caldwelndkaheadedbackowardswaerloosaionherfrailformmovedbesidehimwihsurprisingagiliyshehadhesimunigoingbuhegoggleswereperchedonherforeheadlikehesungssesofabeachbumseekingamomen’srelieffromaharshsummersunhecouldhearhesoundrackowhaevermovieshewaswachingbuzzinginherearshisknapsackconainingkenzoyamamoo’sconsoleandhesumoalofhispersonaleffecswasslungaroundhislefshoulderandhecarriedoneofka’sduffelsinhisoherhandheskyabovehesaionwaspichbckwihindusrialpolluion

heycaughanalmosempymaglevoheisleofdogskaandcaldwellsainhedeseredcarriageinoalsilenceasilenceunderscoredbyhelowlevelhumleakingouofherheadphoneshewonderedwhaanyonewhosawhemsiingherewouldmakeofhemhisoddcouplebroughogeherbyfae,circumsanceandasrangeinexplicablemenalco

ecionwhawouldheymakeofheirabiliyosaynohingandyeeveryhingahesameime?

“iamhinkingoflookingformybirhparens,”kasaidsuddenly“you’vefoundouabouyours,whereyouefromihinknow,iwanoknow”

caldwellhadknownheawfulruhabouka’spasforafewmonhsnowbucouldnobringhimselfoellherheconsequenceswereoounpredicablekawasacloneaclonemanufacuredauniversiycollegelondon’sdeparmenofbiochemisryandmolecurbiologykawasbmaerialformedicalresearchsudensaccordingopuerrecordsaheuniversiy,kawasclonedfromafledglinghollywoodacresswhowishedohaveasecondshoasardomevenaferherdeahherehadbee

orecordsofhenameofhedonorabimoredrillingdowninhedaabasehadrevealedhaoneofhebassisansforheprojechadbeenexpelledfromheuniversiyforremovingsensiivemaerialfromuniversiypremiseshasensiivemaerialwaskashehadlefheinfanbesideheholodome,wrappedininsuingmaerial,herlilefingerscluchingalukewarmboleofformu

shouldheellhernow,whaheknew?here,severalhundredmeersundergroundbeingbombardedwihholoversandsubliminadverisingforcloningservicesshouldheellhershewasoneofhem?desinedobediscriminaedagainsbyhemasses?hedecidedowaiunilhereurnedfromhongkongaleas,ifhewasaroundshe’dhavesomebodyosupporherasshedealwihheknowledgeofwhoshewaswhashewasdidshesuspecanyhing?wasshesubconsciouslysearchingforheridenicaloherinheflickeringimagesofoldmovies?shedeservedoknow

washereavoiddeepinside,afwhafredbrighinhermindleadingherosuspechashewasdifferen?hiswasonequesioncaldwellknewhecouldnoansweralhoughoccasionallyalookcameoverhereyeshasuggesedhashesuspecedsomehinghawouldexpinherrelucanceoraceherparensforsolong

heyarrivedaheisleofdogssaionandrodeanelevaorohesurfacehesaionwasalmosempyheyjumpedhebarriersaheexioacacophonyofarmshesearmsofenwenoffduringoffpeakhoursbuhesaionwardensmoreofenha

oignoredheheyweresomeimeshappyolehewbreakersproesheonlywayheyknewhow,especiallyanighandheoffendersrelishedheprivilegeofleinghesysemknowwhaheyhoughofiheccvcamerashadoedeverysingleblockofheunionwereheperfecpformforhisnonconformiskindofdissen

heyheadedupeasindiadockroadinhedirecionofbckwell

“ihinkiamgoingogivemrfouleracallidon’knowexaclywhereglyphlivedbuiissomewherearoundherefoulermenionedsomehingabouhispeoplesearchingglyph’srailer,”caldwellsaidokawhenheycameupoaeleplexboohkasimplynoddedandconinuedconcenraingonhersim

caldwellpickedupheheadsefromisgrooveandspokehenumbersfoulerhadgivenhiminohemouhpiecehelineco

ecedherewasaclickandhenanoherseofrings,differenfromhefirshenherewasanoherclickandascreechingnoiseheclickingandscreechingconinuedforabouhalfaminuehensomeonepickeduponheoherendcaldwellfoundheproracedprocessvaguelyfamiliariwasashoughhehaddohiscounlessimesbeforeheknewexaclywhaodohewaied

hisconversaionwihfoulerwasbriefandohepoinkawasgoingosayinglyph’srailerandfoulerwasgoingoellhimwhereherailerwas,oherwisehedealwasofffoulerproesediniiallybusoonrelenedheseemedeagerogobackowhaeverhehadbeendoingwhencaldwellcalled

