The Virtual Dead byE.R. Mason doc

daeD lautriV ehT yb nosaM .R.E 4991 thgirypoC devreseR sthgiR llA tcarahc llA ro gnivil snosrep ot ecnalbmeser yna dna ,lanoitcif era koob siht ni sre .latnedicnioc ylerup si daed ogarD ehT ot secnerefer llA naitnalS ro sretsaM n I laer yna fo evitatneserper yaw on ni era dna sretcarahc lanoitcif tneserper seirtsudn dlrow ,sessenisub .snoitazinagro ro ,sbulc ,spuorg 1 RETPAHC etirovaf s’namkraM ttocS fo eno ton saw seidob rof gniviD eht ta retaw nepo eht ssorca dezag eH .sgniht gnipeerc llab egnaro gib yssalg eht delppir ezeerb adirolF gnissap A .noziroh tserof eht revo pu ekal - ta gniregnil gof fo reyal gnidaf eht nihtiw slriws desuac dna pot th erew eh gnihsiw flesmih dnuof namkraM .ecafrus s’retaw e .esle erehwemos gnileenK wkwa yldra rebbur eht fo mottob kcalb ,elbixelf eht no eros sih otni kcab eceiphtuom rotaluger wen eht demrow eh ,taob tfel sih htiW .knat munimula hserf eht morf ria tset dekcus dna htuom parw kcalb eht delggiw eh dnah - ecaf tew sih revo nwod ksam dnuora ek dna otni dehsalps dna drawkcab revo dehsup eh sa pirg eltneg a tp pees retaw looC .ekal eht sih fo dnabtsiaw eht otni de tsuahxE .tius edis eht dezeeuqs dna ecafrus eht ot esor eh sa ylduol delgrug selbbub .ebut renni s’tfar eht fo tcetorp eht hguorht derats eH eht fo pot talf eht ssorca snel evi eht gnola stniop tnereffid ta gnihcraes erew srevid rehtO .retaw mlac morf yawa derednaw dah nam dlo ehT .gniht a dnuof dah eno oN .yaw s’enoyreve oT .thgin lla gnissim neeb dah dna ylimaf sih fo erac eht l dah eh yamsid egdirb nedoow tniauq eht no gnidnats nees neeb tsa .erem yrtnuoc euqserutcip siht fo noitrop worran eht dessorc taht eht ,aitnemed fo stuob ereves dereffus netfo nam ylredle eht ecniS .mih dnif thgim deedni yeht deraef srevid t htaeneb kcab deppils namkraM ylenol eht ot ecafrus eh eht otni nwod dehsup dna revo dehcra eH .woleb yal taht ssenkrad detimil eht fo tsurtsid ni dehctertstuo dnah eno gnipeek ,nwonknu aera eht ni tnew sekal sa peed sa saw ekal ehT .ytilibisiv — ni teef ytfif secalp emos — rebma eht dna -c naht erom elttil dedivorp retaw derolo wt .ytilibisiv fo teef eerht ro o fo dlrow gnitivninu ,ykoops a saw tI .ssenitpme diuqil uof dnah siH eH .mottob ytlis eht dn morf sregnif sih werdhtiw thgirpu na otni ylsselthgiew flesmih devaw dna duolc yddum eht isop niht htiw detaroced ,dum yltsom ,talf saw mottob ekal ehT .noit ot thgil elttil dedeen taht yteirav eht ;thgieh gniyrav fo sdeew nworb ni sevid yrevocer snopaew ehT .thguoht eh ,naelc s’ti tsael tA .evivrus o sretnec lairtsudni eht raen sretaw detullop eht deliaf reven ytic eht f tsop yhtgnel eht retfa neve ,ytrid gnileef mih evael ot - .rewohs evid nerrab eht no noitisop sih dnuora pu dewollib tlis fo duolc A dna ssapmoc tsirw suonimul sih morf gniraeb a koot eH .mottob yranigami eht gnola yldnilb ffo dehsup ,retemirep hcraes sih fo enil eb ot ydob a erew ereht fI .mih dniheb niart gnisir a ni selbbub gniliart .ronoh eht evah dluow esle enoemos yllufepoh ,dnuof sih morf skcik tfoS mottob talf eht gnola mih devom snif tekcor t drawrof dehsup eH .lwarc wols a ta ,ssenkrad yratilos eht hguorh mottob ekal eht nehW .dexif ssapmoc llams sih no eldeen eht gnipeek eht kcab dedaeh dna dnuora detsiwt eh ,drawpu ylprahs esir ot nageb eht ot ylthgils enil a gnilevart ,emoc dah eh yaw lanigiro sih fo thgir .esruoc dna hcraeS .gniniart noitacifitrec