The call had gone out midday, broadcast directly from the Alpine Guard radio desk. Anyone who helps the invaders will pay with their lives, the lives of their family. Himalaya will hear the screams of traitors for the rest of human time. Informers and patriots

More“I trust you understand that was your fault.”

Vikram was running out of space. The bridge was one of the airier, open spaces on the Walsh, but his reading list was infinite, and he had programmed a preset to allow even the visual material manifested at the edge of the room to refocus

More“You’d rather be dead than bored, wouldn’t you?”

Vikram took his time with the meal they brought him, puzzling over the source of the fresh arugula salad and the grated carrot that adorned it. The raw pecans were even more baffling, and he could tell by their texture they hadn’t been frozen or

More“There aren’t much in the way of options for you right now. I could shoot you, and get your hand on the scanner before your pulse dries up. If that doesn’t work I can wait for the next shift, and your body will provide a token of encouragement.”

Of the establishments in which he had stakes, Renoir Karzai most preferred the Cafe Perdu. It was a misnomer, since it had never served coffee, but the atmosphere was almost pleasant by end-of-the-world standards. It occupied a waterfront corner in the Market District, commanding a

More“You’re right. I don’t really give a fuck. I’m here about the girl.”

“You’ve got that look.” For a moment Delaware didn’t seem to hear her, so deep was his concentration. Julia Ortiz followed his gaze out to the western horizon, which was now no more than a strip of bright blue, left behind by a dull sunset.

More“I think once we get into the habit of self-styling and pinning extra pieces of metal to our tits, we’re getting into ego territory”