1 00:00:00,660 --> 00:00:06,660 Speaker 1: Chapter three: Munn. Phase watched Ambrosia put away the shard run equipment. She 2 00:00:06,700 --> 00:00:10,940 Speaker 1: hadn't said anything to him in a few minutes. Once everything except her laptop was 3 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:14,820 Speaker 1: put away, she took a long look at the white crystal he'd pulled from the Fractality. 4 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:21,140 Speaker 1: She met his eyes, and he looked away. "Sorry, Amber." "You almost 5 00:00:21,220 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: died." "I'm sorry." She pursed her lips and looked back at the 6 00:00:27,180 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: crystal. "Looks like a ping shard to me. Can't be sure until someone can appraise 7 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: it, though. It's small. Small is good though, right, for those? 8 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: [sighs] I can sell it." Phase stood up, unable to 9 00:00:43,940 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: sit still. This was it. This was the big payoff. Okay, maybe not the big payoff. 10 00:00:49,780 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: He'd almost died trying to get the big one, but there was always next time. "How 11 00:00:55,820 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: much?" "Hmm, market is right for these. People are more 12 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,860 Speaker 1: paranoid than ever. Maybe 3 or 4,000." 13 00:01:05,860 --> 00:01:08,580 Speaker 1: "Dollars?" 14 00:01:10,220 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: Ambrosia nodded. That, that was an absolutely insane amount 15 00:01:16,220 --> 00:01:22,220 Speaker 1: of money. A staggering, unbelievable amount of money. He knew 16 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,300 Speaker 1: that shards were worth something, but hearing the numbers out loud changed 17 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,180 Speaker 1: everything. Phase had been on shard runs with his sister and her crew. He'd even 18 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: gone on a few runs for guild tryouts. That had been a huge mistake, a great way to 19 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: do all the work and get none of the rewards, a great way to make somebody else rich. 20 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:46,500 Speaker 1: Why would he do that when he could just do it himself? On all the runs he'd joined, 21 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:50,660 Speaker 1: none of them had ever let him keep the shard. He'd never even gotten a cut of the 22 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: money. "4,000." 23 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:02,340 Speaker 1: Amber crossed her arms. "Yeah. It's worth slightly more than my comm 24 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:03,380 Speaker 1: shard you threw away." 25 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: He felt a twist in his stomach. It was hardly a victory then. Phase kicked the wall. 26 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:15,140 Speaker 1: One step forward, two steps back. Wasn't that always the way? Wasn't that how things 27 00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: always went for him? He fished the remaining comm shard out of his pocket and handed 28 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: it back to her, along with the borrowed earpiece and body cam. "I want you to take 29 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,740 Speaker 1: the money, Amber, all of it." She looked at him skeptically, but slipped the new 30 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,020 Speaker 1: shard into a lead tube and pocketed it anyway. Phase looked away, out the holes 31 00:02:36,100 --> 00:02:41,180 Speaker 1: where the windows used to be. "I broke my promise to you. I saw the marks on the 32 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:42,540 Speaker 1: walls, and I went in anyway." 33 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:49,980 Speaker 1: Ambrosia gave him a side hug. "Bring a real crew next time. This sloppy 34 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: stuff seemed fun, but I think there's no such thing as quick, safe money. 20% of 35 00:02:55,860 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: something is better than 100% dead." He turned to look at her. He hadn't noticed the 36 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: redness around her eyes before, the faint spots of wetness on her T-shirt collar. 37 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: She was smiling now, but her stare was intent. "Don't make me watch my friends 38 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: die again." Phase and Ambrosia split up after they hitched a ride back to the 39 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,900 Speaker 1: outskirts. Most splitters, techs, and other people who lived outside the 40 00:03:21,940 --> 00:03:26,180 Speaker 1: Collective's rule lived in the outskirts around the mega city. It didn't have a 41 00:03:26,220 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: name. It was just the mega city. The outskirts didn't have a name. They were just 42 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:37,420 Speaker 1: the outskirts. Technically speaking, he lived in light residential block 43F. 43 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: The Collective influence was weaker out here, mostly because there was nothing worth 44 00:03:42,580 --> 00:03:47,340 Speaker 1: influencing. The only blocks with real police oversight were the agricultural 45 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:53,300 Speaker 1: blocks. Phase looked up at the overcast sky. The sun was a shimmering yellow 46 00:03:53,380 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: circle behind a gray wall. Seemed like every day was gray. It was a rare treat to 47 00:03:59,220 --> 00:04:04,980 Speaker 1: see a blue sky anymore. Even Wurster smiled on days like that, probably. 