“yousee,hawasn’sobadheagreedoleyousay,”caldwellsaidokaasheywalkedowardshebackofhepuzzle

“he’sprobablygraningyouyourdyingwish”

caldwellriedosaysomehingbuhewordsrefusedoeou

glyph’srailerwasapproximaelyforyfeelongenirelyonehalfofiwaspackedwihpuerequipmenandohergizmos,someinac,somewihheirgusspillingopenlikeheafermahofamacabrerobowarransisors,moherboards,addins,memorymodulesandallma

erofinegraedcircuisweresrewnalloveralongbckmakeshifworkop,whichwasfashionedfromusedsamsungminirefrigeraorssackedwohighandhreewideandcoveredwihabcksilkclohhahadcollecedafinepainaofdushekichenlookedlikeglyphhadn’doneanywashingupforweeksdirypeswerepiledupeverywhereandeiherfouler’speopleorheyakuzahadmadehingsworsebyhurlingposandpansouofcupboardsonohevinylcoveredfloor

heyhadlefhepuersinacalhoughmosofhemwereon,suggesinghasomeonehadquicklysca

edheharddisksonhechanceoffindingsomehingusefulinhebedroomandhelivingareaheconensofcupboardshadbeenempiedouonohefloor,sofaandmaressornopenandpanelsremoved

caldwelndkaspenhenexwohourspuingasmuchasheycouldbackogeheramazinglynoalohadbeenbrokenandwhereparicleboardorpsichadbeenrippedapar,crackedorbroken,glyph’sincredibleducapecollecioncameinveryhandyiwas300aminhemorningbeforekacolpsedonglyph’sbedandcaldwellsainfronofglyph’srefrigeraorworkopsaringinospace

hehacker’swheelchairhadlefvisiblemarksonhevinylflooroverheyearsyoucouldalmosreracehisdailyrouinefromhedephofhemarkscaldwellcouldpicureglyphmooringupherampsouside,openinghedoorandingsraighoheworkopocheckonhispuershemarksinfronofheworkopweredeeperhananywhereelsehewheelchairhadcuharshgroovesinhevinylglyphhadobviouslyspenmosofhisimeincyberspace

caldwellspenhenighmullingovereveryhinghahadhappenedandru

inghroughscenariosofwhamighhappeninhongkonghegoodnewswashahewassillivehenowknewsomehingabouhispasinafewhourshewasheadedforhongkong,apparenlyhisbirhpcehebadnewswashahiswasobviouslyafool’smissionwihonlyanarrowchanceofmakingialiveifiwasn’heyakuzawhogoohim,i’dprobablybehechinese,heinrusiondeecionaisorevenfouler’shydraoufiheneededobeaheairporinjusafewhoursandfoulerhadwarnedhaiwasgoingobeaoughdayandheoperaionwouldexacaheavyollonhisbodyiwasapriceworhpayingaanycos

caldwellconempedcachingafewhourssleepandleavingfouler’sparinggif,hecardwihhesinglechinesecharacer,inheenvelopeinhispockeillhewasinhongkongbugivenheobsacleshefacedonhisfool’smissionwhynoarmhimselfwiheveryhinghecouldbeforehand,hereasonedheremighbesomehinginherehawouldhelphimouwhenheleasexpecedhedecidedsleepcouldwaiandhe’drahergeasmuchofhismemoryofhongkongashecouldbeforeheriphelookedoveraka,whowassillcurleduponhebedwihhersimunibringinherearshegirlwasoallynonsop