ekilnu os erew sevid yrevocer eco eht no snoisrucxe retaw nepo ehT ,citoxe dna lufroloc neeb dah na deggaj ,retaw raelc latsyrc sdeb feer secalp ,rednow dna efil htiw dellif b thgim taht stnemnorivne yranigami eht ot ylno elbarapmoc dnuof e .tenalp rehtona no stnecsed gniltrats ;osla sevid evac retaw hserf neeb dah erehT ,retaw dloc ,raelc yletalucammi htiw dellif slennut kcor htooms otni emit ni kcab neve ,reverof no tnew dna ffo dehcnarb taht slennut deredduhs eH .sraey fo sdnasuoht gnivid evac tahw fo thguoht eht ta ;dedaerd enoyreve taht snoitarepo yrevocer tnasaelpnu ;emoceb dah eht gnirevocer fo esoprup eht rof ylsserpxe tuo deirrac sriaffa nmelos l dah ohw sselerac .sevil rieht dna yaw rieht tso ot demees reven erehT gatrohs a eb llew sa tsuj evres dluow yromem tlef ohw srerutnevda fo e yllausu erew secneuqesnoc eht dna ,enilefil epor nolyn elpmis a sa ria fo tuo nur dah ohw etarepsed yltneloiv eht fo senecs euqsetorg .emoh kcab yaw rieht dnif ot gniyrt gniniarts ,no dehsup namkraM ,krum eht ni daeha sucof ot ssenitpme eht ni nworb fo sduolc esuac ot ton sa os yletaciled gnivom ylerar ,ssenllits dna ecnelis lauteprep fo ecalp a saw sihT .mih dnuora fo hcraes ni esoht yb ylno neht dna ,evoba morf sneila yb detpurretni sgniht yldlrow .neddih ro tsol dezilaer ylneddus dna ,tsev ycnayoub gnitfihs sih no deggut eH ngierof ,xelpmoc eht naht railimaf erom syaw emos ni saw ecalp siht saw efiL .ecaep dekcal dlrow ecafrus ehT .evoba yal taht dnal fleS .noitcelfer renni rof emit oN .noititepmoc - lla saw noitacifitarg - ssenkrad eneres eht ot naht taht ot regnarts a erom tlef eH .tnatropmi anihC fo sniatnuom peets ehT .dnoyeb gof yretaw eht ni demool taht erehT .aciremA fo seitic citsilairetam eht htiw nommoc ni elttil dah llup ot ereh skaY on erew llorcs on ;swolp eht - ot sleehw reyarp dekcap dicnar on ;nips - enots on dna ;sgnivrac rettub gnillems - ot selpmet dum ni ereh tuB .oaT eht fo luos eht rof tcepser sselfles ni ot drawrof lwarc ,ria dna retaw fo enil gniremmihs ,talf eht woleb dlrow tnelis eht sih fo mlaer tneicna eht ni kcab saw eh enigami tsomla dluoc namkraM emoh eb ot ecafrus ot ylno dah eh taht dna ,gnignirbpu yranidroartxe .niaga ecno kcab mih thguorb yvaeh oot gnieb fo melborp elttil gniggan ehT ewef deriuqer sevid retaw hserF .ytilaer ot ,kcalb eht no stnemges r ycnayoub fo kcal ehT .ynam oot deirrac won eh dna ,tleb thgiew nolyn enif eht htiw tcatnoc nif lanoisacco gnisuac ,nwod mih gniggard tpek eH .ytilibisiv roop ydaerla eht gnihsinimid yltaerg saw tI .kcum fo reyal a evom ot deunitnoc tpmetta na ni hcraes sih desimorpmoc tub ,daeh sih ni sllec rebbur llams eht otni gnittej saw wolf ria on yhw ees ot .tsev ycnayoub daeh dedooh sih ,evlav esaeler yksep eht ta nwod gnikooL us tsniaga depmub ylnedd gnihtemos , os dna ygnops gnihtem .detcepxenu .ees ot kcab flesmih devaw eh ,deltratS fo tcejbo dirroh eht tem seye sih sa ria fo tsrub a pu dehguoc eH .noisluper dibrom ni ti morf kcab yllacitnarf dekcik eh dna ,ecnerefretni uc ni orf dna ot ylsseltsil deyaws mrof ekiltsohg ehT yb detaerc tnerr sih i a ,seidde eht ni yllacitonpyh devaw riah ednolb yklis gnoL .noisurtn ,llams ehT .ti htiw devom taht nwog gniwolf niht eht ot tnemelpmoc klahc ,ytterp - seye eulb llud ,ediw htiw mih ta kcab derats ecaf etihw elefil ,ylepahs ehT .reh dnif ot mih denokceb taht dna detfird erugif ss a ekil tsiaw eht morf drawtuo