48 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:09,980 Speaker 1: As he neared the group of identical tan buildings where he lived, he stood up 49 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:15,140 Speaker 1: straight and walked fast, like he had somewhere to go. He tried to look both bored 50 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:20,079 Speaker 1: and irritated, like an overseer had sent him on an errand. A man sat at the opening 51 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: to the chain link fence. It wouldn't have been hard to circle around back and hop 52 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: the fence to get home, but what if somebody saw him? It was best not to look 53 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:32,660 Speaker 1: suspicious at all. Why should he look suspicious? He was sent home early by an 54 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:38,700 Speaker 1: overseer because they didn't need him. He had no reason to jump the fence. "Hold on, 55 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: Teddy." Phase rolled his eyes. No one called him by his splitter name here. That was 56 00:04:43,580 --> 00:04:47,020 Speaker 1: the whole point of a splitter name. It was only for splitters and the people in 57 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:52,740 Speaker 1: their crews, an alias. It was the name you chose, not the name you were given. It 58 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:58,540 Speaker 1: actually meant something. "What?" Rhett got off the wooden stool he was sitting on. 59 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: Phase glanced at the club leaning against the fence. "Don't 'what' me. Where were 60 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:09,220 Speaker 1: you?" "Working, until I wasn't." 61 00:05:09,220 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: "Hmm." Rhett would understand this. A lot of people were coming 62 00:05:15,220 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: home without finishing their jobs these days. If you didn't finish a job, you didn't 63 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: get paid. Didn't matter that the overseers overhired for the work. There was 64 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: actually an incentive to overhire, a little anyway. Better to bring 12 if you needed 65 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: eight than fire the people who weren't working hard enough. Phase tried to make his 66 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:40,100 Speaker 1: face tell that story. "It's 'cause you're lazy." "It's because it's boring." 67 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,540 Speaker 1: He'd worked hard to cultivate a reputation for being lazy. It explained why he 68 00:05:45,580 --> 00:05:50,500 Speaker 1: didn't work as much as everyone else. It explained why he was skinny instead of fat. 69 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:56,500 Speaker 1: It didn't explain the lean, sinewy muscles or why he disappeared so often. 70 00:05:57,620 --> 00:06:03,100 Speaker 1: Rhett nodded for Phase to go through. "You'll be taking the offering if you keep 71 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,892 Speaker 1: this up." "Hmm. Better than hauling trash." 72 00:06:09,132 --> 00:06:14,452 Speaker 1: Faize cursed himself as soon as he said it for adding more details to his lie. Rhett 73 00:06:14,492 --> 00:06:20,412 Speaker 1: looked back to watch the street. "Don't think that's true." Faize caught the note 74 00:06:20,452 --> 00:06:26,272 Speaker 1: of sadness in the man's words. They sounded pained, like the pain of experience. 75 00:06:27,712 --> 00:06:31,632 Speaker 1: As he walked away, he reminded himself not to look down on the muns who did the 76 00:06:31,672 --> 00:06:36,672 Speaker 1: collective's dirty work. They were just people. They didn't deserve this treatment 77 00:06:36,732 --> 00:06:42,512 Speaker 1: any more than he did. Even people like Rhett. He kept up his pissed off 78 00:06:42,632 --> 00:06:47,972 Speaker 1: act all the way to the building, but his mind chewed on deeper thoughts. Even the 79 00:06:48,012 --> 00:06:52,752 Speaker 1: collective was under somebody else's thumb. Difference was, they chose to be there. 80 00:06:53,452 --> 00:06:55,972 Speaker 1: Muns like him, they didn't get a choice. 81 00:06:59,352 --> 00:07:02,972 Speaker 1: After he showered off, Faize went to the bottom floor. His stomach demanded more 82 00:07:02,992 --> 00:07:07,992 Speaker 1: than protein ration bars. Fortunately, the cafeteria was still open. Just before he 83 00:07:08,052 --> 00:07:12,372 Speaker 1: pushed open the double doors, a hand with iron grip grabbed his shoulder. The 84 00:07:12,432 --> 00:07:17,652 Speaker 1: fingers dug painfully into a pressure point he didn't even know he had. Worster, his 85 00:07:17,712 --> 00:07:19,852 Speaker 1: building's keeper, spun him around. 86 00:07:19,852 --> 00:07:25,752 Speaker 1: "Theodore?" She didn't 87 00:07:25,832 --> 00:07:30,832 Speaker 1: say anything else. She didn't have to. He was certain the old woman could smell 88 00:07:30,892 --> 00:07:36,332 Speaker 1: trouble, and he was certain he reeked of it. "You missed work 89 00:07:36,432 --> 00:07:38,012 Speaker 1: sign-ups today." 