WPC  U3 Hu)#8#Fiz s'4jeSx-Cw88rni^Sl[AR—(~:Є1.EnRb ej NWE[WTm#uո%TF{*SP_E.1A #ɦqy3x%k nCG:EgG^R@f+:rIvT/)/Zj|cgE%! ˞dX`*;csPE^j|=yVbij:@}:YO#D, ^5-h7ӷq$1GЋMBvJ%OvKp=͓q̣iJ}!@ h; ҴNy8a*A!ڤD0wm O%ҶބECmvū&ZD#Bњd2-%ǧR6#Ր`mUO{$_ &-@ `#@UN %O 0:U ^ w 4   m  A 0V D- 0K P Epson Stylus COLOR IIs0(  Z6Times New Roman RegularX(\$CEUS.,NW, }%,%d3|xU _Z^] I&mage <=8C HKKKK(.3_$ \!CEUS.,  )!dxdx( $ Figure  1  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 \!CEUS.,  _   `     h      p      x  1    Thephonerings.Ianswerit.Thephoneitasomewhatnew,cordlessonethatturnson w andoffwithapesteringbeep. Q  Hello? + {  Hey!Afamiliarvoiceontheotherside.ItsDarren.  U   Yea,IknowIdidntreallytillhetoldme,butIwontappearinepttohim. /   Youcomingouttonight?    Whosallgoing?    Me,EvanandMark. m  Alright,whattime? G  Uh,Illcomebyaroundseven,weregoingto_rollerball_. !q  Ohyes,thatone. K  What,youdontlikeit? %  No,itlldo.   Right,seeyathen.   K.Bye. c!   Darrenarrivesat7:45,fiveminutesearlyforwhenIexpectedhim.Gatheringmylong =#! browncowhidecoatIwalkoutthedoorandjogdownthedrivewaytotherusty,dustengulfed %g # car.Wegreeteachother,ImuttersomethingaboutthemessyfloorasIfightforanareafreeof &A"% junktorestmyfeet.AfterhedrivesoffIglanceupatthedashboardinfrontofme,ahthereit ($' is.Ireachforthesafetyglassesthatlyeonit.Iputthem___on.They_Ԁhavebecomeasortoftrade *%) markforwhenIaminthecar.Hiscar.Darrenturnsandlaughsandshakeshishead. ,'+  l-(, Ї   `     h      p      x  2   Whyareyouwearingthose?_he_Ԁalwaysasksthat.   Because_Ican._Ireplywithasmilethatachildwhojustwonanargumentwouldhave. d   Myfriendpullsouthiscellphone,thendials.IassumeitisdirectedtoEvanscellphone. >   Doyouknowhowharditistodriveastickshiftwithonehand?IhearEvansvoiceonthe  h _other_Ԁside,somethingabout,DoIcare?.Darrencontinues. Markswearingmysafety  B  _glasses_.Hesaysintothething.Idontknow.Hejustis.     Imgettingirritatedthattheirtalkingaboutme.Evanaskssomething.    Wellwerealmostthere.Wereon22nd.Evanmusthavechangedthesubject._Didya_Ԁpickup  Moody?WesometimesrefertotheotherMarkbyhislastname.Anddidyougetthetickets?... Z WhynotThereisalongpauseasDarrenlistens.Westopataredlight.Imisstheironyof 4 it.Oh?Wellwhendoesthatstart?Ok.Hurryup.Heturnsoffthephone._Rollerball_ssoldout. ^  Whatareweseeingthen?Iaskhalfannoyed. 8  Collateraldamage.   _Aww_.Imnowcompletelyannoyed   What?Dontlikeit? v   ItsanAmericanpatriot___movie.Its_Ԁgoingtobecrap. P"    Iforgettherestoftheconversation.WeparkinfrontofMatchroombilliards,thepool *$z" hallwevisitabouteverytimeweallgettogether.EvanandMarkhaventshownupyet.Iwalk &T!$ overtomyfavouritearcadegameinthebuilding.Alargemachine,thekindwithremotegunsto '.#& bigtoholdsotheyaremountedtothegameslargeframeset2feetfromthescreen.Twopeople )%( areplayingit,Iwatchandsilentlylaughattheirlimitedskillatplayingit.Iamaveteranfor +&* usingit.Iknowwhateverylevellookslike,andwhatdifficultyitisseton.Theyareplayingit l-(, Ї   `     h      p      x  3  _on_Ԁeasy.Andlosingbadly.DarrenremarksabouthowwhenIplayIusebothgunsandstillbeat w _it_,butnottryingtodiscouragethetwowhoseemnottohear.Aftertheyfail,theywalkaway.I Q  _put_Ԁalooneyintothecoinslot.Darrenwantstojoin,somethingnewtome.Hewantstostarton + { easyaswell.Wegothroughthefirstlevel,andIseemtonotbeplayingthatwelltonight.  