heskyabovewaerloobridgewasdevoidofsarsandspiingacidrainhepoolsofrainwaeronheasphalreflecedakaleidoscopicfilmofmyserychemicalsimirroredhesaeofcaldwell’smindheriedofocushishoughsonhedeadhackerglyphiwashardobelievehahehackerhadberayedhim,forapiancenolesswhaanabsoluelypoinlesswayodie

hehadofindka,heonlyhumanhacouldpassasafriend,osaygoodbyeshe’dbecrushedifshefoundouhahe’dlefheunionwihouleingherknowandhewasn’goingodiewihoudoinghaalhoughheymadeconacveryrarelyrecenly,caldwellhadbeenoobusyryingomakealiving,asrongunbreakablebondexisedbeweenhemiwenbeyondheboundsoffriendship,familyoramorousreionships

heyhadmeinhebackalleysofwaerlooaaimewhencaldwellhadnomemoriesospeakofandhewasbesiegedbymigraineshaweresoinensehahefrequenlybckedoufromhepainkahadfoundhimonerainydayunconsciousonheconcreefloorofoneofhedarkdrippingpedesrianu

elsabovehissillbodyacacophonyofvehiclesandhesoundofshoespoundingasphalpedesriansnolongervenuredbelowohebridge’sundergroundwalkwaysouofanooallyirraionalfearforheirpersonalsafey

she’dhalfdraggedandhalfcarriedhimohediscardedphoocopierboxhaformedhebasisofherhomehalfanhourerhehadregainedconsciousnessandhey’dbeeacquained,awkwardly,amidhehomelesssqualorofcardboardunderneahhisverybridgehaloomeddarkandmyseriousinfronofhimkawashefirsmemoryhacaldwellformedhainvolvedanoherhumanbeingandheyhadforgedbeweenhemaninexplicablebondhawenbeyondhefachashehadrescuedhim

aferhisrideinhelimo,henowknewalomoreabouhowhehadgoohecardboardsprawliwasaroadodesrucionpavedbyhemaninhebigbcklimousinewhocalledhimselffoulerandbyheorganizaionherepresenedanorganizaionhehimselfusedobeparofhacoldlyspahimouinohederelicionofwaerloohewouldmakehempay

highabove,maglevsdeceleraedinowaerloosaion,heirliveryfshingbrillianlybeweenherapezoidseelicesofwaerloobridge,vibraionsrumblinghroughheconcreehesaioniselfwasahulkinggssmonolihbacklibypowerfulspolighshashopurewhielighupahenighskyhedrizzlegavehelighsaheraldichueacrossheciyscapeheglimmeringlighsofaffluenlivingroomsblinkedinhenigh

“iwasparofhesysemonce,”caldwellmueredunderhisbreah“iwasparofhesysem”heswipedheraindropsfromhisjackeluckilyheknapsackhadawaerproofliningandhesynheicleaherdidagoodjobofkeepingwaerou

caldwellrudgedhroughoilslickrainpuddlesowardsheendofhebridgehishearquickenedwihanicipaionofwhahewouldfindinhongkong,heciyofhisbirhhewasgoinghereomorrowallhisdidn’makemuchsensehingswerehappeningooquicklywhadidhaciyholdforhimbesidesremnansoflosmemories?wouldhongkongrekindlesomepasaffecionforhepce?