90 00:07:39,572 --> 00:07:45,332 Speaker 1: Faize shrugged like it was no big deal. That much, at least, wasn't an act. "You 91 00:07:45,412 --> 00:07:51,112 Speaker 1: have money?" "Enough for a few days. Figure I'll take some time off." 92 00:07:52,372 --> 00:07:57,292 Speaker 1: Worster stared a hole through him, as if trying to determine where the money had 93 00:07:57,352 --> 00:08:03,152 Speaker 1: come from. She looked like she had a jaw carved from stone. Graying hair 94 00:08:03,352 --> 00:08:08,172 Speaker 1: jutted out of a bun on the top of her head. She wasn't ugly, but she was 95 00:08:08,232 --> 00:08:13,072 Speaker 1: intimidating. If that teacher lifted weights and chewed gravel... 96 00:08:13,072 --> 00:08:18,432 Speaker 1: "Your crimes are my crimes, Theodore." 97 00:08:19,272 --> 00:08:25,272 Speaker 1: She slammed her right hook of a hand onto the stairwell banister. In retrospect, it 98 00:08:25,312 --> 00:08:30,512 Speaker 1: had been a mercy that she'd grabbed him with her real hand. "Just getting some food, 99 00:08:30,592 --> 00:08:31,032 Speaker 1: ma'am." 100 00:08:33,692 --> 00:08:38,312 Speaker 1: Knowing she had nothing concrete on him, the keeper released him. She didn't say 101 00:08:38,352 --> 00:08:43,252 Speaker 1: anything else, but she watched him go, like an ant under a magnifying glass. 102 00:08:45,232 --> 00:08:49,052 Speaker 1: There wasn't a line at this time of day. Most of the residents would be out working, 103 00:08:49,452 --> 00:08:54,312 Speaker 1: as it was still too early for dinner. That left people like him, people who had 104 00:08:54,352 --> 00:08:59,232 Speaker 1: nothing better to do. Faize smeared on his most charming smile. 105 00:08:59,232 --> 00:09:05,112 Speaker 1: "Double helping, please." The only mun still serving food walked up and 106 00:09:05,172 --> 00:09:11,092 Speaker 1: gave him an irritated look. Why? It's not like he was doing anything. Faize thought 107 00:09:11,132 --> 00:09:17,032 Speaker 1: the man's name was Terrence? Terrence slapped a scoop of green paste against 108 00:09:17,052 --> 00:09:22,712 Speaker 1: his metal tray. "Don't give him that." A woman came in from the kitchen and walked 109 00:09:22,772 --> 00:09:27,252 Speaker 1: up to the serving counter. Terrence looked back at her, the look of irritation 110 00:09:27,332 --> 00:09:31,912 Speaker 1: immediately masked. He gave Faize an attitude, but he wouldn't try it on an 111 00:09:31,972 --> 00:09:37,692 Speaker 1: overseer. Not if it ruined his chances at kitchen work. Muns craved work like 112 00:09:37,752 --> 00:09:43,752 Speaker 1: that. Safe, indoors, stable. It was pathetic. The 113 00:09:43,792 --> 00:09:47,572 Speaker 1: large woman strolled up to Terrence and pulled the ladle right out of his hands, as 114 00:09:47,652 --> 00:09:52,212 Speaker 1: if he were unfit to wield it. "I got something fresh for you, baby. Hold on." 115 00:09:54,052 --> 00:09:58,512 Speaker 1: A minute later, she came back with a different color paste and gingerly spooned it 116 00:09:58,592 --> 00:10:04,292 Speaker 1: onto a new tray. "You said double helping?" "Triple, please." 117 00:10:05,132 --> 00:10:11,092 Speaker 1: Faize eyed the three scoops of brown mush on his tray. "Lentils and celery puree. 118 00:10:11,352 --> 00:10:16,632 Speaker 1: Don't worry. I know the color's not the best." "Only the taste matters, ma'am." The 119 00:10:16,692 --> 00:10:21,732 Speaker 1: overseer shoved his previous tray into Terrence's hands and walked off. "Thank you." 120 00:10:24,272 --> 00:10:29,252 Speaker 1: Terrence sneered openly now that she was gone, and Faize just walked off. Anything 121 00:10:29,292 --> 00:10:33,812 Speaker 1: he said would only make it worse, and he, he couldn't afford to have enemy. 122 00:10:34,892 --> 00:10:39,892 Speaker 1: Enemies got you noticed. When he neared the register, Faize noticed that an older 123 00:10:39,952 --> 00:10:41,332 Speaker 1: man had been watching them. 124 00:10:43,212 --> 00:10:48,012 Speaker 1: The man watched Terrence scrape the green paste into the trash, visibly dismayed. 125 00:10:48,792 --> 00:10:53,152 Speaker 1: Then he grabbed a box of ration bars and brought them to the register. They had 126 00:10:53,212 --> 00:10:58,792 Speaker 1: worse than no flavor, but they were as cheap as calories came. He knew him, 127 00:10:59,192 --> 00:11:04,832 Speaker 1: but not his first name. The father of the Juarez twins. His kids were just a few 128 00:11:04,872 --> 00:11:10,312 Speaker 1: years younger than Faize himself. "That'll be eighty-four." "I, uh, 129 00:11:11,092 --> 00:11:14,672 Speaker 1: I don't..." "Eighty-four." " 130 00:11:14,672 --> 00:11:20,392 Speaker 1: [coughs] I'll, uh, I'll take the 131 00:11:20,492 --> 00:11:26,292 Speaker 1: offering." "Pardon?" "I said I'll take the offering." The register 132 00:11:26,332 --> 00:11:31,212 Speaker 1: worker started punching in numbers, then looked up at Juarez, pausing before 133 00:11:31,272 --> 00:11:37,052 Speaker 1: pressing the last key, waiting as if he would change his mind. Faize had seen this 134 00:11:37,112 --> 00:11:42,792 Speaker 1: man taking the collective's offering a few times over the past month. Always him. He 135 00:11:42,852 --> 00:11:46,592 Speaker 1: never saw his wife or children do it, who were old enough to go into debt on their 136 00:11:46,672 --> 00:11:52,092 Speaker 1: own now. The man's left arm was in a sling, and Faize put it all together. 137 00:11:52,232 --> 00:11:56,872 Speaker 1: "Hold on. I'll cover it." 138 00:11:58,492 --> 00:12:03,052 Speaker 1: Could he cover it, though? He pulled out the wad of bills from his back pocket. 139 00:12:03,472 --> 00:12:08,744 Speaker 1: Ninety-two dollars. "Here." Fay's walked over and shoved the wad of bills into the 140 00:12:08,804 --> 00:12:14,624 Speaker 1: man's hand before he could turn it down. Juarez just stood there, dumbfounded, and 141 00:12:14,684 --> 00:12:19,704 Speaker 1: Fay's took one last longing look at his tray of food. His stomach knotted itself 142 00:12:19,784 --> 00:12:25,164 Speaker 1: further, clearly expressing how it felt about this course of action. Should have 143 00:12:25,224 --> 00:12:28,984 Speaker 1: just pulled that first shard, Fay's. Easy money. 