heslippedfouler’senvelopeouofhispockeandslowlypulledouhecardwihhishumbandindexfingerhisimeheknewwhaoexpechiswouldbefouler’ssdichaempogecaldwellorushidwelllookedahecardandheineriorofglyph’srailerdissolvedawayorevealfragmensofhismemories

caldwellisousidehegaesofaschoolhesign,inbohchinesecharacersandenglish,a

ounceshahisishehongkonginernaionalschoolfshesofhexiancarcrashhakilledhisparensarecorrodedinohismindhecanaccesshismemoryofamemorybecausehesoryofheirdeahhasalreadybeenrecounedbyfoulerhaparicurdarkparmenhasalreadybeenunlockedmakingiavaibleohergermemoryblockcurrenlybeingunleashedbyhasingleredchinesecharaceranimageoffleshandmealmadeoneinasinglemomenofchaoscrosseshismindiisanimagefadedwihheravagesofime

anewspaperhearicleinhebeijingposcaldwellreadingdisbelievinglyhiseenageeyesareswollenwihunshedearshecouplecouldonlybeidenifiedhroughdnaanalysisherehadn’beenmuchlefoburyherewasnosuspicionoffoulpyandonandonheariclegoesinhacoldobjecivewayhanewspapersuseocoverdeahhecouldnorememberwheherhehadaendedhefuneralservicehefelnoreedresidualguil

memoryrewindsummerholidaysskaeboardingdownhehuongsofwhahefiguredwasbeijinghangingouwihhediplobras,drinkingbeerinhebarshadoedhesanliundiplomaicquarerlosofimeonpuerslinesofcodeflyingbylikenovemberrain

caldwellsaringinenlyaapuerscreen,whileaman,wholookslikehemaninhepicure,hisfaher,workshegobbledygookhemanisypingonhescreengoesrighoverhisheadbuhesillsaresailikeiishekeyoanoherworldherecallsanundergroundsudyfullofpuerandmunicaionequipmen,hesecreweaponsofgchq,hebriishmunicaionsandelecroniceavesdroppingagencyhafoulersayshisfaherworkedfor

forwardheisinacyberspacecharoomhisnicknameisrazorheisaeenager,yeheisaregurofdozensofhackerdensandcharoomsandonhealissofmosinformaionwarfareagenciesandcorporaeideparmensheknowshisbecausenowashoughbymagicheremembersheisinfamousherecallsgainingaccessohundredofpuerworks,breachingheirsecuriywiheaseheremembershispeersalkingohim,wihreverenceheiswayabovehenormhebesrideshebinaryworldofcodelikeacolossusheissupernova

razor:fizz,howisigoingdude?longimenoseewhahaveyoubeenupo?

deus:yeahmanwha’sup?

fizz:noalowasarresedbyhehelsinkipigsmanhadallmygearconfiscaedhadodo600hoursmuniyserviceba

edfromhespace

razor:bummermannooogoodhowdidyougecaugh?

deus:moherfuckersifeelyouman

fizz:yeahdudeshingis,haven’afreakincluey’know

razor:likeheyjusbusedi

oreason?

fizz:preymuchlikeyousayhp,hepigs,sayshasomeforeignoufiaskedformeobearresedandwarnedsaidheyknowwhaweareupoandarresswillbemadeinohercounries

deus:shimanhinkheyarealkingbs?

fizz:du

omanheybusedme,ha’sforsure

razor:heyprobablygosomerackersysemfollowingyourelecronicfooprinsanyideawhichsysemiwas?

fizz:yeahi’sasysemigofromhisphreakerfromengndikno’slike,igooseehis,righ?soiamherehasameday,sca

ingisporsandbombardingiwihpasswordsandnohinggivessoilikespendawholefuckinweekdoingnohingelsebusillnojoyiaskhisbriishphreakphriendofminehowhegoinbuhesayshecan’remembersayshejuswokeuponemorningandhissofwarewasloggedinasroo,righinheai’smandlinehesaidherewerelikewohousandlinesofexwhereheaiwasalkingoiself,reasoningwihiself,beraingiselfbecauseherewasnoanswerfromhisphreak’spuer

razor:whoacooligoaseehis

deus:du

omanha’sprobablywhagofizzbused

razor:heywon’busmefizz,wha’sheip6onhis

fizz:i’sarevolvingallocaionsysembui’singouofheunion,somegovwork

deus:soyouhaveafinieable

razor:ha’sgoodenoughformecomingdeus?