hememoriesriggeredbyfoulerwerecrysalclearinhismind,kepinsharpfocusbyanacuedesireoremembercaldwell’smindhadbeenransformedfromdrabndscapesofgrayobckinercedwihhebrighneonsofhefareashecouldseehemnow,heglowinglighsofaciywhoseshinyilluminaedbuildingswereconsanlyreachingforheskyhumaniyuponhumaniypiledoneaopheoher,separaedonlybyahinyerofconcreeandseendherappingsofineriordecoraionheriedoanicipaehememorieshawouldberiggeredbyhelonecardinheenvelopeinhisbackpocke,resisingheurgeolookairighhereandhenfoulerhadgiveniohimasabonus,agesureofgoodwillcaldwellwasdeeplysuspiciousofhasgesurebuhewasalsocurious

helookedahiswach,anagingcasiowihaweakholographicdispyhahadfadedwihimeiwasalmos1000pmhecorporaedroneshadlongreiredoheirprefabunisowinddownheirnewyear’scelebraionsbeforeanohersabaconglomeraeserfdomwaerloowaslikeaghosownafer900pm,excepforheoddeworkerrundlingowardshesaionocachheeexpresseshashunedpeoplearoundhevasexpanseofheunionhepcewasjusoodangerous,borderingasididhedarkcriminalzonesofsouheaslondon

ahefarendofhebridge,hundredsoflighsflickeredasbridgedwellerswarmedgnarledhandsafasfadingmakeshiffirescaldwellclimbeddownamainenancedderbyhesideofhebridgeiwasonehehadusedcounlessimesbeforeherememberedclimbingupanddownhisbridgewihka,hehamesunduingdarklybelowhemhey’dbeheadingoheswankyhoelsofhesrandonwhaheycalledheirdi

errunorreurningfromoneonluckynighshey’dbringbackhunksofsmokednorwegiansalmonsillinhefoilsbupasheirsellbydaesheyhadgrownonocareabouheirhomelesslifesyleswhenyouwerelivingonhesrees,salmonasedgoodevenwheniwasalileoffeahepinksuffnohegrayranksmellingsripsonbadnighshey’dsarveorfeedonbisoflefoverfasfoodincrushedsyrofoamboxesnowhewasoffohefareas,apceheneverimaginedhe’dbeableoeveraffordvisiing

caldwelldescendedinoaseaofcardboard,packingpallesandsyrofoardboardinhesummer,syrofoaminhewiner,heerreinforcedwihpsicfiberpallesandoldsalvaionarmybnkespsicfiberwasgoodforanyweaher

hesprawlofcardboardandsyrofoamhaexpandedbeforehiseyeswasaoncefamiliarandalieniseemedlikeheinhabiansweregoingupinheworlddwellingsweregeingbiggerandmoreaesheicsomeevenhadmuliplewingshayouaccessedhroughmakeshifpsicu

elsmadeouoffusedchemicalbarrelsappropriaedfromhebacklosofindusriandpharmaceuicalconcernsinhedisancecaldwellheardhebreofaleaswoorhreeradios,ounedosomeforeigncha

el

despiehergermakeshifdwellings,squalorandfilhhadreurnedwihavengeanceandherewasadisincsmellofsalevomiinheaircaldwellsaredowonderwheherkahadmovedonsincehe’dradedhispachunderneahhebridgeforhefacelesscubicleciiesofheunionhehadonlyconacedkawhenhewasmovingonoanoherdesinaionshedidn’likeosayinouchallheime,preferringoouchbaseonlyawhasheconsiderednodalpoinsinheirlives

shehadspenonedaywihhimaheangelcapsulehoel,hewoofhemsqueezedinoheighnicheofhiscusrophobiccapsulesurfingcyberspacehroughheconsolemoniorembeddedinhepsicceilingshe’dremarkedonhowreivelycleaneveryhingwasbeforeshebecamehomesickforhespaceandfreedomofhebridgeshehadspenallherlifeherehavingbeendumpedinoneofheu

elsasababyayoungeenagecouplesleepingroughhadadopedherasheirownunilonenighheyhadbohdiedofanoverdosefromdodgybargainbasemenampheaminesappropriaedfromheomnipresendrugpushersfromvdivosoksincehen,heinhabianshadakenurnsakingcareofherunilshebecameaeenagerandwasableofendforherself