144 00:12:32,044 --> 00:12:32,644 Speaker 1: Thank you. 145 00:12:34,344 --> 00:12:38,764 Speaker 1: Fay's nodded at the man and pushed open the double doors. Doing a good thing didn't 146 00:12:38,844 --> 00:12:43,704 Speaker 1: stop him from feeling empty. He put his foot on the first stair back to his room, 147 00:12:43,904 --> 00:12:48,584 Speaker 1: then stopped. His stomach still rebelled, but it wouldn't find relief anytime soon. 148 00:12:49,524 --> 00:12:54,584 Speaker 1: He had basically no money to his name. Belatedly, he realized he should have kept 149 00:12:54,624 --> 00:12:59,924 Speaker 1: the change for himself. He could have gotten half a serving of food with that. But 150 00:12:59,984 --> 00:13:04,904 Speaker 1: how would those bites taste, knowing they had come from somebody else's meal? Fay's 151 00:13:04,944 --> 00:13:10,824 Speaker 1: looked over at the keeper's door. It was slightly ajar, almost inviting. Inviting 152 00:13:10,924 --> 00:13:12,044 Speaker 1: as a spider's web. 153 00:13:13,624 --> 00:13:18,624 Speaker 1: He walked over and pushed open the door. Somehow, Worster was already staring at 154 00:13:18,684 --> 00:13:23,724 Speaker 1: him. He hadn't even seen her move. Was she just waiting there like that? Locking 155 00:13:23,824 --> 00:13:28,804 Speaker 1: eyes on the spot where someone might enter? It had the intended effect. He did not 156 00:13:28,864 --> 00:13:34,304 Speaker 1: want to cross this woman. Theodore, how can you serve? 157 00:13:35,504 --> 00:13:40,624 Speaker 1: He noticed that she hadn't said, how can I serve you? I 158 00:13:41,304 --> 00:13:47,084 Speaker 1: lied. I don't actually have enough money. It hurt showing 159 00:13:47,124 --> 00:13:52,464 Speaker 1: weakness to the keeper. Admitting failure to himself? The fullness of his failure 160 00:13:52,504 --> 00:13:57,184 Speaker 1: hadn't actually hit him until just then. Instead of walking tall with fifteen 161 00:13:57,224 --> 00:14:02,804 Speaker 1: hundred in his pocket, he had nothing. Less than he did yesterday. And what did he 162 00:14:02,864 --> 00:14:07,564 Speaker 1: have to show for it instead? He was nearly cut to pieces, eaten alive. 163 00:14:08,884 --> 00:14:13,804 Speaker 1: Fay's shoved away that image of the slicer opening up its body to eviscerate him. 164 00:14:14,844 --> 00:14:19,364 Speaker 1: He'd never seen one so close. None of the other runs had even encountered them up 165 00:14:19,424 --> 00:14:24,884 Speaker 1: close. Once, on one of his sister's runs, they'd seen a Tesserati glyph, the 166 00:14:24,924 --> 00:14:30,564 Speaker 1: equivalent of an interdimensional keep out sign. And they had left the Fractality 167 00:14:30,604 --> 00:14:36,604 Speaker 1: immediately after finding it. No, only he was so stupid, so 168 00:14:36,724 --> 00:14:42,264 Speaker 1: arrogant that he pushed the limits on his first shard run. Would Ambrosia even run 169 00:14:42,344 --> 00:14:47,584 Speaker 1: tech for him again? She might, if you'd brought Spineless with you. 170 00:14:48,224 --> 00:14:53,764 Speaker 1: Fay's batted down the thought. He didn't need a second keeper. Worster took a piece 171 00:14:53,824 --> 00:14:57,684 Speaker 1: of paper off the top of a stack on her desk and handed it to him without breaking 172 00:14:57,744 --> 00:15:03,144 Speaker 1: eye contact. He took it, realizing that she had probably known he was coming. And 173 00:15:03,184 --> 00:15:08,044 Speaker 1: his heart sank just a little deeper into depression. Looks like he was living up to 174 00:15:08,124 --> 00:15:13,064 Speaker 1: everyone's expectations except his own. She pointed at the paper in his hands. It's 175 00:15:13,144 --> 00:15:18,924 Speaker 1: sanitation work. Two spots left. Location pay and everything else you need to 176 00:15:18,984 --> 00:15:24,524 Speaker 1: know is right there. He skimmed for the line with the pay. It read, three 177 00:15:24,584 --> 00:15:29,944 Speaker 1: dollars per hour, twenty-five dollar bonus for final sewage flow rates above 178 00:15:30,024 --> 00:15:35,244 Speaker 1: eighteen hundred liters per second. The sewers were clogged. They were always 179 00:15:35,304 --> 00:15:41,084 Speaker 1: clogged because they were poorly built. Fay's closed his eyes. He had literally gone 180 00:15:41,164 --> 00:15:47,124 Speaker 1: from professional shard runner to professional laxative in just a few hours. Worster 181 00:15:47,164 --> 00:15:52,144 Speaker 1: hadn't even asked if he wanted the job. She didn't need to. He belonged in the 182 00:15:52,224 --> 00:15:57,544 Speaker 1: sewers. He belonged with the trash trucks. He belonged with the muns. 183 00:15:58,224 --> 00:15:59,884 Speaker 1: Because he was one. 184 00:16:01,844 --> 00:16:07,144 Speaker 1: Chapter four, Spineless. Fay's met up with the other muns from his apartment block 185 00:16:07,184 --> 00:16:11,644 Speaker 1: on the same sewer detail. They were all waiting outside for the truck that would 186 00:16:11,704 --> 00:16:15,384 Speaker 1: take them to the portion of the sewers they'd spend the next three weeks working in. 187 00:16:16,044 --> 00:16:21,604 Speaker 1: Mega city sewers. Not the relatively clean, relatively unclogged sewers out here in 188 00:16:21,644 --> 00:16:27,204 Speaker 1: the outskirts. Seven other people stood around the pickup zone. Hands in 189 00:16:27,264 --> 00:16:32,984 Speaker 1: pockets. Muted small talk. Fay's recognized two of them immediately. The 190 00:16:33,064 --> 00:16:38,544 Speaker 1: first was Ricky Tate. Ricky stood up and wrapped Fay's in a huge hug, 191 00:16:38,884 --> 00:16:43,364 Speaker 1: slapping his hands so hard on his back that it stung. What's up, buddy? You get 192 00:16:43,444 --> 00:16:48,184 Speaker 1: fired too? He wasn't friends with Ricky. But Ricky was friends with everyone. The 193 00:16:48,244 --> 00:16:53,744 Speaker 1: man was so annoyingly happy all the time that it was impossible to dislike him. 194 00:16:54,984 --> 00:17:00,424 