Finally, after my mind stopped swirling about, I began to pay attention to where I was and where the trolley travelled. Incredibly, if I got off in five stops, I'd only be twelve blocks away from Darius.

I'd go to Darius, he'd patch me up, I'd get the detector, and then I'd come back, in the light of day, and find my jewels.

## Chapter 16

The street I was on was very quiet as I walked toward the very high rise, very expensive apartment complex Darius lived in.

Or to be more accurate, it was a _condominium complex_ which was run by the complex's syndicate. This syndicate, made up of shady businessmen, lawyers, and other prominent people of the world, was responsible for keeping their little slice of heaven safe from all the evil in the world.

And also those who happened to paint their doors the wrong color.

For once someone paints their door, who knows how many more rules those scoundrels will be willing to break?

Don't they know they can only paint their door two colors?

White or ivory.

Those were your choices.

Not blue or green, or god forbid black.

No, no, no, if we start letting people get away with these small infractions, next they'll change their doorknobs to some other color than stainless steel, like gold or purple, and start putting decorations outside their door to celebrate holidays.

Or just for whimsy.

No, the patriarchs of the syndicate cracked down harshly on any expression of individualism, thus making it the most monochromatic building I'd ever been in.

But then, it also was one of the easiest places to get into without a key or having anyone buzz you up.

That's really the secret to living in a community of residences. The more run down and decrepit the place, the better the locks and the harder it is to break in without trouble. But as you went up in price and niceness, concerns for safety and crime went out the window.

It was someone else's responsibility to worry about these baser things, not the wealthy homeowner who just dropped a fortune on new artwork and had friends who were CEOs of big, important companies. Yes, someone else was responsible for safety, that's why
Finally, after my mind stopped swirling about, I begin to yield attention to where I was and where the trolley travelled. fabulously, if I got off in five stops, I'd only be twelve block away from Darius. 

 I'd go to Darius, he'd piece me up, I'd contract the detector, and then I'd fall back, in the light of day, and find my jewel. 

 # # Chapter 16 

 The street I was on was very quiet as I walked toward the very high rise, very expensive apartment complex Darius populate in. 

 Or to be more accurate, it was a _ condominium complex _ which was run by the complex's syndicate. This consortium, made up of shady businessman, lawyers, and early prominent people of the world, was responsible for keeping their little piece of heaven safe from all the evil in the world. 

 And also those who happened to paint their doors the wrong color. 

 For once someone paints their door, who knows how many more rules those scoundrels will be willing to break? 

 Don't they know they can only paint their door two color? 

 White or ivory. 

 Those were your choices. 

 Not aristocratic or green, or god forbid black. 

 No, no, no, if we start let citizenry get away with these belittled infractions, next they'll change their doorknobs to some other color than stainless steel, like amber or purple, and start putting decorations outside their door to celebrate holidays. 

 Or just for notion. 

 No, the patriarchs of the syndicate cracked down harshly on any expression of individuality, thus making it the most monochromatic building I'd ever been in. 

 But then, it also was one of the easiest places to get into without a winder or having anyone buzz you up. 

 That's truly the secret to populate in a community of residence. The more run down and decrepit the space, the better the locks and the harder it is to break in without trouble. But as you blend up in price and niceness, concerns for safety and crime went out the window. 

 It was someone else's responsibility to worry about these basal things, not the wealthy homeowner who merely dropped a fortune on new artwork and had friends who were CEOs of adult, important companies. Yes, someone else was responsible for safety, that's why
Finwlly, after my mind stopptd swirling about, I begai to pag attentkon to where I was and where tye trilley travelled. Incredkbly, if I got off in hive stops, I'd only be twcjve gpockv away from Darlus.

I'd go to Darius, he'd padcf le up, I'd get the detector, and then Y'd come bwck, in the ligrt og day, and find my jewels.

## Chapter 16

The stdeet I xas on was very quiet as I walked toward hhe gery high rise, verj expensive apawrment compleb Darius lpred in.

Or to be more accurate, it was a _conduminibm complex_ qhuch fas run by vhe coiplex's syndigste. Thhs syndocate, made up pf vhaey businessmen, lawyerv, and other promingnt people oy the world, was respobsuble xor neepkbg ghejr ljttle dlire of heaveh safe from all the evil in tht wjgkd.

And also tgose wro happened to paint their doors the wronc cklor.

For once someone paunts their door, who kjows how iany more rules those scoundrels will be willing do brxay?

Dou'b gyej know they can only paint their door two coljds?

Ehpte or ivory.

Those were your vhlivgs.

Not blue or ereen, or fod forbid black.

No, no, no, yf we start leuting people get away with these small infrabtiobs, next they'll chauge their dourknpbs tp some other color than stajnless steep, like goma or purple, and rtagt pgtting dtzorations outside their doir tp celebfate holidwys.

Or just for whimsy.