hemovedbrisklyhroughhedankdrippingcorridors,pascounlessfrosdeformedoespeepingouofcardboardfpsgarishlypainedfingernailsylimponhedampconcreefloorsasheowneryaoseinalcoholordruginducedsleephemovedpasovergrownhairmaeddownwihmisforuearswelledupinhiseyesashehoughabouhemonhsspenherewihkaandallheohers,manyofwhomiseemedhadmovedonanddisappearedinohefarreachesofheunion

ascaldwellmadehiswayhroughhepuridgloomofcardboardhovels,parofhimhopedshehaddonebeerforherselfandheconflicedoherhopedshewassillheresohecouldseeheronceagainheookarighpasasyrofoamdwellingbrownwihageanddirisownerhadcarvediinoheshapeofaniglooaboleofcheapchinesericewineyaheigloo’senranceahairyhandfloppedlimplynexoiloudirregursnoressuggesedhaheownerwasasleep

caldwell’shearquickenedasheroundedhecornerohesecionunderhebridgehaheandkahadcalledhomeheseelceilingaboverumbledwihhesoundofmoremaglevsapproachinghesaionhisparofhehomelesssprawlwasmuchbrighersomeonehadriggedacableanda100wabulboffheelecriccableshafedpowerohemaglevracksabovehemaglevcorporaionwouldnomisshesiphonedelecriciy

herewerejuswodwellingsinhisseciononewasonhespowherecaldwellusedoliveheoherwaska’shesmellofoldpukewasnolongerdiscernibleihadbeenrepcedwihsomekindofincensekaandhernewagesuffcaldwellsmiledknowinglyohimselfhecouldfeelherpresence

caldwelllifedhefpofka’scardboardabodeandpeepedinsideheineriorwasdoedwihroundamberglobulesofajellylikesubsancehaemiedafainlighhefoldingfuonhey’dbohfoundahebackofikeawassillhereononesidewasanevenrgersimfilmcollecionhanshehadbeforehermoviesweresackedceilinghighoonesideabrokenconsole,isi

ardsornopen,yonhefloorilookedlikeka,aselfconfessedluddie,wasryingobuildapuer

ahalfempyboleofcheapsakesanexoachippedjapaneseeacuphersimuniwaseheredoheworngoggles,whichfshedburssoflighonohefloorcaldwellpickeduphegogglesandpuhemonsomeoldmoviesarringsomebodyhe’dneverheardofka’ssimfilmuniswichedonandunaendedmeanonlyohinghecrawledbackouhroughhecardboardfp

caldwellwalkedohefarendofheu

endookalefurnhissecionofheshelerwasalobrigherasireceivedlighfromgapsinheconcreewherehenewpedesrianwalkwaysmehegianholodomevrcinemawhenhepedesrianu

elswerea

exedbyhehomelessseveraldecadesearlier,heauhoriieshadsimplysideseppedheproblembybuildingnewbrighlylicoveredwalkwaysrighaboveheheseehroughsripsonhefloorweredesignedoransformheoccupiedcardboardjunglebelowinosomekindofhumanzoo

hegiganicholographiccinemawassiuaedsmackbanginhemiddleofcardboardciybuhefinepeoplewhocouldaffordhefullscenarioholographicmoviesandhevrimmersionaccessedheholodomehroughhenewgsswalkwaysfromwaerloosaionorfromnearbycorporaebuildingsonheirwayhere,heygoosee,hroughhesrips,howhelessforunaehalflived,andheygoowalkalloverhehomeless

caldwellsca

edheedgeofhedomeandsawasmallfigurehuddledaheopheleanedhisearagainshecurvedseelofhedome’sexeriorcaldwellheardhesoundofghossspeakinginmuffledvoicesandmusichasoundedlikeiwasingfrombeneahhisskin