Speaker 1: He had shockingly bright red hair and an offensive amount of freckles. Ricky had the 195 00:17:00,464 --> 00:17:05,484 Speaker 1: kind of stocky, muscled frame that enforcers recruited for, despite the restricted 196 00:17:05,564 --> 00:17:11,104 Speaker 1: rations that muns endured. Fay's had to be careful not to embellish on any more lies 197 00:17:11,144 --> 00:17:16,924 Speaker 1: talking to Ricky. It was best that everyone forget where he was yesterday. Yeah, 198 00:17:17,264 --> 00:17:19,504 Speaker 1: something like that. I feel you, dude. 199 00:17:21,124 --> 00:17:26,524 Speaker 1: Ricky went for a fake punch to Fay's gut, for no reason that Fay's could discern. He 200 00:17:26,564 --> 00:17:31,004 Speaker 1: pulled the punch at the last second and laughed, pulling him into another big hug. 201 00:17:31,564 --> 00:17:35,224 Speaker 1: Fay's eventually wriggled out of it, slightly embarrassed at how much effort it 202 00:17:35,284 --> 00:17:39,884 Speaker 1: took. Once he was free, he looked over Ricky's shoulder at the second person he 203 00:17:39,964 --> 00:17:44,604 Speaker 1: knew. Someone he wasn't supposed to know. Hannah Taraby. 204 00:17:45,804 --> 00:17:46,504 Speaker 1: Spineless. 205 00:17:48,504 --> 00:17:52,884 Speaker 1: She caught his stare and flashed a mischievous smile, rising up into the air with a 206 00:17:52,924 --> 00:17:57,904 Speaker 1: little bounce on her toes. She spun away on dancer's legs and gushed to the mun 207 00:17:57,984 --> 00:18:03,084 Speaker 1: standing next to her about something, covering that knowing smile by pretending that 208 00:18:03,144 --> 00:18:08,084 Speaker 1: something funny had just occurred to her. The mun nodded and smiled profusely at 209 00:18:08,124 --> 00:18:12,784 Speaker 1: whatever she was saying. They spoke like old friends, even though Fay's was certain 210 00:18:12,844 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: they'd never met before just now. Ricky faked another jab at his shoulder, except 211 00:18:17,620 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: this one connected. Hard. Phase stumbled backwards. Ricky must have expected him to 212 00:18:23,060 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 1: flinch, or simply thought it would be funny either way. Phase rubbed his shoulder. 213 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: Come on. I see what you're looking at. Think I got a shot? 214 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:42,460 Speaker 1: We're literally living in the sewers for three weeks. So? I'm hot stuff, Ted. 215 00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:48,460 Speaker 1: Girls want me wherever they can get me. Phase was certain they wouldn't want him in 216 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,940 Speaker 1: the sewers. Based on how people usually reacted to Ricky, they didn't seem to want 217 00:18:52,980 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: him anywhere. You wouldn't say that out loud, though. Being mean to Ricky just felt 218 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: like being mean to a puppy. It wasn't his fault he was excited when everyone else 219 00:19:02,540 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 1: just wanted to keep their heads down. Good luck with that one, man. Don't need it. 220 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:13,140 Speaker 1: Just wait till you see my moves. I've been practicing. On who? Your sister? 221 00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: Something dark flashed across Ricky's face. Phase worried he'd actually made the man 222 00:19:19,020 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: angry. 223 00:19:22,220 --> 00:19:22,540 Speaker 1: Ah! 224 00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:28,780 Speaker 1: You should see the look on your face. Look at this guy's face. Hey! Look at this 225 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: guy's face! Ricky continued shouting, showing off Phase to the other muns, who 226 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: either stared in confusion at Ricky or turned away with deliberate disinterest. 227 00:19:39,940 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: Phase wasn't the only one who didn't know how to handle him. You couldn't, really. 228 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: It was best just to ride it out. Thankfully, the truck pulled up then. Muns started 229 00:19:49,340 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: piling into the back, except Ricky, who climbed into the front passenger seat 230 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,740 Speaker 1: without invitation. Phase looked into the cab. The overseer wasn't driving, so they 231 00:19:58,780 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 1: must already be at the job site. The really good overseers rode with their people, 232 00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: got to know them. Apparently, they would have the other kind. No wonder 233 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: there were spots open for this job. It was a few hours to the job site. 234 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:22,180 Speaker 1: Phase mostly kept to himself during the long truck ride. He made small talk, asking 235 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: about people's families, where they lived, why they were on sanitation work. It was 236 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,100 Speaker 1: an easy subject. Muns loved to complain about work. 237 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:37,460 Speaker 1: He could bond with anyone over that. His distaste was genuine, after all. He tried 238 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: not to look at the girl with the sandy brown hair, the one who seemed to float about 239 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,500 Speaker 1: rather than walk on the ground like the rest of them. She must have talked to 240 00:20:46,580 --> 00:20:52,260 Speaker 1: everyone in the work detail by now. Instead, he watched the sky, looking for 241 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:57,620 Speaker 1: pinholes of blue behind all that gray. A lone blackbird circled in the sky above, 242 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:02,340 Speaker 1: searching. He wondered what it felt like to be so high above it all. 243 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,460 Speaker 1: I don't think we've met. I'm Hannah. 