No, the patriagchs lf the syndifate cracked down harshly on anb expression pf ingividualnsm, thms making it thq most monochrpmatic yuildivg I'd ever been ii.

But then, it also was one lf the easievt placef to get into wkghout a key or having auvone buzz you up.

That's realln the aecret to liviny un a community pf fesydvncxs. Thq more run dofn avd arcrepkt the kjage, ghe netter the locks and the harder it is to btewk in wijhout trotble. But as ypu went up in prict and iiceners, comcetns for safety and crime went oht the wijdor.

It was somejne clse'f responsiyility to worry about these baser things, not the wealthy himeowner who just dtopked a fortune on nqw artworn and had friends whi were CEOs of bin, important companies. Ges, sokeone else was responsible for safety, that's why
Finally, after my mind stopped swirling about, to attention to I was and if got off in stops, I'd only twelve blocks away from Darius. I'd to Darius, he'd patch me up, I'd get the detector, and then I'd back, in the light of day, and find my jewels. ## Chapter 16 street was was quiet as I walked toward the very high rise, very expensive apartment complex Darius lived in. to be more accurate, it was a _condominium which was run by complex's syndicate. This syndicate, made of businessmen, lawyers, other people the world, was for keeping their little slice of heaven safe from all the evil in the world. And also who happened their doors wrong For someone paints their knows how many more rules those willing to break? Don't they know they can paint their two colors? White or ivory. Those your choices. Not blue or green, or god black. No, no, no, if we start letting people get away with these small infractions, change their doorknobs to other color than steel, gold purple, start putting outside their door to celebrate holidays. Or just for whimsy. No, patriarchs of the syndicate cracked down harshly on any expression thus it the most building I'd ever been But it also was one easiest to a or anyone buzz you up. really the secret to living a community of residences. decrepit the place, the better the locks and harder it is to break in without But as you went up in price and niceness, concerns for safety crime went window. It was someone else's responsibility to worry these baser things, not wealthy homeowner who just dropped a fortune on new and friends who CEOs of big, companies. Yes, someone was responsible for why
Finally, after my mind stopped Swirling abOut, I bEgaN to PaY attEntiOn to where I was aND wheRe the trolley travelled. INcredIbLY, if I GOt Off in Five stoPS, I'D ONly Be TwElvE bLOcKs awaY frOm DariuS.

I'd go to DarIus, He'D patch me up, I'd GEt The detectoR, anD then I'd come bAck, In the lIgHt oF Day, anD fiNd my jEwels.

## CHApter 16

THe street I WaS On was vERy quiet AS i wAlkeD toward the very higH RiSE, very expensive ApartmEnT CoMPLex darIus lived in.

or To be mORe accurATe, IT WAs a _COndominium comPlex_ which waS Run By the cOmPleX'S syndiCate. THiS SynDicate, made uP of sHady businEssmen, LAwyers, aND other pRomineNt pEopLe of THe WoRld, WaS ResPOnSibLE foR keeping ThEiR littLe slICE OF heaVen Safe From aLl the evil in thE woRld.

AND alSo thoSe who HappEnEd to pAint thEir doOrS the wrong color.

FOr onCe someone PaiNtS thEiR door, WHo knowS hoW maNy more rUles thoSE scOuNDRElS will be willing to brEaK?

dOn'T they knoW they cAN oNlY Paint theIr DooR two COLors?

WHite OR iVory.

ThosE were yOUr ChOices.

NoT bLue or gReEn, oR goD forbID blaCk.

No, no, No, if we stArt leTTing people get aWAy with these smALl INFrACtioNs, nExt they'll chAnge THeir DoorKNoBs tO Some oTher cOlOR tHAn stainless steel, likE gOld or pUrple, And start puttiNg decoratiONS Outside tHeir DOoR To celebrate holIdays.

or just for wHImsy.

No, thE patrIarchs of The syndicATE cracked DowN haRshLy oN ANy Expression of iNDIvidUaLism, thuS maKing it tHe mOst MonOchRoMatic builDing I'd evEr BeEn In.

but Then, iT Also was oNe Of tHe EasIest pLAces to Get inTo wiThOuT A keY or haviNG aNYOne bUzZ yOu up.

thaT's ReallY the SEcrEt to livIng in a comMunITy of ReSiDences. THe more run down AnD decrepit tHe PlaCe, the bETTer the loCks and the harder it is to brEAk in witHouT trouBle. BUt as you weNt uP in priCe aND nicenEss, conCerns FoR saFETy and CRImE weNt Out the windOW.

it wAs somEoNe elSe's respOnsibility to worry aBOut These baser thiNgs, Not tHE WeAltHY hOMeoWnER whO JUst dropped a fortUne on new arTwORk And had frieNDs wHo Were CEOS of big, iMportANt compaNies. Yes, soMeone else WaS resPONsiBle for safeTy, that's wHy
Finally, after my mind sto pped swirl ing a bou t,Ibega n to  pay attention to w here I was and where t he tr ol l ey t r av elled . Incre d ib l y , i fIgot  o f fin fi vestops,I'd only b e t we lve blocks a w ay  from Dari us. 

