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: A projection screen hummed to life on the wall of 515 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: the room that faced Manny and Reggie. It displayed three faces, 516 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 1: two women and one man. They all looked young, although 517 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 1: that meant very little. One woman was white and kept 518 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: her hair in a bright purple mohawk. The other was 519 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: as bald as skullfucker mic, with round cheeks, green scowling eyes, 520 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: and skin a little darker than Manny's. The young man 521 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: was very pale. He appeared to be of Chinese descent, 522 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: and his exposed skin was covered in scarified symbols from 523 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: a language Mannie didn't recognize. From left to right, Marigold Fulton, 524 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 1: Tooley Black Elk and Rick Hartford. They're all citizens and 525 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: they act as our negotiators when the city is in 526 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 1: the southwest. Two days ago they arrived in Plaino to 527 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: negotiate a trade deal with the Republic of Texas. We 528 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: have quite a lot of processed coffee, and we were 529 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: hoping to trade it for She trailed off a bit 530 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: and her cheeks reddened. Manny thought she looked embarrassed for snacks. Snacks, 531 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: Reggie asked, yes, she nodded. The Frido Le Corporation is, 532 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: or at least was still headquartered in Plaino. The junk 533 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: food they produces harder to find out west. We mostly 534 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: wanted Cheeto's. Topez licked her lips. For whatever reason, the 535 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: imitations we print out here just don't cut it. We 536 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 1: barred everywhere we go, Nana Yazzi continued, and since posthumans 537 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,640 Speaker 1: aren't welcome and most populated areas, our negotiators are all 538 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 1: pretty close to baseline. They traveled unarmed into Plaino. The 539 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: city fell six hours after they arrived. Reggie grunted. Two 540 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: days ago, people were telling me the kingdom was on 541 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: its last legs. Yes, Nana Yazi said, it would appear 542 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: they are not quite the paper tiger everyone expected. We're 543 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: still scrambling for good data, but it's safe to say 544 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: they've pilfered the majority of the Republic's heavy equipment and 545 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: converted as much as half their standing army. At the 546 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: same time, Plaino fell, dozens of Christian militias across Texas 547 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: launched fresh offensives. Galveston is still holding, but that could 548 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: change at any moment. Houston blew their levies and flooded 549 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: half the city in order to save the other half. 550 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: But that also means the Kingdom can move on to 551 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: Austin without worrying about their flank. They pushed the stf 552 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: entirely out of Siada de Muerta, so there's nothing left 553 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: between them and your home. Donald Ferris spoke up grave 554 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: and gravelly. We know that the offensives started with dozens 555 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: of autonomous car bombings at checkpoints and fortifications. We don't 556 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: know how they managed it. What's important now, Nana Yazzi continued, 557 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: is that three of our people have been captured. Manny 558 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: fought down a spike of anger. With all due respect, Nana, 559 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: he said, in a deliberately neutral tone. They just conquered 560 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: the city I was born in. I've probably lost a 561 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: dozen friends in These god fascists are only what two 562 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: hours away from Austin ninety minutes. Donald said, they seem 563 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: to be a holding position now, digesting them meal, but 564 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: they'll be on the march soon. I expect the vaunted 565 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: Austin defense forces will be able to hold them off 566 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: for oh a good four or five days, maybe a week. 567 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: Unless he glanced over to Nanni Yazzi, she nodded in agreement. Unless, asked, Manny, 568 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: Unless Nana agreed, unless our militia comes to their aid. 569 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 1: We're not in the habit of fighting other people's battles, 570 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: but we're also not in the habit of letting regressives win. 571 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: I asked for a vote. Once we learned our people 572 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: had been captured. Our fighters, most of them agreed to 573 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: stop the Heavenly Kingdom's advance and give your people time 574 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: to coordinate a proper defense. But there's a catch, ah, 575 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: Manny was starting to get it. If you step in, 576 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: they'll kill your people. Nani Yazzi nodded, yes, and none 577 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: of our fighters are willing to risk that. Well, I'm 578 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: not sure what you want from me, Manny said, I'm 579 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: a talker, not a fighter. A talker is exactly what 580 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: we need, Immanuel Nani Yazzi assured him. Many winced in 581 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: irritation at the use of his full name, Manny. He insisted, 582 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: in the same tone, skullfucker might get used a little 583 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: earlier as you say, what kind of talking do you 584 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: want me to do? He asked. I'm sure you've all 585 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: got better negotiators than me, perhaps, but you've got something 586 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: none of our people possess. You're a citizen of the Republic, 587 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: and the Heavenly Kingdom has just issued a general amnesty 588 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: for all citizens willing to repent and declare allegiance. You 589 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: know how the people in this region talk. You won't 590 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 1: arouse suspicion if you enter. So you want me to 591 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:00,080 Speaker 1: find your people and then what break them out? I 592 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: can barely shoot straight. I don't think I'm the man 593 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: to execute a prison break. They've got plenty of fight 594 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: a son, Donald Ferris growled. But if two peas and 595 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: schofucker Mike han' keyed you in on this, the chrome 596 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:15,719 Speaker 1: don't exactly good at blending. He's right, Nana smiled sadly. 