Decisions
54"Always the ones about to collapse..."
Dante, the old prisoner.
In which case the phone-hog must be one of the negotiators Dante mentioned.
The subject, whether immediate or eventual, of the negotiations the prisoner told you about.
The golden shade, the screaming boy beaten by his fellows...
The issue will persist, and in turn, you'll continue to be able to talk to the prisoner.
"I think I may have seen your father in their files."
Staring at the frail shape in bed, Poor Dante's words echo in your mind.
The old prisoner said that the more formative the memory, the better.
The prisoner Dante warned you the quality of the device's work was highly variable.
"I'd rather not say. For personal reasons." He adjusts the safety helmet on his head and peers back up at the rusty building.
"The wireless phone network is routed through electronic boxes called 'arteries'. They work like the old terminal boxes
Dante stares up at you from a black and white printed photograph at the document's header, long black and grey hair swept back in a wave.
Hints of Tempo everywhere...
"I'm familiar."
Somewhere within the warren-like streets of Lower Viudas, an old man pulls a pelota cap over his face and ducks into a neon-lit bookmakers.
All the same, you still don't know why he's actually trying to defect. Possibly you never will.
Anyone who let the secrets of L-Pop fall into enemy hands wouldn't have the opportunity to defect -- they would be liquidated immediately.
At least it would give the Weeping Eye an excuse to crack skulls for an audience.
If you knew, you would know.
If you knew, you would know.
The combination of youth and death is symbolically potent for any fascist. If anything, he'd be promoted.
You still don't know, but you can make up another amusing scandal if you want.
"... yes? What do you... wait..."
"And what about my other requests? Tempo gave me certain assurances."
"But let's say no more about my counterparts. Just thinking of them makes me ill to my stomach."
"But let's say no more about my counterparts. Just thinking of them makes me ill to my stomach."
"Don't forget me, my dear."
"If you're from the Opera, you must be Tempo del Sur's 'well-connected friend'."
"Mmm. Hello, nameless one."
"Mmm."
"Mmm."
"My agent of fortune returns. Happy Dante."
"Seeing as how you've already secured my exit papers, I suppose that means we have a deal."
"Stop rapping on my door. Don't you people ever tire?" The voice is at once rough and fragile.
The past again. This time worse.
A hollowed out shape. The outline of a man.
Must have already been moved out of the cell, ready for the trade.
The outline of a man, his back and shoulders, spotlit in your mind -- before he disappears into the black, never to be seen again.
In the golden shade, three boys pummel a fourth. The boy doesn't understand why he's being beaten. The others don't understand why they're beating him, only that they must.
"As we've established, the shedding of the ginkyo's leaves has marked days of remembrance."
"Have you still not acquainted yourself with the glories of the old Luzian ginkyo tree?"
"My friend and saviour, that you already know."
"Now, is it too much to hope that you have some papers for me?"
"What's your real name, then?"
An echo from your first meeting with the prisoner.
Dante... could it have been... Tempo's message... all will be forgiven... if you pull this off...
In spite of you, the knowledge slips into its natural niche in your brain -- common sense, inevitable in retrospect.
THIS HABIT OF RELEASING THE PEOPLE'S ENEMIES IN YOUR POSSESSION WOULD MAKE EVEN THE MOST FORGIVING ETHICS COMMITTEE QUESTION YOUR ALLEGIANCES.
What was that about a 'body double'?