244 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,340 Speaker 1: Phase looked for the sound of the voice. Spineless sat on the wooden bench next to 245 00:21:13,380 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: him, eyes dancing with playfulness. Hi, Hannah. I'm 246 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:25,780 Speaker 1: Bruce? Bruce, huh? Yeah, uh, Bruce Ironblock. 247 00:21:29,060 --> 00:21:34,940 Speaker 1: Well, nice to meet you, Bruce Ironblock. Such a strong, masculine name. Yeah, well, 248 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: sometimes a name just fits. Oh, I agree. Especially the names 249 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,380 Speaker 1: we choose. 250 00:21:44,060 --> 00:21:48,900 Speaker 1: They tell others who we are, remind ourselves who we want to be. 251 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: Yeah? And what does your name say about you, Hannah? Her smile faded and was 252 00:21:55,600 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: replaced with steel. It looked right at home on her face somehow. Her 253 00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: other side. That you can't hurt me. No one can. The 254 00:22:07,180 --> 00:22:12,820 Speaker 1: social butterfly act hadn't really been an act, and neither was this. What does your 255 00:22:12,860 --> 00:22:18,780 Speaker 1: name say about you, Bruce? You guessed already. It's a tough, strong name. No, 256 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:24,780 Speaker 1: not that name. What does it say? What does it really say? 257 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: Phase paused, trying to read her face. It was all seriousness, a real question 258 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:32,539 Speaker 1: behind the false one. 259 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 1: I just thought it sounded cool. 260 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: Hmm. Because it sounds like a tribute to me. 261 00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: Phase turned away and pursed his lips, an unexpected little dagger of pain in his 262 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: chest. Had it been a tribute? Phase. At the time, it really 263 00:22:55,140 --> 00:23:00,740 Speaker 1: had just sounded cool. He could change it, like Spineless had. Maybe. 264 00:23:01,740 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: Phase looked up at the sky again, searching for the bird. It was gone, though. Maybe 265 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: it had found whatever it was searching for. He hoped so. When he looked back, 266 00:23:12,260 --> 00:23:16,100 Speaker 1: Spineless had moved on to talk to another woman. She was pointing at something down 267 00:23:16,140 --> 00:23:21,060 Speaker 1: the road, gesturing excitedly with her hands as she spoke. The other woman smiled 268 00:23:21,460 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: and nodded eagerly. 269 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:29,300 Speaker 1: The overseer marched up and down between the assembled muns and the long concrete 270 00:23:29,380 --> 00:23:34,300 Speaker 1: incline leading into the sewers. All right, listen up. We're already six days 271 00:23:34,340 --> 00:23:39,780 Speaker 1: behind. Half the last crew quit by the second day. That 272 00:23:39,860 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: means you work hard enough to make up for the work they didn't do. Forty-something 273 00:23:45,820 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: people had signed up for this work detail. He'd never seen a group this large for 274 00:23:50,300 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: sanitation work, which cast some doubt on the overseer's story that half of the last 275 00:23:56,300 --> 00:24:01,820 Speaker 1: crew had simply quit. You want a bonus? I want a bonus. The collective wants 276 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:07,500 Speaker 1: clear water works. His red overseer sash stretched to fit over his spotless white 277 00:24:07,580 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: uniform. It seemed impossible to keep something like that clean in his line of work. 278 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:17,736 Speaker 1: Impossible only if he ever actually set foot in the sewers, that is. In a few 279 00:24:17,816 --> 00:24:22,296 Speaker 1: moments, you'll be divided into groups. Your group will receive a single map of the 280 00:24:22,356 --> 00:24:28,016 Speaker 1: clog sites. Do not lose it. If you see workers from other teams or 281 00:24:28,076 --> 00:24:32,816 Speaker 1: homeless down there, you are to report their presence immediately on the authority 282 00:24:32,876 --> 00:24:38,796 Speaker 1: of Overseer Elm. Do not assume that anyone outside this workforce has permission 283 00:24:38,836 --> 00:24:44,456 Speaker 1: to enter the waterworks. You are authorized to use non-lethal force against 284 00:24:44,556 --> 00:24:50,236 Speaker 1: anyone who will not accompany you to a guard post. Wait, what? Did he really 285 00:24:50,296 --> 00:24:55,356 Speaker 1: expect them to forcibly remove the homeless? That wasn't the kind of work he'd 286 00:24:55,416 --> 00:24:59,396 Speaker 1: signed up for. It was bad enough that people had to live in the sewers. There was no 287 00:24:59,436 --> 00:25:03,636 Speaker 1: way he was gonna kick them out. I've nominated a foreman for the duration of the 288 00:25:03,696 --> 00:25:09,016 Speaker 1: project. She will liaise with me directly to arrange sleeping quarters, distribute 289 00:25:09,076 --> 00:25:14,476 Speaker 1: rations, and settle any disputes among you. Overseer Elm let a chubby arm rest on 290 00:25:14,496 --> 00:25:20,196 Speaker 1: the girl's shoulder. Spineless smiled brightly, as if she didn't mind at all. Faize 291 00:25:20,256 --> 00:25:24,816 Speaker 1: resisted the urge to topple the man and watch him roll down the slope. I look 292 00:25:24,896 --> 00:25:29,656 Speaker 1: forward to working with you all. They split into groups and introduced themselves. 