deus:nah,myfaherwillbeusinghepuerin5minuesgoogeoffminewasbusedbyhaviruswormhingysmonhcan’waiobeableoaffordanewone

fizz:becarefulman

razor:noworriesi’llloghisai’sramblingsandposihereforyourenjoymenhehehe

deus:ok

fizz:ers!

razor:ers!

here’sasrikingbuinenselookingchinesegirlsaringacaldwellshinybckeyesfocused,unblinkingepicanhicfoldslendafelinebeauyoherangurdimpledfaceshehasskinhecoloroffreshofu

hehashiddensofwareagensonheuniversiypuersyseheyconcealoheragensandhemselveshisagensaremasersofdigialdisguise,elecroniccoverup,pixelcleanuphisagens’rouinesprecedeeveryhinghedoesonheerminal,clearingpahways,rewriinglogsorlockinghem,bombardinghesysemwihheurisicpasswordsniffers,rewriingrouerablesohideheoriginofheiracions

hefiresupaboufiveofheseagensandheadsouinohecrypicworldofrouerableseveryhingisclearallhewayoheusinnewyork,hehichesarideonelcorafficheadedouoheunionandjumpsoffonoinrauniversiyraffichismemory,unlikeheohers,ismorecoherencaldwellhinksfouler,andhepeoplewhorepackagedhismemoryinheselilecloses,lockedhemandhrewawayhekey,havemadeideliberaelysoheinenisogivehimasrongsenseofhisowninvincibiliyhesememoriescouldbepnedbuheisconvincedoherwisehelikeswhaheseeshewillsioberue

caldwellransgresseshevpn’seleganlyandsurfshesecureco

ecionallhewayoheunion’scenralinerrafficexchangehewakesuphissnifferbo,whichgoeshroughamassivelisofhandshakingrouinesuniloneofhemgiveshenecessarysecrehandshakeboomhescoresbigsomeinernalgovernmendomainsysemhecan’accessifromousidesoheslipsinooneofhegovernmen’sexrasanddeducesausernamewihenhancedprivilegesadminsomepeopleneverlearnhepasswordbogoesowork

helooksupandsmilesahegirl,whoislookingahimashoughsheknowswhaheisupohe’sseenherbeforearoundheschoolbuhisineresinher,ahisime,isminimalhehasbeerfishofryheisonarollbooveu2@csoundslikealovesicksysemadminisraororajiledsysopypesiinboomscreengoesbnkexcepforapromplikehis:

:>

:>hello

:>hicad

:>whadidyoucallme?

:>cadcadcaldwellobeexacwouldyoulikemeoracebackyourfamilyree?

:>shi

:>exaclywe’vebeenwaiingforyouyouaresobusedmyfriend

:>ohyeah?iamouofherenowayyoucanbusmehafas,wiseguy

:>we’llseeabouicadcaldwellofhongkonginernaionalschoolbyheway,yourgradesareslippingbigimewha’syourexcuse?

:>

:>yeahwha?mummyanddaddydieincarcrash?doeshagiveyouheexcuseolivewihyourhandsperpeuallydownyouryfrons