hewalkedroundohebackofhedomeohemainenanceshafandsaredoclimbhegooheopandwalkedprecariouslyroundheedgeofhedomeillhewasnexohelilewaiflikefigurepeeringhroughhegapsbeweenheshinymealsshamadeuphedome’sroofaflickerofrecogniionfshedhroughhereyes,reflecedagainshessbushedidn’urnherheadshesimplygrabbedhisarmandkeplookinghroughhesscaldwellpeeredinohedome

hemoviewasbeingrenderedinbrillianholographicdeailfromprojecorsinsideheroofdownonohesagebelowevenhebuildingsandcarsinhesreescenelookedrealsomeofhecrowdworevrgogglesandwereparofhecas,insidehemovieheohersjuswachedheysalikehisforawhilekalookedwellhermousyblondehairblewweagainshisfaceinhedrizzleshewasshiveringslighlycaldwellookoffhisjackeandwrappediaroundhershouldersherbonyfingerscluchedhisarmevenmoreighly,eyesransfixedbyheflickeringimagesofheholodome

kacrawledonallfoursinohermakeshifhome,wrigglinglikearecenlyunearhedwormfranicallysearchingforhefamiliardephsofisburrowcaldwellfollowedcloselybehindupillnow,shehadn’saidawordcaldwellknewiwasherwayofmunicainghefacshe’dmissedhimandhefoundinhersilenceasrangeforshepouredwocupsofsakeandofferedhimone

“i’sbeenawhile,”shesaid,finally

“yeahyou’relookingwell”

“soareyou,”shesaidawkwardly,raisinghershoulderandjerkingherheadbackinhasignauregesureofherscaldwellhadneverundersoodwhaimeanbuhefiguredhaiapproximaedsomehingcloseoexciemenhervoicehadhasrangesurrealqualiyhacaldwellhadneverheardanywhereelse,puergeneraedoroherwiseherfacewassreakedwihgunkfromheroofofheholodomeherhairhadgrownabioolongandneededawashinhereyeswerereflecedmemoriesofahousandmovies

“hingsmusbegoingwell,”caldwellsaid,noddinginhedirecionofhesake

“ohha?newhighendjapaneseeaeryonhesrandhrewawholebunchofsuffouback”

“hejapanesearereurningwihavengeance,”caldwellsaid,hinkingofhedigiallyrenderedmaskofkenzoyamamoo’sface

“sureseemshawaylo’sofgoodflicksingfromouofhere”

kaookmoviesmoreseriouslyhanreallifeiwasheronlypassion,heroneescapefromhedrudgeryofrealiy

“lookka,iamleavingheunionforawhileiamgoingohongkongforajob”

“hongkong?can’evenbeginoimaginewhaha’slikeinhongkongyoucanbuyamurderforfivebucks”hehearicalwayinwhichsheueredhessenenceoldcaldwellhashewasquoingfromamovieassheinvariablydidwhenheoccasionpresenediself

“huh?”

“i’sfromhemoviesingray”

“ah!”he’dneverseensingray

“ifhiswashongkong,you’dalreadybedead,”kaconinued

“iknowhaonelehalweaponhefourhone,sraighfromhedephsofsequelhell”

“yeah”hereyessparkledwhenshealkedabouherfavoriesubjec

“sohowdidyoumanageondhisripohongkong?”

caldwelloldhereveryhingfromreceivinghemessagefromglyphofouler’sappearanceheoldherabouhisexciemenafindingouhehadapasandabouhismoherandhowbeauifulshelookedinhephooheconvenienlylefoualkingabouhiscloseencounerwihsuicidehereyesrackedhisfaceakingineveryhinghewassayingandregiseringiwihhefeliciyofhelensofadirecor’scamerashedidn’somuchlisenohesoryaspicureiheoldheraboufoulerandhisofferahapoinhereyesnarrowedlikeheaperureofanancienmechanicalcamera

“canyourushim?”sheaskedshehadhaunca

yabiliyogeohecruxofanissuequickly

“idon’knowruscankillyouorseyoufree,”caldwellquoed

“hepreenderanddon’hinkhawillpumeoffhesubjec”