nezorf smra sti ,noisnepsus ni denrut elkna tfel eht ot ylthgit deit epor nolyn wolley ehT .anirellab gnilriwt ni deirub flah yal taht kcolb tnemec eht ot ti derohcna dna desiurb dah .dum tfos eht q cinaP nameltneg ylredle na ton saw sihT .terger ot denrut ylkciu ,namow gnuoy lufituaeb a rehtar tub ,ega fo ecneuqesnoc yb tsol etanutrofnu fo esac a ton saw siht dnA .dlo sraey ytriht ton ylbaborp dnuof dah traeh a rof eloh kcalb a htiw enoemoS .ecnatsmucric c os neeb evah dluoc erised ylhtrae tahW .redrum ni ecneinevno ?tsixe ssensseltraeh hcus dluoc woH ?gnidnilb neeb dah eh taht ecnelis wolloh eht morf dezilaer eh ,dennutS sih morf ria werd dna xaler ot flesmih decrof eH .htaerb sih gnidloh hsur selbbuB .knat dna ,rotaluger eht fo stnev tsuahxe eht morf de .drawpu decar sti morf rekram egdew eht werd eh ,yawa gnikool tuohtiW otni ylpeed ekats citsalp eht evord eH .tleb thgiew sih no tnemhcatta drawpu debbob tI .youb rekram der eht detalfni dna roolf yddum eht a sih denruter eH .ti htiw droc nolyn niht a gniward ,liart elbbub eht pot rof kcab eb ll’I .mih erofeb detiaw taht ydal ylevol eht ot noitnetta lluf .esimorp I .reh ot thguoht eh ,uoy dna ecafrus eht rof gnibbarg hguoht sa daehrevo dehcaer eH smih delleporp ot ton gniyrt ,revlis fo teknalb eht drawot drawpu fle tuo ekorb eH .ecalp gnitser s’ydal eht fo ssenllits eht rehtruf brutsid llew eht kcab dehsup ,shtped yretaw eht evoba - dna ,ksam delaes .enilerohs eht dehcraes raropmet a pu tes dah llednaW feihC eciloP snoitarepo fo esab y puorg egral A .erohs ybraen a no elbat cincip dlo ,derehtaew a dnuora kcalb meht fo emos ,ereht derehtag won erew nem fo - .srevid detius emoc ot mih ta gnivaw erew wef a dna ,ecafrus mih nees dah yehT na doots dnuorgkcab eht nI .erohsa ylredle - ohw ,nameltneg gnikool .sevitaler deveiler fo puorg llams a yb detrofmoc gnieb saw der llams eht tsap dekcik dna kcab sih ot no dellor namkraM ot hguoht sa deyaws dna detsiwt tI .erohs ot yaw eht no rekram ecilop hC .woleb detiaw enoemos mih dnimer rehto eno dna llednaW fei teem ot emac dna noitarbelec elbat cincip eht morf yawa ekorb reciffo dna snif kcalb gnol eht ffo dellup eH .retaw wollahs dehcaer eh sa mih eht no meht nioj ot swollahs yddum eht hguorht yldrawkwa deppets .erohs yssarg nod er'eW“ eht yawa depiw eh sa ,feihC eht dellac ”,ttocS ,ereh e a ni peelsa llef nam dlo ehT“ .worb delknirw sih no taews fo sdaeb ”.’nihton rof ’nihcraes neeb ev’eW .rac s’robhgien namkraM sa tiustew kcalb keels eht nwod demaerts retaW s dna nem owt eht dehcaorppa .meht ediseb deppot “ noitnevnoc siht gnirud tuo ’nipleh uoy etaicerppa erus I tuB .gniht dias ”,ereh yako s’gnihtyreve ,ni ffuts ruoy gnirb og ,ti s’taht oS rettam feihC eht - fo - .yltcaf eht detalsnart dah yeht ,kaeps dluoc namkraM erofeb nevE sserpxe rebmos oN“ .ecaf sih no noi feihC ".yako ton s’gnihtyreve , 2 retpahC kcalb eht no drawrof ylthgil dehsup llirreM aseR tnegA laredeF ytic eht drawot nwod III worrA repiP keels eht gnison ,ekoy lortnoc hgiH .ssenkrad yarg eht fo roolf eht detaroced taht sthgil edutitla yna delaecnoc dna noom lluf eht morf thgil etihw eht dekcolb tsacrevo ytirucsbo fo duorhs ehT .yks thgin eht erahs ot hguone thgirb srats a rof edam dah .thgilf thgin luftnevenu ,llud eht ta wodniw tolipoc eht fo tuo ylevissap dezag srevarT eteP fo ezam eht decal taht smaeb thgildaeh etihw ynit dna roloc fo sdnalsi eit delknirw sih denesool