Chapter 8

           Archipelago.

           Theislands.Torus,spindle,cluster.HumanDNAspreadingoutfromgravity’ssteepwelllikeanoilslick.

           CallupagraphicsdisplaythatgrosslysimplifiestheexchangeofdataintheL-5archipelago.Onesegmentclicksinasredsolid,amassiverectangledominatingyourscreen.

           Freeside.Freesideismanythings,notallofthemevidenttothetouristswhoshuttleupanddownthewell.Freesideisbrothelandbankingnexus,pleasuredomeandfreeport,bordertownandspa.FreesideisLasVegasandthehanginggardensofBabylon,anorbitalGenevaandhometoafamilyinbredandmostcarefullyrefined,theindustrialclanofTessierandAshpool.

           OntheTHYlinertoParis,theysattogetherinFirstClass,Mollyinthewindowseat,Casebesideher,RivieraandArmitageontheaisle.Once,astheplanebankedoverwater,Casesawthejewel-glowofaGreekislandtown.Andonce,reachingforhisdrink,hecaughttheflickerofathinglikeagianthumansperminthedepthsofhisbourbonandwater.

           MollyleanedacrosshimandslappedRiviera’sface,once.`No,baby.Nogames.Youplaythatsubliminalshitaroundme,I’llhurtyourealbad.Icandoitwithoutdamagingyouatall.Ilikethat.’

           CaseturnedautomaticallytocheckArmitage’sreaction.Thesmoothfacewascalm,theblueeyesalert,buttherewasnoanger.`That’sright,Peter.Don’t.