:>youshuhehellupisweariamgoingoshuyoudown

:>you’regoodcad,bunohagood

:>we’llseeabouha

:>

:>[userco

ecionerminaed]

hegirlisgonecaldwell’shearisbeaingsofashereckonsi’sgoingobursrighouofhischeshelooksaroundnohingbudozensofsudensgoingabouheirbusinesshebullelifsshoouphelibrarywalldroppingsudensoffahevariousfloorsandpickinghemupherecallshahehadoncehackedhepuersysemhamanagedhelifsandincreasedhespeedofoneofhembyabouwenypercenheandhisfriendshadughedouloudasaseaofgreenfaceshademergedshakenfromhelifoneanemiclookinggirlhadhurledalloverhewhiemarblefloor

haai,orwhaeveriwas,wasjusbluffingbuhowhehelldidiknowhisname?maybeiwasoneofhisbuddiesjuspyingricksonhiwasn’farounohaschoolpuersysemsweredifficulocrackiwasheinenhascaredhimiwashefirsimeanyhinglikehahadhappenedohimandheisvisiblyshakenbyi

helogsouofheshell,sendshisbososleepandbacksouinohelibrary’sgraphicalbookcaalogueuserinerfacewhenhesandsupoleave,hislegswobblehepicksuphisrucksackandmakeshiswayouhefronofhelibrary

hememorydumpcusohefronofheschoolheiswalkingouheschoolgaeswihhismindinurmoilwhaishegoingodowihhislife?heissixeen,anorphan

here’sabigbckcarahegaeihasnolicensepesandhewindowsaresodarkhecanseehisreflecioninhebckgssashewalkspas,wonderingwhoheownerofhevehiclecouldbe,agangser,popsar,dodgyfinancier,hebckwindowsrolldownsmoohlyandafieryseingsunreflecsfromapairofmirroredshadesasmoohslopingjawmoveshinpalelipsparandclickbackogehersomekindofsupersonicaircrafhundersbyoverheadheworldakesonaslowmoionqualiyhehearshisname,spokenbyhelipsbelowhemirrorshadesi’sadryvoiceandiremindshimofauumnanddriedleaves

hedooropensandhefindshimselfinhebackseaofhecarwihhewelldressedgenlemanwhoseeyesaremaskedbyheexpensiveraybanmirrorshadeshandshavepulledhiminbuheyaresogenlehedoesn’feelhehereisaflickerinhelensesofheman’sshadeshasuggesssomekindofpuingaciviyinhegsseshejawmovesagain,hisimeupwardsandhelipshinevenmoreinoanapproximaionofasmilehedriversismoionlessinhefronseaallcaldwellcanseeofhimisamaofbckhairandhebaseofhisdrivingcaphewassiingverysill

“mynameisbrucefoulerfornowle’sjussayiaminheserviceofheuniongovernmen,”raspsheman

“ibeislipservice,moslyoisrear”caldwellrepliesinglyph’srailer,caldwellchuckledohimselfheusedobefu

yiwasinhisdna

hereissomehingdarklymagicaboufouler,likeapedophileholdingouinvisiblecandyhereissomehingmyseriousabouheman’sfacei’safacehaseemsoundersandhefallibiliiesofhumaniyhereisadigialqualiyohim,heneaefficienwayhisfeauresarepuogeher,hevoicehasoundslikeihasbeenrunhroughsomepuersequencerandhehugebckbenley

“cheekyaren’we?iamlookingforasudenherecalledcadcaldwelliwonderifyouknowhim”

somehinginfouler’seyesellscaldwellhahemanknowswhoheisalkingoandisdaringhimospinayarnherejecshisiniialinsincoellie

“hawouldbewihmewhadoyouwanwihme?iamnoinooldguys?”caldwellsayshehasalreadymadeheco

ecionbeweenheunionaiandhismanbuhedoesn’knowhow

“sorryohearabouyourparens,cad,”foulerofferscaldwelldeecsafainmoiseningofheman’seyesorwasihefadingsunlighreflecedinhecar?

“i’scoolsowhadoyouwan?”

“ok,iamnogoingobeaaroundhebushwe’vebeenwachingyouformanyyears,cadyouraciviiesonhepuers”

alookofarmesoverhisfacelikefizz,hewasbused

“don’worrysonifweweregoingoarresyou,wewouldhavedoneialongimeagoyou’vebreachedhesecuriysysemsofsomeimporaninsiuionsyouknow”

“yeah?”