eH .woleb teef dnasuoht thgie syawdaor enol eht ta thgil nibac mid eht ni kool ot dnuora detsiwt dna ,rehtruf H .taes kcab eht ni gnimaerdyad saw ohw regnessap derutseg e .ees ot gnihtemos yllanif saw ereht taht noitamrifnoc ni drawnwod sa ,deilper namtraH noD "!noitazilivic sa gniht hcus si ereht oS" llams eht tsniaga daeh sih detser eh salgixelP .wodniw .krims a htiw srevarT deilper ",taht ti llac d'I erus toN" gib derocs ew tsael ta ,lleW" - ".ecno rof emit ",tius lluf a no sdnah ruo teg ot su detcepxe reve ydobon ,haeY" srevarT dedda . revlis llud ,taf eht dettap dna dniheb dehcaer namtraH .taes sih dniheb aera ograc eht otni deffuts neeb dah taht esac ytilitu H" syug bal eht erofeb gniht taht ta kool a evah s'tel ,ye "?noD ,kniht uoy od tahW .reverof ti htiw raeppasid espmilg a tsuj teg ot ekil d’I" .ti fo tnew ew lla retfa ,naem I eh dna ,namtraH deilper ",ti od s'teL .gniht nmad eht teg ot hguorht sih ni denrut .reniatnoc yklub eht fo eldnah eht dnif ot taes depmarc delevel ehs sa llirreM tolip detcartsid lasoporp xodohtronu ehT elddim eht dethgilhgih sthgil lenap der tfos ehT .enalpria tneidebo eht ehT" .saw ehs naht redlo kool reh gnikam ,ecaf reh fo senil ega rehgih ehs ",gniht taht htiw gnissem syug uoy ot yldnik ekat ton dluow spu .kool ot gninrut tuohtiw dias "?eteP ,uoy ot ti t'ndid ,em ot sey a ekil dednuos tahT" saw eh thgil wol eht ni dna srevarT derewsna ",sey a yletulosbA" no elims flah a hctac ot elba .ecaf 'llirreM eht llup ot revo dehcnuh dna tleb taes sih esool denrut namtraH depmub eH .taes sih dniheb ecaps dedworc eht morf esac dezisrevo reniatnoc ytiruces debbir ehT .desruc dna gniliec wol eht no daeh sih eH .drawrof gard ot egral oot ylraen saw kcab ylluferac ti dehcnerw pu emac ti erehw pal sih ot ti gniltserw dna ti gnieerf yllanif ,htrof dna .sredluohs sih ot tsomla yarg niht fo spsiw ywodahS - edistuo ssap ot nageb sduolc nworb s ot nageb woleb ytic eht morf sthgil ehT .stsohg ekil tfarcria eht ebort ehT .esned erom werg ylkciuq rehtaew detcepxenu eht sa tuo dna ni s'tfarcria eht fo enord ydaets eht revo ni ekorb ylneddus oidar tfarcria .enigne thgie repiP" - ta ciffart ,desivda eb ,hcaorppa omeN ,yeksihW evif ,drawtsew gnidaeh ,kcolc'o eerht ruoy ".nwonknu edutitla otni derats dna wodniw tolipoc eht ot noitnetta reh denrut llirreM krad eht - yarg krum thgie ,hcaorppa omeN" .gnihton was ehS . - evif ".gnikool peek ll'eW .tcatnoc evitagen ,yeksihW noitisop detfihs dna htaerb sih rednu niaga desruc namtraH ni s denrevog taht skcol yek emorhc eht htiw delggurts eh sa taes kcab eht a htiw kcol dnah tfel eht ta dehcnerw eH .esac eht no sehctal owt eht .gnir yek sih no tpek kcip kcol llams rehtaew ehT .reh denioj srevarT eteP .hcraes ot deunitnoc llirreM edistuo .evitarepooc ssel dna ssel werg enalpria eht ot desoppus erew eW ?ffuts siht tsacerof yeht t'ndid yhw ,nmaD" no eb ll'ew ,rekciht yna steg ti fI .ni yaw eht lla ytilibisiv doog evah .gel stnap reh no dnah eno depiw llirreM ",stnemurtsni elborp a ton s'tI" er'uoy ,naem I" .srevarT deksa "?ti si m "?thgir ,stnemurtsni no deifitrec od ot hcum oot s'erehT .RFI tolip elgnis etah tsuj I ,haey ,haeY" nac uoY ?eteP ni tog uoy emit hcum woH .lla dna oidar nmad eht htiw ".taht htiw pleh ylbaborp tnewt tuoba tog ev'I" eno ansseC a ni os ro sruoh y - ytfif - tub ,owt a ni em htiw evird t'ndluow ehs syas rotcurtsni yM .tey d'olos t'nevah I ".yaweerf