The driver then drove quickly away.

John lay on the ground and sang the radio station’s number. It had a catchy jingle, which was how he remembered it. He’d been taught the alphabet in the same way.

John asked Dan to help him up.

Beth looked over the bridge.

264

Sitting in a bar in Manhattan, Graham Johansson asked the barman if he wouldn’t mind turning the radio down.

“Sure, it’s not a good one today. Not like ‘Fight the Good Fight.’ Did you hear that one? That was great radio. Tried to call in myself, some of my customers ran out of the bar, others started drinking like there was no tomorrow. I guess it’s ’cos of where the bar is.”

Graham nodded. Financial district. Full of brokers. He must have walked miles.

263

The taxi driver sucked his knuckles and muttered to himself. Another fare gone. Perhaps he’d overreacted. He blamed the stress of the job.

262

Graham Johansson left the bar and flagged down a cab and told it to take him to the airport.

“You going on vacation?”

“No.”

“Business trip?”

“No.”

“You a pilot?” asked the taxi driver.

“Yes.”

Man, he smelled of booze, thought the driver.

261

Clara Redlake pulled in for gas. She didn’t want to stray away from the radio so she got a man to fill her up. She ignored his leers at the suggestive comment and didn’t tip him.

260

The ex-government agent got in a cab and told it to take him north. He couldn’t walk anymore. He’d go back to where those two quiet cooking women were and sleep till noon. He smelled of sick.

259

Edward the Fireman wondered what Activist 345 had up her sleeve on this occasion. She was taking a big risk so he guessed the target must be a pretty big one. He listened out for explosions.

Edward realized he was near some big financial institutions and so thought it might be a good idea to move on. Just in case. He didn’t relish getting caught up in an explosion caused by the organization to which he’d pledged his, albeit unasked for, allegiance.

An old man helped him to his feet and asked him if he’d been shot. Edward said no and advised the man to head toward a politically unprovocative part of town. The old man asked where that might be. Edward said good point.

258

Some commercials played on The Penny Lock Show.

Insurance. A Web design company. A discount electrical retailer . . .

257

Edward limped and dripped blood. Activist 345 would certainly need some backup. Moral support at the very least. He winced in pain and hoped that she wouldn’t be requiring any physical assistance, or rough stuff.

256

Penny hurried into Tamy’s booth to see if Emma was still on the line.

“No, I cut her off,” said the producer.

“I said get her off the air, not cut the call altogether.”