“yeah,andsomeofhosehavebeenembarrassingforus,givenhefachayourfaheralsoservedheuniongovernmen”

“hewasonlyaprofessoraxianuniversiy,”caldwellcounered

“hamaybehecasebuhewasanimporanprofessorcanirusyou,cad?hereissomehingihinkyoushouldknowbuineedobeguaraneedabsoluerusworhiness”

“iswearonmado

a,”hesaid,imagesofhedeadpopsingerfshingpas

“ha’sgoodenoughhaveyouheardofgchq?”

“yes,saellieeavesdropping,elemunicaionsmonioringeciaminimaelyfamiliarwihheirpuerworks”hegrinscheekily

“wellyourfaherwasoneofheleadingdesignersofheirsysemsyouheardofblueray?yourfaherdesignedi”

“icrackedbluerayandwasableolisenomyheadmisressalkingoherboyfriendonhephonei’vehadanervouswicheversince”

“well,likefaher,likesononebuildshem,heohercrackshem”

“yeah,yeahsowha’sallhisgoodowihme?i’mjusahighschoolsuden”

“asisaid,we’vebeenwachingyouformanyyearsyouwouldhavebeenincarceraedmanyyearsagoifiwasn’forwhomyourfaherwasandheimporanworkhewasdoinginnewchinaheironyofhesiuaionwasnolosonusmaybeonedayyou’dgrowupobeasgoodabreakinginosecurepuersasyourfaherwasabuildinghemihinkyou’veprovedusrighalhoughyouarenoasinvincibleasyouhink”

“whosays?”

“everwonderwhyyouwerenevercaughinhundredsofhackingsessions?”

“becauseiamsodamngood?”

“wrongsomeimesyoulefelecronicrailshawouldhavendedyouinjailbuwecoveredupyourassbecauseevenwihhosefuckupsyourrecordwasveryimpressivemoreimpressivehanevenourbesehicalhackers”

“rails?likewha?”

“likenasaheyhadadisribuedinelligenloggingsysemhayoudidnoseeihadpleerecordsofyouraciviies,heimeandwhaerminalyouusedweemployedccvfooagefromourfriendsahehongkongmassransirailwaycorporaionopceyouahaineracivekioskahaimeweweresurprisedaheaudaciyofheinrusion,fromapublicpce”

“ha,ha,ha”

“youmayugh,cad,buheseareseriousbreacheshawouldhavegoyouinenoughroubleosyouhroughreiremen

“sorryiguess”

“heboomlineishisinlighofyoursiuaion,hefachayouareobviouslynoineresedinschool,heorganizaionisofferingoakeyouonboard”

“whaorganizaion?”

“you’llknowwhenheimeisrighasisaid,iaminheserviceofheunionauhoriiesle’sjussayyou’llbeableohackinosomeofheworld’smosadvancedpuersysemsusingbleedingedgeechnologiesyou’llsohelpusbuildbeerdefensesagainsousideinrudersandyou’llgepaidapeiivesaryonopofhawe’llgiveyouaunionpassporchip,allowingyouoconinueresidinginunionifyousowish

“wow,youarepullingmylegrigh?jerkingmeoff?”

“deadseriousdoilooklikehekindofguywhogesoffonpracicaljokes?”

“youdon’looklikehekindofguywhogesoffonanyhing,”caldwellreors

foulerlesheaffronslidebusomehinginhisfaceellshimhahemanhasfilediawayforfuurereference

“enoughofhewisecracksso,whadoyousay?wecanalkoyourprincipalodayandyou’llneverhaveoreurnoschoogaininsead,you’llgerainedinheunionandravelheworlddoingwhayouloveandgeingpaidfori”

“soundsoogoodoberue”

“i’saonceinalifeimeoffer,son”

“i’llakeihen”

“goodweleaboard”hemanofferslonghinfingers

“er,hanks”

“we’llleyouknowhedeailsoncewe’vefinalizedeveryhingwihyourprincipal”

“icanrusyou,righ?”

“ofcourse,swearonmado

a”hemancalledfoulersmiles,u

aurallyeveneehclenchedighlyogeher

“howwillyoufindme?”

“areyoukidding?”

“ohyeah,youareomnipoenorwasiimpoen?”

“doyouneeddroppinganywhere?home?”