eht no rac yrc tnalibuj a yb tuo denword saw tub deffocs dna delims llirreM .kcab eht morf eht no nrut ,nepo s'ti ,ti tog ev'I" namtraH ",thgil daehrevo .esacfeirb taf eht fo dil eht pu dehsup eh sa ,delley dluow tI .noD ,yaw oN" .redluohs reh revo kcab dekool llirreM denael ehS ".hguone dab eb lliw thgilhsalf A .noisiv thgin ym wolb aes dna drawrof S .taes reh rednu dehcr tcartxe eh tekcop llams a de syawedis dekrej esac yklub eht htiW .revo ti dednah ylluferac dna thgil llaw edis eht tsniaga , namtraH dna ,no thgil yarg ynit eht dezeeuqs .stnetnoc eht laever ot elbissop sa ydaets sa maeb sti dleh saert a saw ti ,stnega fo oirt eht roF dekcaP .sterces fo xob eru neila owt yal tnemtrapmoc dezisrevo eht nihtiw - .stcejbo gnikool maof eht ni deddebmE - saw ,roiretni eht fo tsom pu gnikat ,esac denil egral a .temleh kcalb ,depahs ylesutbo eht revo nar sbir dedlom taf xiS rosiv a erehw dna ,nworc citsalp dedlom htooms eht ,neeb evah dluohs raluconib ,raludom fo dnik a gnimrof ,drawtuo dettuj - .dleihs ekil yllauqe na yal ,ti ediseb tnemtrapmoc eht ni yltaen dedloF ot nees eb dluoc hguone tub ,elbisiv saw ti fo elttiL .tius ydob egnarts oc sti erussa htiw dekcap saw ecafrus ralugerri s'tius ehT .ytixelpm hcterts kcils eht fo sreyal eht neewteb nar taht seriw dna sebut eb ot deraeppa taht sepahs ralugnatcer gnitcesretni htiw lairetam .elbisiv erew toob eno fo noitrop a dna evolg enO .srosnes cinortcele .sexirtam yrosnes htiw delddir ylesned erom neve saw hcaE .srevarT deksa "?ti si lleh eht tahW" neeb reve ev'ew eno tsrif ehT .eteP ,tiusesneS evil laer a s'tI" htob dloh ot delggurts eH .namtraH deilper ",no sdnah ruo teg ot elba sop ni thgil dna esac eht nwod siht evohs ot elba eb ll'ew ebyaM" .noiti ".won sdratsab esoht fo staorht eht eht fo enord ydaets ehT .dessap noitcelfer rebmos fo tnemom A ohw setaicossa rieht derebmemer yeht sa nibac eht detanimod enigne ow errazib eht etartlifni ot gniyrt deid dah .sretsaM nogarD eht fo dlr dna pal sih ni tiusesnes eht ta dezag namtraH ,erats yrgna na htiW .noitagitsevni lanigiro eht morf tfel tnega ylno eht won saw eh dezilaer thguoht eH .dellik neeb ro deraeppasid dah mih htiw dengissa esohT b dah taht lla ot kcab neeb dah taht ecirp yvaeh eht dna ,denrael nee yranib eht etartenep ot elba neeb dah eno on ,won litnU .ti rof diap rieht ot yrtne rehto on dnA .bulC sretsaM nogarD eht fo sreirrab gnoma ecalp koot tahW .dnuof neeb dah ecnetsixe detsiwt dna egnarts t ,meht ;noisnemid sseltimil dna roloc thgirb fo dlrow a nihtiw ecalp koo neve emos dna ,latrommi dna tnetopinmo emaceb nem erehw ecalp a .yaw taht deid retupmoc eht ni noigiler ro ecar fo ecnareffus on saw erehT lacisyhp dna ezis ehT .sretsaM nogarD eht fo sdlrow a fo htgnerts retupmoc ni yrotciv gnidiced ni tcapmi elttil dah reyalp - lacisyhp otni detalsnart thguoht erem ,sesehtnys erup fo mlaer a nI .tabmoc eht morf yhtlaew etiuq egreme dluoc reyalp tpeda nA .rewop tiusesnes detisoped ylsuoiretsym sdnuF .stsetnoc lartnec a yb tnuocca sih otni ot elbissopmi erew dna erehwon morf detanigiro yltnerappa retupmoc etiuq epacse thgim roirraw a ,yad lufsseccus ssel a nO .ecart eht ot elbarapmoc erew eruliaf fo stsoc eht ecnis ,detelped yllaicnanif iderC .yrotciv fo sdrawer sa rof ,gnimochtrof syawla saw ,revewoh ,t .devil reyalp a sa gnol rewop stI .hsimaeuqs eht rof ton saw raw fo tius eht tuB stcapmi etareneg dluoc tius ehT .ecnanif