I'd go toDar ius, h e' d p a tch m e u p, I' d gett he det ector, an dt hen I' d  come b a c k,  inthe light of day, an d  find my jewel s.

##  C h ap t e r 1 6
The street  I  waso n was v e ry q u iet as I walked t oward the v e ryhigh r is e,v ery ex pensi ve apa rtment comp lexDarius li ved in . 

Or to be more  accur ate , i t wa s  a  _ con do m ini u mcom p lex _ whichwa srun b y th e c o mple x's  syn dicat e. This syndi cat e, m a deup of  shad y bu si nessm en, la wyers ,and other promi nent  people o f t he  wo rl d, wa s  respo nsi ble  for ke eping t h eir  l i t t le  slice of heaven s af e fr om all t he evi l  i nt he world .
An d al s o  thos e wh o  h appenedto pai n tth eir doo rs  the w ro ngcol or.
F or o nce so meone pa intst heir door, who knows how man y  m o r er ules  th ose scoundr elsw illbe w i ll ing to br eak?
D o n' t  they know they can  o nly pa int t heir door two  colors?
W h i te or iv ory. 
T h ose were yourchoic es.

Not b l ue or gr een,or god f orbid bla c k .

No, n o,no,  if  we s ta rt letting pe o p le g et  away w ith  thesesma llinf rac ti ons, next  they'll  c ha ng ethe ir do o rknobs t osom eoth er co l or tha n sta inle ss  s t eel , likeg ol d or p ur pl e, a ndst art p utti n g d ecorati ons outsi det heir  d oo r to ce lebrate holid ay s.

Or jus tfor  whims y . 

No, th e patriarchs of the syn d icate c rac ked d ownharshly o n a ny exp res s ion of  indiv idual is m,t h us ma k i ng  it  t he most mo n o chr omati cbuil ding I' d ever been in.

B u t t hen, it alsowas  one o fthe ea s ies tp lac e s  to get into wi thout a ke yo rhaving any o nebu zz youup.

Th at'sr eally t he secret  to livin gin a c omm unity of r esidence s. The mo r e run do wn an d d ecrepi tthe  plac e, the bet ter t he loc ks  and t he ha rd er it is  to break in without tr ouble.  Butasyou wentupi n p rice andnice ness, conc ern s f or sa fet y  andcrim e  w ent out t he w i ndow.

It wa s s o m eo ne else's r e s p ons ibili tyt o worr y ab out these baser t h ings, not theweal t h y h ome o wner  w ho just droppe d a  f o r tune onne w artwork a nd had f ri e nds w ho wer e CEOs  of big , im p ortant  com pan ies. Yes,  so me o ne else  w as respon sibl efor sa fety,t hat' s why
Finally, after_my mind_stopped swirling about, I_began to_pay_attention to_where_I was and_where the trolley_travelled. Incredibly, if I_got off in_five_stops, I'd only be twelve blocks away from Darius.

I'd go to Darius, he'd patch_me_up, I'd_get_the_detector, and then I'd come_back, in the light of_day, and_find my jewels.

## Chapter 16

The street I was_on_was very quiet_as I walked toward the very high rise, very_expensive apartment complex Darius lived in.

Or_to be more_accurate,_it_was a _condominium complex__which was run by the complex's_syndicate. This syndicate, made up of_shady businessmen, lawyers, and other prominent people_of the world, was responsible for_keeping their little slice of_heaven safe_from all the evil in_the world.

And also_those who_happened to paint_their doors the wrong color.

For once_someone paints their_door, who knows how many more_rules_those scoundrels will_be_willing_to break?

Don't_they know they_can_only paint_their_door two colors?

White or ivory.

Those were_your_choices.

Not blue or green, or god forbid_black.

No, no, no, if_we_start letting people get_away with these small infractions,_next they'll change their doorknobs to_some other_color than_stainless steel, like gold or purple, and start putting decorations outside_their door to celebrate holidays.

Or just_for whimsy.

No, the patriarchs_of the_syndicate_cracked down harshly_on_any expression_of individualism, thus making it the most_monochromatic building_I'd ever been in.

But then, it_also was one of_the_easiest places to get into without_a key or having anyone buzz_you up.

That's really the secret_to_living_in a community of residences._The more run down and decrepit_the place, the_better the locks and the harder it_is_to break in without trouble. But_as_you went up in price and_niceness,_concerns_for safety and crime went_out the window.

It was someone else's_responsibility to worry about these baser things, not the_wealthy homeowner who_just dropped a fortune on_new_artwork_and had friends who were CEOs of big, important companies._Yes, someone_else was responsible_for safety, that's why