I don't think I can keep on volunteering at the shop, okay? I've
got stuff to do, assignments, and I'm taking some extra shifts at the
store --"
He held up a hand. "I'm grateful for all the work you've done,
Natalie. You don't need to apologize."
"Okay," she said. She looked indecisively around, then seemed to make up
her mind and she hugged him hard. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
It struck him as funny. "I can take care of myself just fine, don't
worry about me for a second. You still looking for fashion work? I think
Tropic??l will be hiring for the summer. I could put in that phone-call."
"No," she said. "No, that's okay." She looked over his shoulder and her
eyes widened. He turned around and saw that Krishna and Link had spotted
them, and that Krishna was whispering something in Link's ear that was
making Link grin nastily.
"I should go," she said. Krishna's hand was still down the little girl's
top, and he jiggled her breast at Alan.
#
The reporter had two lip piercings, and a matt of close-cropped
micro-dreads, and an attitude.
"So here's what I don't get. You've got the Market wired --"
"Unwired," Kurt said, breaking in for the tenth time in as many
minutes. Alan shot him a dirty look.
"Unwired, right." The kid made little inverted commas with his
fingertips, miming, *Yes, that is a very cute jargon you've invented,
dork.
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