293 00:25:30,196 --> 00:25:34,896 Speaker 1: Ricky traded places with someone to join Faize's group. That wasn't actually allowed 294 00:25:34,936 --> 00:25:39,356 Speaker 1: as far as Faize knew. The six of them walked down the slope toward their dark, 295 00:25:39,976 --> 00:25:45,876 Speaker 1: slimy, filthy home. A seventh person jogged to join them. I'll be with you 296 00:25:45,936 --> 00:25:50,376 Speaker 1: today, Group Three. First, I'll show you to your sleeping area, and then we'll walk 297 00:25:50,436 --> 00:25:55,376 Speaker 1: to your area of the sewers. Spineless sounded as enthusiastic as ever. 298 00:25:56,696 --> 00:26:02,116 Speaker 1: Ricky waggled his eyebrows at Faize. It was only then that Faize realized the depth 299 00:26:02,196 --> 00:26:07,516 Speaker 1: of her plans. It wasn't an accident that she was here, and she'd talked up everyone 300 00:26:07,576 --> 00:26:13,476 Speaker 1: on the work detail on purpose. She'd intended to be nominated as foreman so that 301 00:26:13,556 --> 00:26:19,196 Speaker 1: she could move about with impunity, so that she could get close to Faize. The only 302 00:26:19,256 --> 00:26:24,796 Speaker 1: question now was why. He glanced at her, and she returned a friendly smile. 303 00:26:25,736 --> 00:26:30,956 Speaker 1: He had a sinking feeling he wouldn't like the answer. I'm trying to get it. Your fat 304 00:26:31,016 --> 00:26:36,476 Speaker 1: head's blocking my view. Faize and Ricky were about a hundred feet down a pipe lit 305 00:26:36,556 --> 00:26:42,456 Speaker 1: only by the flashlights on their heads. You have to pull at the same time. I 306 00:26:42,656 --> 00:26:48,096 Speaker 1: am. Just try again. One. Two. 307 00:26:49,496 --> 00:26:54,416 Speaker 1: They each pulled on the handles of their iron clog rods. The other end of the rods 308 00:26:54,456 --> 00:27:00,016 Speaker 1: had four hooks like fireplace pokers, which were buried in trash, slime, and worse. 309 00:27:00,796 --> 00:27:06,756 Speaker 1: Fatbergs, they were called. A slew of solidified human waste, cooking oil, and 310 00:27:06,916 --> 00:27:12,496 Speaker 1: other unidentifiable rotting bits. These fatbergs clogged up the sewers and had to 311 00:27:12,516 --> 00:27:17,016 Speaker 1: be unclogged. Otherwise, the human waste dumping into the pipes would eventually 312 00:27:17,096 --> 00:27:22,096 Speaker 1: pile up. Sometimes, the waste would pile up high enough to generate enough pressure 313 00:27:22,136 --> 00:27:26,556 Speaker 1: to unclog the pipes all on its own, but usually enough people complained about the 314 00:27:26,676 --> 00:27:32,316 Speaker 1: smell long before that happened. Three. A wave of warm biological 315 00:27:32,436 --> 00:27:37,836 Speaker 1: sludge surged past their knees. As the water rose, Faize was pulled away into the 316 00:27:37,896 --> 00:27:42,416 Speaker 1: rotten torrent. He fumbled for purchase but fell below the black water. He was 317 00:27:42,476 --> 00:27:47,516 Speaker 1: pulled away, and he slipped trying to get up. He slipped again, and panic seized 318 00:27:47,536 --> 00:27:52,176 Speaker 1: him. He took in a mouthful of putrid water and gagged, breathing in more through his 319 00:27:52,236 --> 00:27:57,876 Speaker 1: nose. Help. He wanted to scream for help. He couldn't see, couldn't breathe. He'd 320 00:27:57,916 --> 00:28:02,456 Speaker 1: get swept into a smaller tunnel like the ones he'd seen, just wide enough to get 321 00:28:02,536 --> 00:28:08,116 Speaker 1: sucked through, pulled deeper into inescapable darkness as he choked on human waste. 322 00:28:08,576 --> 00:28:13,756 Speaker 1: Just another dead mon in the sewers. Someone grabbed him under the arms and pulled 323 00:28:13,796 --> 00:28:18,476 Speaker 1: him to the side of the flow. Ricky held Faize tenderly against the wall while Faize 324 00:28:18,556 --> 00:28:23,356 Speaker 1: coughed out as much of the filth as he could. Easy. Easy. 325 00:28:24,536 --> 00:28:30,516 Speaker 1: I got you, buddy. I got you. Just take it easy. Faize wiped the slime from his face, 326 00:28:30,736 --> 00:28:32,496 Speaker 1: enough to see and breathe again. 327 00:28:35,356 --> 00:28:35,676 Speaker 1: Thanks. 328 00:28:38,196 --> 00:28:38,796 Speaker 1: Of course. 