597 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: We'll pair you with someone who could do the violence, 598 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: but we'll need you to get them close enough to 599 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: find our people in effect an escape. You'll need to 600 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: help our person maintain their cover. Many felt a powerful 601 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: anger boil up inside his belly. So basically, you and 602 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: your militia are holding my homeland hostage, and if I 603 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: don't risk my coulo to save your negotiators, Austin dies, Miho, 604 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: it's nothing as sinister as that our people want to fight. 605 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: But but Donald picked up, we're all family here, and 606 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: family comes before corrupt, fractious foreign militia's and equally corrupt 607 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: fractures foreign cities. Old told I'd say it's a good 608 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: deal for you. What was your plan before this meeting, 609 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: Nana Yazi asked. Many opened his mouth to respond, but 610 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: realized he did have a clear answer. He hadn't exactly 611 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 1: had much time to puzzle that out, and any time 612 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: he'd tried, he thought about Oscar, his missing stringer, and 613 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: that made him want to panic. He's dead or worse, 614 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: and there's nothing you can do about it. What you 615 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: can do is by a fucking plane ticket and begged 616 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: the Germans to take you in as a refugee. That 617 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: seemed like a good plan, or at least the best 618 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 1: of a bunch of shitty options. But a scornful voice 619 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 1: rose up from the dark recesses of his semi withered conscience. 620 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: What about his wife? Are you just gonna leave her broken? Widowed? 621 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: You have to at least give her something. I'm flying 622 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 1: to Germany, he said, or maybe France, wherever I can 623 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: get the cheapest ticket, either in Austin or El Paso. 624 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: How much money do you have saved up, son, Donald 625 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 1: Ferris asked, they won't issue a long term visa unless 626 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: you've got at least sixty grand Californian Manny hit a 627 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 1: little more than half that less once he paid off 628 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: Oscar's wife widow. Fuck man, you sent him out there. 629 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: The uncertainty and despair must have been obvious on his face. 630 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: Both Donald Ferris and Nana Yazzi gave him the sort 631 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 1: of looks normally reserved for wounded kittens. I may be 632 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: able to help, the old brit said, I do have 633 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: some connections in Germany, people who might sponsor your visa 634 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 1: if you help. The thought of a visa, the mental 635 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: image of seeing one stamped in his otherwise worthless passport 636 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: was intoxicating Mann. He'd never traveled outside of Texas, but 637 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: he had kept at all times an active passport. It 638 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: had been the physical anchor for his wildest dreams, and 639 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: now Donald Ferris was telling him he could make something 640 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: as magical as a visa real Manny almost swooned. Do 641 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 1: I have to decide now? He asked, careful to keep 642 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: his tone as calm as he could manage. Of course not, 643 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: Nana Yazi said, that would be terribly unfair. You should 644 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: get some sleep and then a proper breakfast. There's certainly 645 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: enough time for that. And you look exhausted he was. 646 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: Now that the excitement of the morning had faded, he 647 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: felt gripped by a bone deep weariness that was not 648 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 1: at all helped by the dim lighting and comfortable cushions 649 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: around him. Reggie should have been even more tired but 650 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: with the jet lag, but the journalist looked hurt, jittery, 651 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 1: despite the bags under his eyes. If it's possible, Reggie said, 652 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: and you have one, I could really use a high 653 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 1: speed data connection. My deck's been spotty since the shooting started. 654 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:11,440 Speaker 1: I've got a lot to upload to the company's servers, 655 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 1: and I should probably check in with my editors, let 656 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: them know I'm not dead, etcetera, etcetera. That won't be 657 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 1: a problem. She stood, and her knees popped audibly with 658 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: the movement. She grunted, and then continued. Topaz and Mike 659 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: Schofucker Mike. We'll show you to a nice, relatively sound 660 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: proof room. They'll hope you get onto our data tower. 661 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 1: To Reggie, thank you. She looked at Manny again and 662 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: fixed him with her sad grandmother's smile. We'll give you 663 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 1: as much time to decide as we can. We expect 664 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 1: the kingdom to hold for a few days, but we 665 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: didn't expect them to launch an attack like this. So 666 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,760 Speaker 1: take that with a grain of salt. I'm texting Nana, 667 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:54,240 Speaker 1: Manny said, I take everything with salt. Hey, everybody, Robert 668 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 1: Evans here. I hope you just enjoyed the chapter you 669 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: listen to. I hope you enjoyed the chapters to come. 670 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: If you would like to need the text version of 671 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: this book either on the web or on your e 672 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: reader as an e pub, you can find those on 673 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,840 Speaker 1: the website a t r book dot com. So again, 674 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 1: the free ad free e pub and the text of 675 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 1: every chapter will be on a t r book dot com. 676 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: Thanks