fo taht dnoyeb llew dennaps nA .ydob namuh eht ni senob regral eht fo yna kaerb ot etauqeda ,d saw ydob s'reyalp a fo aera oN .semertxe erutarepmet erew ereht dnif ot retsaM nogarD a ereW .taeh ro dloc tcatnoc morf tpmexe hsirep deedni thgim eh ,oiranecs niarret tresed a ot decalpsid flesmih cse fo elddir eht devlos eh sselnu noitsuahxe taeh morf .epa eht dednamed yllautneve taht seitreporp yraidnecni eht saw tI detacidni shtaed fo seires gnimrala nA .ycnega s'namtraH fo noitnetta lareves nI .ti detaitini ti ,htaed etalumis ton did tiusesnes eht taht ps a ni sevil rieht detiefrof dah sreyalp ,sesac noitsubmoc suoenatno .reyalp ro tius fo ecart elttil tfel taht erac ton did yltnerappa bulc yhtlaew eht ni deunitnoc ohw esohT eht daH .nesohc dah yeht htap elbatiforp yllaitnetop eht pu evig ot fo dnik wen eht fo smitciv elos eht neeb sevlesmeht sreyalp u wal gnoma nrecnoc ssel desuac evah thgim noitautis eht ,dnuorgredn drawtuo dnetxe ot nugeb dah eganrac eht ,yletanutrofnU .tnemecrofne ycerceS .sreyalp etanutrof ssel eht fo secnatniauqca tneconni ot na dna ,sretsaM nogarD eht fo doolbefil eht eb ot demees enoy weF .taerht a deredisnoc saw seitivitca rieht ot desopxe yltnetrevdani .pihsrebmem eht edistuo ecalp gnikat erew snoitucexe dezilaer sreyalp eht nihtiw selttab ot ylno denifnoc eb ot regnad eht thguoht tsoM eht ,srebmem fo lufdnah a ot tpecxE .krowten noitanissassa lanoisacco .terces dedraug a deniamer snezitic detaitininu fo ehT .tnemecrofnE waL laredeF morf terces a regnol on saw ti tuB eht naht gniugirtni ssel hcum neeb dah sreyalp fo sniamer derrahc nhcet ehT .sdne rieht tem dah yeht hcihw yb snaem ot deriuqer ygolo litnu erehwyna detsixe ton dah noitcurtsed suoenatnatsni hcus mrofrep emos taht detseggus elbaliava ecnedive cisnerof ecracs ehT .won dah srehto llits dna ,detacoffus dah srehto ,senob nekorb dah sreyalp evewoh sesac lla nI .denosiop neeb tius eht nihtiw detanigiro dah erif ,r .nigiro sti fo ecart yna deyortsed dah dna dah noissecorp dibrom a ,noitagitsevni eht fo trats eht htiW tsenif eht edam evah dluohs ohw stnega laredeF nareteV .nugeb yb eno nwod tuc erew ,lla fo sreyalp retsaM nogarD riehT .eno .gnola lla nwonk neeb evah ot demees seititnedi delaecnoc ylluferac gnorw eht fo snoitseuq gnorw eht deksa yltnerappa dah emoS ot deganam dah ,dlrow edistuo eht morf detalosi ,srehtO .slaudividni ot denrub dah tub ,metsys eht ni setaitini emoceb .tius eht ni htaed gnimoceb retfa ylbissop ,yletelpmoc deraeppasid dah stnega owT .sreyalp lufsseccus morf wenk eno oN .tcatni deniamer tiusesnes eht fo sterces ehT fo daeh eht ta saw ohw ro ,dekrow yeht woh ro ,detanigiro yeht erehw yp sretsaM nogarD eht .no tnew emag ehT .dimar a ta yltnetni derats stnega laredeF eerht ,emit tsrif eht rof woN nogarD eht fo lortnoc eht rednu ton saw taht tius tcatni yletelpmoc .retupmoc lartnec retsaM "?ti tuoba wonk ew od hcum woH .detcepxe I tahw ton s'tI" .srevarT deksa s'gniht eht yas emoS .erus rof s'taht ,hcum wonk t'nod eW" thguoht yltrap - nehw nevaeh htneves ni eb lliw syug bal ehT .lortnoc .deilper namtraH ",siht no sdnah rieht teg yeht m'I .kciht gnitteg s'tI .thgil taht llik dna pu ti esolc ,syob yakO" ah ot gniog ot gniog er'ew fi hcaorppa tnemurtsni na rof ni llac ot ev ".reinaL ot ni teg 'llirreM s dluoc tub ,skool deniarts demussa ylkciuq sregnessap .tius gnitnahcne eht ot noitnetta rieht gninruter pleh ton i