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Gunner sed, his throat a desert He’d always known the brain was nothing but an extreured out a way to ht out of the wildest novels about the future He was excited and terrified

"If this got into the wrong hands …," he started, then stopped George and the others weren’t stupid Not by a long shot

"We know," George replied "Yes, we know"

"So … what’s next?" Gunner asked

"Can you come back tomorrow?"

"Yes," he didn’t hesitate to say "But not until we take care of soe looked surprised "And what’s that?"

"I’ all of you Coffins Brand-new The best on the ly "No more VRSpecs, my new compadres Tomorroe meet in the Sleep"

9

They actually had to settle for three days later

It turned out that purchasing, then waiting on delivery and installation of four NerveBoxes took that long, and it just about drove Gunner crazy He spent his every wakingabout what he’d seen, which in turn just about drove Rachel crazy It was a sign of her love that she didn’t pack up andwith Virtual Solutions, she huddled in his ar in his ear

"I’m proud of you"

"Proud of little ole me? Why?"

She kissed him "Just because you’re aweso the world"

"Couldn’t care less," he said, knowing that’d get him a love smack And it did

He moved so that he could look her in the eyes "Okay It’s tiet these often Are you ready for it?"