U  EventuallyEvanandMarkarrivewhileDarrenandIareontheharddifficulty,wespent$7each /  onthething.Iamstillnotdoingaswellasnormally.Iseemtobegettingmostofthekills   _though_._TwiceIhadtouseDarrensgunaswellwhenherunsoffsomewhere.Ifinallydieonthe   lastbossanddecidetospendnomoremoneyonit.Darrenshortlyfollowsfromabarrageof m missilesbythegiantrobotflyingaroundNewYork.Weorderagameofpoolandchoosethe G tablenearesttothebigscreenTV.WhereIfailedatcomputerwarfare,Isucceedathitting !q plasticballswithapoolQue.Wemakejokesabouteachothersshots.Weevennamedthem.A K Darrenshotiswhenthewhiteball,sometimesjoinedbyothers,leapsoffthetableinthemost % oddandillogicalways,whichseemstodefythelawsofphysics.Amarkmoodyshotwillroll  aroundatagoodspeedinrandomareasandnothitasingleballevenonafulltable.AndEvan  shotonlymovesinastraightlineandbouncesofftheothersideandcontinuesbackandforthtill c! itstops.Ihavenospecialshot,onlyacertainwayIholdtheQue._ԀPlacedatmysidethendrawn =#! likeasword. %g #   Weleaveafteranhour.IacquiremyticketfortheshowfromEvan.Itwasanuneventful &A"% ridetothePacificCinemas.DarrenandIarrivefirst,again.Herepeatedlydrivesforwardand ($' backintheparkingspacedrawinglooksfrompeoplewanderingby.Imlaughinghysterically. *%) Maybeitwasbecauseofthegasthecarisalwaysventingoxidesfromtheengineintothecar ,'+  l-(, Ї   `     h      p      x  4  Darrenlaughsandsays There,IthinkwereparkedImrecoveringfrommyfits.Ihatewhat  _his_Ԁcardoestome.Wehandtheattendantourticketsonceinsidethetheatre d _and_Ԁaretoldtogoupstairsforourmovie.Darrendecidestogoofoffontheescalatorbymoving >  _in_Ԁtheoppositedirectionofwhereitisgoing.OncewefinallyreachthetopIbuymy  h selfpopcorn,notthattheatrepopcornwasanygood,buttheflavouringsarethereasonIbuythe  B  _wretched_Ԁstuff.$4.95foramediumthatIconsidersmall._Cheap_Ԁbastardsrippedmeoff.Ill   _make_Ԁupforitbyemptyingtheflavourjars.Ialmostemptythesaltandvinegarpowder,reduce   _the_Ԁsourcreamandonionbyhalf,taketwofifthstheketchupflavour.Itdoesntseemasit  _usually_Ԁdoes.Somethingmissing.MoodyandEvanshowupasIfinishmyabuseofthehonour Z _system_.Markmoodywantstotryit.HeseemstohavedevelopedatasteforthewayImakeit. 4 EvantalkstoDarrenaboutmattersIcarednotabout.IwalktothelittlearcadesectionMoody ^ _follows_.Wejokeabouthowoldthegamesare,Idecidetoplayone.Wewereright.Theyare 8 _old_,andboring.ThenDarrenwalksovertouse,wasabouttosaysomethingwhenhiscellphone  _rings_.   Youdorealizethisisawasteoftechnology.Darrenlaughs.IseeEvanonhisphone5metres v  _away_.Iknewitwas_him_Ԁcalling.Iwanderbacktothejars.Aha!ThatswhatIwasmissing.I P"  _take_Ԁthedillpicklepowderandpourquiteabiton.Perfect.IfeelalittleevilandaskifEvan *$z" wouldlikesomeofthehellmixtureI_concocketed_.HisreactionwaswhatIwantedtosee.He &T!$ _winced_Ԁandshookhisheadindisgust.Thepreviousaudienceburststhroughthedoorsandfloods '.#& downthehalltotheleft,signallingthatthemovieendedandwecouldenterandwaitforitto )%( _restart_.Themoviewasthesameasanyactionflick;somenobodybecomesaonemanarmyout +&* _of_Ԁtheblue. l-(, Ї_  __ ` __ __  __ h __  __  __ p __  __  __ x __ __Ԅ5_  ThoughtherewasanunexpectedscenewhenaCanadiancharacterappearsanddoesnotsay   _eh_oriswearingatoque. d   Afterthemoviewearedecidingwheretogo.Itwasonly_11:00,but_Ԁthenightwasrather >  _warm_,anddistressingme.Iwantedsnow,forfearofafuturedrought.  h  Howbout_theOlympia_?_asked_ԀDarren.  B   _No_ԀIdontwanttogothere._replied_ԀEvanlookingtohisleft,handsinhispockets.    HowabouttheA&Won22nd?    _Alright_.    