kcab esac eht dellup namtraH ,yltnatculeR oitisop a otn tnorf ni n .mih fo dna ti koot ohw srevarT ot thgilhsalf llams eht dednah eH woleb ytic eht fo sngis llA .taes sih yb wodniw eht tuo kool ot denrut yerG .weiv morf deraeppasid dah - ehT .ecalp sti nekat dah ezah kcalb ceb dah tfarcria eht dnuora ria fo naeco .denifednu yletelpmoc emo a tub gnihton ,edutitla ro htped fo esnes a regnol on saw erehT eht morf wolg der tfos ehT .noitcerid yreve ni ssenitpme sselroloc ylmid eht ni ecnarussaer evag lenap tnemurtsni - seldeen ehT .nibac til tarbiv seguag ralucric eht ni lenap eht dna ,efil htiw de - detnuom debbob ssapmoc citengam ehT .retem esicerp ni yawa dekcilc sretnuoc lio sti ni deyaws dna - .dleihsdniw eht fo pot eht raen lwob dellif lortnoc reh fo eldnah eht no nottub llams eht dehcnip llirreM ni yliraw ekops dna ekoy .tesdaeh reh ot dehcatta ekim moob eht ot thgie ,hcaorppa omeN" - ".yeksihW evif ypsar A .dessap ecnelis oidar dehcleuqs fo sdnoces wef A .rekaeps daehrevo nibac eht revo emac eciov s'rellortnoc gnidnuos thgiE" - ".daeha og ,hcaorppa omeN ,yeksihW evif omeN" thgie ,hcaorppa - tsewhtron selim ytriht ,yeksihW evif inaL ,riS .dnasuoht xis ta level ,re .ereh su no ni gnisolc s'ti ,mu ,eW eht su teg lliw taht nalp thgilf tnemurtsni na nepo ot ekil dluow ,ha eerht yawnur reinaL - ".ris ,elbissop fi hcaorppa SLI xis er A thgiE" .emac ylp - thgir nrut ,hcaorppa omeN ,yeksihW evif eno gnidaeh - enin - srotcev tcepxE .dnasuoht xis niatniam ,seerged orez sa dessecorp eb lliw nalp thgilf ruoY .dloh dna noitcesretnI remlaP ot ".elbissop sa noos 'ndid yhw ,nmaD" .daeh reh koohs llirreM siht tsacerof yeht t ,hcaorppa omeN" .eldnah ekoy reh no nottub eht debmuht ehS ".parc thgie - eno gnidaeh nrut thgir dnatsrednu ,yeksihW evif - enin - orez ".dloh dna remlaP ot srotcev tcepxe ,dnasuoht xis niatniam ,seerged t morf llirreM ta derats srevarT eteP ,melborp oN" .taes tolipoc eh "?thgir dna kcab tis llew sa yam syug uoY .elihwa slavo gniylf eb ll'eW" ".xaler .srevarT deksa "?ti t'nsi ,drib yhtlaeh ecin a si siht tsael ta ,lleW" ".wen ekil skool gniht siht naem I" [...]... in the thought, for one family had been unlucky There had been no chance of escaping the ride down into the mouth of the collapse The rear door of their late model minivan marked the spot where their nightmare had begun The van had crashed into the rushing water and submerged nose first, forcing the horrified parents to escape through open windows as they clutched at their seven year old son But the. .. back on the throttle and let the sleek craft settle In the darkness off the end of the runway, the first glimmer of hope emerged through the curtain of rain, casting eerie strobed images of the airplane's tiny silhouette Flashes of lightning in the distance added to the threatened image, as though its fate lay in unfriendly hands Watching intently from the south window of the control tower, the lead... guilt and anxiety at the several hundred people being held back from the site They were there partly to gawk at the size of the hole, but mainly to express their concern for the missing boy They massed around the large, yellow crane mounted on its jacks as close as possible to the edge The heavy machine easily used up what little parking lot remained Its boom extended out over the pit with an empty... clandestine stuff You know the Feds The secrecy of their