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The smell from the latter was a principal reason he and his friends had been able to construct their secret rooftop shelter without interference: nobody and no organization felt inclined to make use of a space that was simultaneously small and stinky, or to object when someone else did. From there it was a short jump across a twenty-meter drop to the top of the conjoined air recycling and composting ventilation system that served the sprawling apartment complex below.
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Slow and difficult, the climb eventually put him on a roof opposite the building that was crowned by his pod’s improvised hideaway. Only this time he abjured any designated walkway, alternately shinnying and climbing over walls, windows, porches, and roofs. Jogging up to its terminus brought him to a rooftop.
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Feeling at least half a fool, he turned and descended, retracing his steps until he came to a certain half-hidden marginal accessway. Standing alone in the walkway, hemmed in by battered, quick-poured walls on both sides, he was sure of only one thing: lack of action never brought enlightenment. What was he so worried about? It was only an empty bottle. The usual cacophony of squabbling and shouting, of infants bawling and pets disputing, filled the air of the crowded residences. Tilting back his head, he peered up the walkway. And he doubted anyone else in this neighborhood could afford to indulge in such a pricey libation. He would have been less surprised had he found the exotic metal container lying on the floor of the priv place. But there was no ego boost to be gained by trying it out of sight of everyone else. Alternatively, envisioning the mouth of the bottle sliding between Zezula’s parted lips brought to mind another possibility. He and his friends were of an age where tart and dry as yet had no chance when competing against sharp and sweet.Ĭertainly, given their new-won cred, one of them might have decided to feign sophistication by trying the brew. For one thing, it was way too expensive compared with similar-tasting domestic options. A mildly alcoholic brew containing at least two synthetic narcotics imported from offworld. Now that the bottle was empty, the label had been reduced to unilluminated, flat print. As with most such beverages, the temperature differential between the liquid contents and the container’s composition also powered the lambent advertising. Frowning, he picked it up and examined the label. The lightweight, self-chilling metal cylinder lay on the side of the winding walkway where it had been discarded. A casual visitor wouldn’t even have noticed it. Having too much stuff was a problem he had never before in his life had to contemplate, and one he was more than ready to deal with. He grinned as he worked his way up the narrow pedestrian access. The pod’s clandestine rooftop meeting room provided adequate storage space for such needs, though at the rate he and his friends were buying things they were soon going to need to build an annex just to store their purchases. Shoes and gear, of course, had to be kept hidden from his erstwhile family lest they rapidly become “lost.” His pockets and backpack held an assortment of electronic fripperies designed to do little more than entertain. He had enjoyed having the much older shop staff kowtow to his requests almost as much as he delighted in the shoes themselves. His share of the first sale of the warehouse loot had more than covered the cost of the Adheres, which had to be custom-fitted to his feet. Through the shoes, walking was transformed into a wondrous, exciting experience that was as easy on the feet and legs as it was on the mind. If he so wished, on command they would turn virtually frictionless, allowing him to skate-slide at high speed across paved city surfaces. If rough, they comported themselves to follow the terrain. If the ground was smooth, the soles morphed to provide additional gripping power. From microsecond to microsecond, the sensors built into the soles scanned and analyzed the surface underfoot, adjusting the malleable material to the appropriate consistency. His new Adheres made Subar feel as if he were flying.