Chapter 12

           RueJulesVernewasacircumferentialavenue,loopingthespindle’smidpoint,whileDesiderataranitslength,terminatingateitherendinthesupportsoftheLado-Achesonlightpumps.Ifyouturnedright,offDesiderata,andfollowedJulesVernefarenough,you’dfindyourselfapproachingDesideratafromtheleft.

           CasewatchedBruce’strikeuntilitwasoutofsight,thenturnedandwalkedpastavast,brilliantlylitnewsstand,thecoversofdozensofglossyJapanesemagazinespresentingthefacesofthemonth’snewestsimstimstars.

           Directlyoverhead,alongthenightedaxis,thehologramskyglitteredwithfancifulconstellationssuggestingplayingcards,thefacesofdice,atophat,amartiniglass.TheintersectionofDesiderataandJulesVerneformedakindofgulch,thebalconiedterracesofFreesidecliffdwellersrisinggraduallytothegrassytablelandsofanothercasinocomplex.Casewatchedadronemicrolightbankgracefullyinanupdraftatthegreenvergeofanartificialmesa,litforsecondsbythesoftglowoftheinvisiblecasino.Thethingwasakindofpilotlessbiplaneofgossamerpolymer,itswingssilkscreenedtoresembleagiantbutterfly.Thenitwasgone,beyondthemesa’sedge.He’dseenawinkofreflectedneonoffglass,eitherlensesortheturretsoflasers.Thedroneswerepartofthespindle’ssecuritysystem,controlledbysomecentralcomputer.

           InStraylight?Hewalkedon,pastbarsnamedtheHi-Lo,theParadise,leMonde,Cricketeer.