IgetbackintoDarrensvehiclewhichInamedHell_car_andspedoff.Nineminutes Z _later_Ԁwepullintotheparkinglot. Isitevenopen?Iinquire.stoppingnexttotheglassdoor 4 Darrenreadsthetime. ^  No.Hereplies 8   WewaitforEvanandmarktoarrive.TwominuteslaterDarrencalls.Evandoesnot  _answer_Ԁhisphone.   Wherethehellishe?Idontrespond. Wecouldgototheoneon8thstreet.Ifeelsomething v  wrongwiththenight.Iwanttogohomebutsaynothing.Ifinallysay. P"   Maybeweshouldgolookforthem. *$z"  Right.withthatweareonourwaybacktothetheatrebutalongtootherstreetclosesttothe &T!$ ToysRUs.StoppingatthelightsweseethreepolicevehiclesaroundEvanscar.Darrens '.#& countingthecarsoutloud.Weturnandparkontheothersideofthestreet.Evanisgivinga )%( statement.ThenIseeMarklookinglikehesufferedamentalbreakdown. +&*  Ooohshit.Isaytomyself.Thisisnotagoodsign. l-(, Ї   `     h      p      x  6    Moodyissitinginthepassengerseatfacingthesidewalkwiththedooropen.We  enquiredastowhathadhappened,markgaveabriefstory,Darrenmadeajoketotryandcheer d upMoody,butafemalecopthatwastalkingwithevanwarnedusnottoharassthewitness,who >  _was_Ԁactuallyavictim,marktoldherwewerefriendstryingtohelp.Shegaveusascowl.I  h _frowned_Ԁather.  B  Evanthencameandtoldus.Apparentlywhentheywereinthecarahomelessmancameand   knockedonthecarwindow,Evanthoughthemighthaveaweaponorsomethinghitthe   acceleratorandtoreoff,twomencrossingthestreetkickedEvanscarashedroveby,Evanthen  _immediately_Ԁstoppedandthetwomenrantothecarandtoldthemtopullover.Theoneon Z Evanssideflashedabadge,then_evan_Ԁdrovebacktothesidewalk.Thehomelessmanhad 4 _disappeared_.ThefirstmanwastryingtointimidateEvan,weweretold,andapparentlyhad ^ _alcohol_Ԁonhisbreath.BeingabigpersonEvanwasnotthreatenedandsothemandecidedto 8 _pick_Ԁonmarkwhoisfivefooteleven,butonly98pounds.Heyelledatmarkthentoldbothmark  _and_Ԁevantogetoutofthecar.Themandraggedmarkoutandthrewhimonthecarstrunkand  _began_Ԁtosearchmark.Themanthenstartedmovinghishanddownthefrontofmarkspants v  _when_Ԁmarktoldhim donttouchmyfuckingdick!thisseemedtoangerthemanwhothen P"  precededtobangmarksheadagainstthecarwindowthreetimestheroofofthecaronce,allthe *$z" _while_Ԁmarkwasscreaming Policebrutality!_at_Ԁthetopofhislungs.Halfaminutelatereven &T!$ _heard_Ԁsomeoneyell showusyourbadge!whenEvanturnedaroundhesawaboutahundred '.#& _people_Ԁontheothersidewatchingthewholeordeal.Evanthenphonedthepoliceandthethree )%( _cruisers_Ԁshowedup.ThatwaswhenDarrenandIarrived.Itturnsouttheattackerisanoffduty +&* RCMPofficer,whoneverdidgivehisnameorbadgenumber. l-(, Ї   `     h      p      x  7  Markthenmadeacommentbetweentearsabouthowheneverexpectedsomethinglikeiscould  _happen_ԀinCanada.Thefemaleofficerthenverballyattackedhim.Andcalled_mark_Ԁa wingnut. d Forthewholetimethepolicewheretheretheydidnothelpus,theytookthesideofthe >  Attackers,theywouldnotlet_evan_Ԁpresscharges.Iwasconstantlygivingtheaggressoranevil  h _glare_Ԁandmadesureheknewit.Aftertheyallleftfivepeoplewhowherewatchingcameup  B  andaskedwhatmarkhaddone,markrepliedhehadnoidea,stillemotionallyshaken,the   RCMPofficerjustwantedtopickonsomeonesmaller.WedrovetoMarkshousetotellhis   motheraboutwhathappenedandsuggestedmarkgotothehospitaltohavehisarmcheckedout,  _the_ԀOffdutyRCMPofficerwasalsowrenchingmarksarmpainfully.Ididnotagreewithher Z _judgment_Ԁofkeepingmarkhomeandnotlethimseeadoctor.DarrenandEvansaidtheywould 4 _write_Ԁacomplainttothepoliceabouttheevent.ThisalltookplaceonFebruary_12th_,2002. ^  l-(, Ї   `    xvXXBreachOfTrust + {    `     h      p =vxEnglish30A     `     h      p By:MarkAndrews