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moments, they fired. Talk to Sylvie. She'll help you. You'll help each other. Remember that. I was out of my domicile, walking down the city street, scanning the lighted grids at my feet, calculating the distance to the closest incoming train -- there, one on Lockhart. The rain was falling, blessed rain, usually we didn't get much in the way of it during the fall season, but tonight it had the smell of salt and something aromatic -- had they seeded the clouds with something especially fragrant? What was the occasion? Chen, you there? I have to go. Just over a minute left. I prefer to have my last minute to myself. Old-fashioned that way. I hope you can understand. Give me a straight answer, will you? 
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Sorry, Kellen is better at that. Better than all of us. Take care of yourself, young man. And with that the connection was cut. I had reached Lockhart Rd. and stepped onto the platform, the blowers mounted just under the floor drying me with one blast of tender air. The train was approaching and its headlights were leaving a triangular wake. There were only three other people on the platform, two men and a woman, and I noted their heights, their dress, their manner of walking, stored it away with everything else. Vestigial talents, Chen, whatever you say. It was 3:19 now. Whatever was going to happen had happened. On the train, the seats were stiff and cold -- too much air conditioning at this late hour. Electro- magnetic power shuttled us along with nary a  |
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