329 00:28:40,416 --> 00:28:44,756 Speaker 1: Faize nodded back his thanks and steadied himself on shaking legs as the adrenaline 330 00:28:44,836 --> 00:28:49,616 Speaker 1: subsided. Ricky stood up and waved for him to follow him back down the unclogged 331 00:28:49,716 --> 00:28:53,736 Speaker 1: pipe. Come on, that's enough swimming. I'm gonna show the foreman those moves I was 332 00:28:53,796 --> 00:28:55,836 Speaker 1: telling you about. Faize followed 333 00:28:58,756 --> 00:29:04,176 Speaker 1: and thought about telling Ricky that he was covered in literal crap. He thought 334 00:29:04,256 --> 00:29:08,536 Speaker 1: about telling him that being covered in crap still didn't affect his chances because 335 00:29:08,576 --> 00:29:14,476 Speaker 1: his chances were zero. But he didn't have the heart because maybe 336 00:29:15,096 --> 00:29:18,076 Speaker 1: he might have misread Ricky Tate. Maybe they all had. 337 00:29:19,716 --> 00:29:23,576 Speaker 1: Faize dunked his head under the fresh water spout at the semi-permanent camp set up 338 00:29:23,636 --> 00:29:27,636 Speaker 1: underground. It was far enough away from the wastewater not to overwhelm them with 339 00:29:27,656 --> 00:29:31,796 Speaker 1: the smell, but it was still incredibly unpleasant. The smell would fade from 340 00:29:31,856 --> 00:29:36,096 Speaker 1: consciousness after a few days, he knew. Of course, the people back home would 341 00:29:36,136 --> 00:29:40,556 Speaker 1: remind him for a few days after he returned that the smell had in fact not gone 342 00:29:40,616 --> 00:29:45,996 Speaker 1: away. He had just become one with it. Once he was as clean as he could get by 343 00:29:46,056 --> 00:29:49,996 Speaker 1: washing off in the sewer, he looked around for the rest of his group. They were 344 00:29:50,036 --> 00:29:52,016 Speaker 1: trickling back in from their own clog work. 345 00:29:54,256 --> 00:29:59,436 Speaker 1: So far, only he, Ricky, and one other person had returned. Then he heard someone 346 00:29:59,496 --> 00:30:04,916 Speaker 1: laughing with genuine joy nearby. Spineless walked into the camp with the remainder 347 00:30:04,956 --> 00:30:10,236 Speaker 1: of Group 3. Ricky grinned and gave him the thumbs up. Oh no. 348 00:30:12,276 --> 00:30:16,516 Speaker 1: Faize watched Ricky stroll up to the group. It seemed to happen in slow motion. 349 00:30:17,056 --> 00:30:21,036 Speaker 1: Ricky pretended at first to be searching frantically for something in his pockets, 350 00:30:21,296 --> 00:30:26,928 Speaker 1: growing alarmed. Oh, don't buy it. Don't buy it. Spineless asked him what was wrong, 351 00:30:26,968 --> 00:30:31,148 Speaker 1: and Ricky flashed her his most charming grin. She looked back at him in confusion. 352 00:30:31,388 --> 00:30:37,028 Speaker 1: Oh, don't mind me. I just thought I'd lost my heart. But now that I see you, I know 353 00:30:37,128 --> 00:30:42,648 Speaker 1: it's been stolen. Fay's put his hands over his face. He delivered the line with the 354 00:30:42,708 --> 00:30:46,668 Speaker 1: kind of confidence that only somebody who actually thought it was cool could. 355 00:30:48,048 --> 00:30:53,848 Speaker 1: Spineless let out a tinkling little laugh like a shard come to life. Then she hugged 356 00:30:53,908 --> 00:30:59,548 Speaker 1: him. It couldn't be real. This couldn't be real. They walked back 357 00:30:59,608 --> 00:31:05,148 Speaker 1: together. You know this guy? I do know 358 00:31:05,248 --> 00:31:05,708 Speaker 1: him. 359 00:31:08,708 --> 00:31:14,648 Speaker 1: He's the life of the party. Ricky, right? Would you make us all some food? 360 00:31:14,948 --> 00:31:19,448 Speaker 1: There's rations in the crate, and I think we deserve some real food. Technically, 361 00:31:19,528 --> 00:31:24,688 Speaker 1: it's not until for tonight, but I don't see an overseer. Do you? Ricky shook his 362 00:31:24,728 --> 00:31:28,968 Speaker 1: head and ran off to fetch some food for everyone, looking like he'd received a kiss 363 00:31:29,028 --> 00:31:33,488 Speaker 1: from a princess, even though he'd essentially been politely turned down and sent off 364 00:31:33,548 --> 00:31:39,508 Speaker 1: to do chores. She had that effect on people. After that, the others 365 00:31:39,528 --> 00:31:44,428 Speaker 1: were all serendipitously sent off on chores of their own around the camp. Each of 366 00:31:44,468 --> 00:31:49,228 Speaker 1: them seemed pleased to receive the errands. That left only the two of them. 367 00:31:50,828 --> 00:31:56,028 Speaker 1: Spineless sat down on a box and crossed her legs, letting an eyebrow rise slowly, 368 00:31:56,688 --> 00:32:01,908 Speaker 1: begging forth his inevitable question. Her face and outfit were remarkably clean, 369 00:32:02,388 --> 00:32:07,088 Speaker 1: the grime somehow contained only to her boots and the bottom of her pants. She would 370 00:32:07,148 --> 00:32:12,988 Speaker 1: not have fallen like he had. Why are you here? She folded her hands and 371 00:32:13,028 --> 00:32:17,508 Speaker 1: looked him straight in the eye, a light smile on her lips. Because I keep my 372 00:32:17,548 --> 00:32:22,628 Speaker 1: promises. Fay's watched her, waiting to see if she'd say more. This 373 00:32:22,688 --> 00:32:28,488 Speaker 1: person was a relic from his past. Sitting here with her made him feel like a child, 374 00:32:28,848 --> 00:32:32,748 Speaker 1: even though she wasn't more than five years older than him. I can take care of 375 00:32:32,787 --> 00:32:35,048 Speaker 1: myself. She nodded slowly. 376 00:32:36,868 --> 00:32:42,648 Speaker 1: Ambrosia told me what happened. We sold your shard, by the way. That hurt. Fay's 377 00:32:42,728 --> 00:32:48,648 Speaker 1: gritted his teeth. She had even helped sell the shard. Couldn't he do anything on 378 00:32:48,688 --> 00:32:54,388 Speaker 1: his own? Look, I made it out, didn't I? All pleasantness drained from her face. This 379 00:32:54,468 --> 00:32:59,668 Speaker 1: time. What about next time? One of the other group three workers returned from their 380 00:32:59,728 --> 00:33:04,488 Speaker 1: chores, clearly eager to sit down and chat. He glanced at their faces, then quickly 381 00:33:04,528 --> 00:33:05,708 Speaker 1: found something else to do. 382 00:33:07,468 --> 00:33:13,328 Speaker 1: We can't do this here. Come with me. Where? In response, she stood up and 383 00:33:13,408 --> 00:33:18,808 Speaker 1: turned away towards the maze of waterworks that ran beneath the megacity. To prove 384 00:33:18,848 --> 00:33:24,488 Speaker 1: to me that you can take care of yourself. To my world. She didn't wait for him. 385 00:33:25,228 --> 00:33:30,668 Speaker 1: Fay's looked down at his shaking hands, willing them to be still, then stood up and 386 00:33:30,748 --> 00:33:34,748 Speaker 1: jogged after her. You didn't keep royalty waiting.