work prevents them from knowing what they're doing." Markman studied the Chiefs poorly written directions as he rose to leave The address was for the First Federal Bank Building on Main Street, the fifth floor It was an unsettling request He opened the office door and started out "Scott, by the way, there’s an officer out there waiting to come in... there were few officers left on the scene, the crowd quickly began to push toward the edge of the hole, trampling over the flimsy police tape that had been used to cordon off the area At the bottom of the massive hole, a muddied, silver arm continued to dig and push its way into the open A heavy, mud-caked mechanical leg followed Like a silver ghost emerging from a grave, the robot pushed through the. .. dangers than those in the real world jungle Markman made his way against the flow to the elevator doors, where an executive-type waited as the overhead numbers counted down The man glanced briefly and coldly at Markman in the manner upper corporate executives usually do, and then tried to pretend he was alone When the doors opened, they stepped in together, the executive nearer the controls 'Would you... from the localizer intercept, at three thousand, one hundred." Merrill did not acknowledge the advisory, nor did the controller expect her to She pushed the nose of the airplane down still further and watched the airspeed indicator creep up near the redline The excess speed would have to be dealt with later "Buckle up, Pete," said Merrill without taking her eyes from the instruments "Pack it in back there,... had become quiet in the back seat He was unsure whether to worry about the harsh weather landing or the briefcase bomb on the seat next to him He fidgeted with the seat belt adjustment and decided not to choose Merrill forced the aircraft down The airspeed now loomed around one hundred and twenty knots, for the moment, that would have to do Suddenly a loud beeping broke out in the cabin and a small... into position over the hole Its dull, mirrored finish cast random glints of morning light as it turned slowly at the end of the taut cable The lowering began, down past the plane of broken earth and into the massive cave-in The crowd pressed at the police barriers in an attempt to see, as Tel approached a spot within the pile of twisted garbage that was interrupting the flow of water The crane operator... to the van, where the Professor fell asleep in the back, while Cassiopia pretended to study handwritten scrawls of formulas and programs in the passenger side of the front seat The worn, aqua-blue notebook in her lap was the only thing she had time to grab on her way out She found herself repeatedly looking out the open window in the direction of the rescue team, too often to seriously consider the . snoitcurtsni rehtruf - eerht - owt - ".uluZ orez snoitcurtsni reh kcab daer ehs sa yletari daeh reh koohs llirreM .ecnelis oidar saw ereht tnemom a roF .rellortnoc eht ot srevarT ehT .namtraH. ylerup si daed ogarD ehT ot secnerefer llA naitnalS ro sretsaM n I laer yna fo evitatneserper yaw on ni era dna sretcarahc lanoitcif tneserper seirtsudn dlrow ,sessenisub .snoitazinagro ro ,sbulc. tnecsed reh hctaw revid ,llams ehT .ciffart rehto t elgnis koot won tfarcria enigne sderdnuh gniyrrac erew taht seivaeh laicremmoc eht revo ecnedecerp enalpria eht dehsup llirreM .thgin yldneirfnu