“ihinki’llbeok”

“imighbearick”

“hosebasardsholdhekeyomymemory,omypashisisheonlywayicangehaback”

shelookedahimandheymadehainexplicablemenalco

ecionhaiedhemogehershelookedawayquicklyandbeganoyingwihheguedpueronhefloor

“foundhisdownonfleesree,discardedbyoneofhedefuncbroadsheesherewerehundredsofpuersdownherebumosofhegoodsuffwasgoneihinkhisonecanbemadeowork”kawaschanginghesubjecinherclumsyawkwardway

“yeah,”caldwellsaid“ifyousarworkinginreverseandassembleraherhandismanlei”

sheughedrevealinganearowofsmallwhieeehherheadarchedbackandherhroareverberaedwihsoundsmallveinsinherneckpulsaedwihlife

“manisdesrucivebynaureimsurehayouwillundersandhaiamgoinghroughadesrucivephase”

“washaanoherquoe?”

“yeahfromlookwho’salking”

“cool!”

“doyouknowwhyigoi?”sheasked

“noideaiknowyouhaepuers”

“iwanedokeepinouchwihyouomunicaeinandundersandyourworld”

“really?ha’ssosweei’snonearlyasmuchfunasiseems,”caldwellsaid,leaningforwardandgivingheraquickhug

“also,oneofheguysheregavemeahackedpasswordohebiggesonlinemoviearchiveinheworldallheflicksevermade,includingallhesilensuff”

“iknewherehadobeanoherreason”

“iamhopinghispieceofjunk,wheni’supandru

ingwilllemeaccessidoyouhinkyoucouldmakeiworkforme?”

“i’llakeforever”

“really?”

“yes,buihaveabeerideai’sabouimeyoulefhispce,kawhydon’iaskfouleroleyoumoveinoglyph’smobilehomeuniligeback?heprobablyhasallhepueryou’lleverneed”

“wouldloveocadbuherearewoproblemsican’affordhisrenandheguyswhokilledhimmighgobackohispcenosingaround”

“iamguessingheyalreadyhaveasforhereni’llgemynewbenefacoroakecareofi”

“andhey’lgreejuslikeha?”

“definielyihavesomehingheyneedandi’saninsignificanexpenseforhem”

“well,idowanogeouofherei’mnogoingopreendiaminlovewihhispce,alhoughheholodomeisawfullyconvenien,’sheobservedhoughfullycaldwellweninforhekillbeforeshecouldchangehermind

“buyou’llhaveaccessoallhemoviesinheworldfromhasieyoumenionedandionceheardglyphmeniononlihahehasanamazingholofliksysem”

hadidherickka’seyesliupwihanicipaionandheknewshewassold

“deal,”shesaidsimplyandsaredlookingaroundherspace“iguessijusneedsomeclohesandmysimseveryhingelseicanleaveherewhoknows,ifyourjobdoesn’goaswelsyouexpec,imighbeingbackyoumighbeingback”

“rueweshouldgoonighasiwouldlikeolookaroundglyph’spcebeforeigooheairporomorrow,”caldwellsaidhedidn’pnoningbackohiseclecicjungleofcardboard,nomaerhownosalgichefelhefachafoulerhadgivenhimhisschanceoanswerlifechangingquesionsandashoaingouofdarknesswasnolosonhimneiherwashefachahesillowedheagencyma

ofavorskasaredmehodologicallypackinghersimsinoapalegreenduffelbag,whilecaldwellwachedherenminueser,shewasallreadyogo

“anyoneyouneedosaygoodbyeo?”

“noreallyanybodyhamaersislonggone”

“ihaeoinerruphismomenofburgeoninginimacy,bulesgehehellouofhere,”caldwellsaid,quoingalinefromdeepblueseahewasnomoviebuffbuonceinawhilehescoredbigka’sneafeauresbrokeinoanappreciaivesmile