Book 4: Chapter 33: Coda
Bob
December 2334
Misty Falls
Misty Falls happened to be no more than four or five miles away from a transit station, which was very convenient. Under ANEC’s dispensation I was able to walk out the main doors of the station, head held high, whistling Dixie and twirling my cane. Except, y’know, no cane. And Quinlans can’t whistle.
There wasn’t a lot of traffic yet in the transit stations. Quinlans, after a lifetime of living under the threat of scattering, were perhaps still reluctant to attract the attention of the Administrator. Nevertheless, there were a half-dozen or so individuals walking through the main door, or just standing and admiring the art. One turned to me as I walked past and gave me an embarrassed smile and a shrug.
Now that I had the time to get proper directions and such, I was able to find the stream that people normally used to get to and from the river. Much better than hoofing it. Within an hour I was walking up the dock at Misty Falls.
ANEC had provided me with the address of the Sykorski family. It had extensive files on all permanent residents of most towns and cities. Which was close to a hundred million sites. Quite the database.
The home did not look prepossessing from the street, although it took up a double lot. A large family perhaps? It appeared to be in the style of a Roman courtyard house, with the structure surrounding a garden or open area in the middle, blank wall all the way around the outside. Even the front door looked solid enough to withstand an assault. I pulled on the bell ringer cord and waited.
Belinda answered the door. She stared at me for a moment or two, confused, then recognition lit in her eyes and she smiled. “Enoki!”