“no,i’llakeawalk”hepuercooledineriorofhebenleywassuddenlysifling

“okyourcallandnomoreunofficialhacking”

“ishaanofficialreques?”

foulerleshaonegooo

hedoorsofhebenleyopenauomaicallyandcaldwellsepsouonhecurbhedriversillhasnomovedhechinesegirlfromhelibraryissandingagainsheschoolperimeerwalllookingahimouinheeveningair,sheisevenmorebeauifulhewalkssraighpasherhehasoomuchonhismindofocushisaeniononher,asmuchashewansoshecachesupwihhim,herbooksheldcloseohercheshereisafainsmellofvenderandheheadymuskofeenageskin

“so,whowerehosemen?”sheasks,ashoughshe’sknownhimforever

“acquainanceswhaareyoudoingheresoe?”

“waiingforyou?”

“waiingforme?why?”

“idon’knowijusfellikehehingodo”

“wellhanks,ihinkiamoldenoughowalkhomebymyself,”hejokes,smilingsohashewouldn’geoffendedwhydoeshegirlboherhimsomuch?

“iknowhai’sjushaigoafeelinginhelibraryhaimighnoseeyouagainforalongime”

“well,ha’srueiwon’beingbackoschooleveragain”whywasheellingherhis?

asharpinakeofbreah

“whyno?”

“i’mgoingoworkforheuniongovernmen”

“ha’swhahosemeninhecarwereabou?”

“somehinglikeha”heissurprisedahowquicklyhefeelsaeasewihhisgirl,whoseeyebrowsarenowfurrowedwihconcernhedeecsaslighmandarinacceninherenglishandpcesherfamilyasrecenimmigransfromhemainnd

“somyinuiionwasrigh”

“iguesssoiamcadcaldwellbyheway”

“iknowwhoyouaredon’hinkhereisasinglegirlinheschooldoesn’knowhahemixedbloodnerdwholovespuersmorehanhelikesgirlsheyalkabouyouinhegirlschangingroomsallheime”shegiggles

“really?”heasksincredulously

“andyouknowwha?yournameisscribbledonhewallsinhegirls’oiles”

“yeah?nohingbadihope”

“noreally?jussomegirlwishingshewasakeyboardsoyourgenlehandsmayypeuponherqwerykeys”anohergigglehisonebringsasmileohisface

“wha’syourname?”

“meilin”

“nicename”

“yeahcadcaldwelliguessicouldlearnolivewihyours”shegigglesagainheywalkinsilence

“icachmybushere,”shesays

“really?soquickly?doyouhaveauid,soicanconacyouonline?”

“yesidobuionlyuseiaschoolgranddaddoesnolemeuseapuerahomei’s5200603,”sheinformshimhemisiomemory

“soi’llmessageyouaschoolhen”

“ok”

hersmileisworhahousandwordssuddenlyahugeweighpullsahisinsides,fromhischesdownohissomachhewachesherandrealizeshashefeelshesamehing,whaeveriwashahewasfeelinginheshorfewminueshaheyhavebeeacquainedwiheachoher,somehingremarkablyspecialhasakenpce,likeheyweredesinedomeeonhisday,ahisexacimeandpce

heleansoverandkisseshersheexpecsishe’sreadhismindiishefirsimehehaskissedagirndi’slikehejusdiscoveredhemyseriesofheuniverseandhefeelofherlips,heaseofhermouhwillsaywihhimforeverandasheholdsher,hefeelsherhyhmofherhearpulsaingagainshischesandhegenleriseandfallofheradolescenbreassheybreakawayandsheopenshereyescaldwellseesinheirbckdephssomehingasoldasimeiself

“wow,i’msorryabouha”

“noneedobesorryiwasmeanobe,”shesaysashoughshepossessesallhewisdominheworld

“i’sjushaiamleavinghongkongandishouldn’havedoha”

“idoesn’maerwhamaersishawewerebohrueoourfeelingswewillmeeagainah,hereesmybus”

anumber8buspullsupohedeseredbussopandhegirlcalledmeilinboardsiholdingonohishandforhelongespossibleime