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The Bottleneck Years by H.E.Taylor - Chapter 97

By illconsidered on June 19, 2014.

The Bottleneck Years

by H.E. Taylor
Chapter 96 Table of Contents Chapter 98

Chapter 97

The Trial, March 18, 2061

Although I had resolved never to expose Edie and Anna to Jon's vitriol since the first call, I didn't have a lot of choice when it came to the trial. Unfortunately, I had a class at the same time. By the time I got back to my office, it was over. The video transcript was not yet online, so I headed home.

It was a warm day. As I walked along the lake, the trees were turning green. Birds were singing. Ducks splashed in the water. It was beautiful, but I rather dreaded what I might find when I got home.

The house was quiet --- so quiet, I called out to see if anyone was there. Edie answered from the basement and I went down to see her.

She was bent over in front of a fab, scowling at a listing of code on a padd.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought there was something wrong with this fab, so I ran this test piece off on another one, and it came out the same. It's the damned template and I don't see why." She shoved a piece of plasteel at me.

It was a bar about 20 cm. long that could have been a part of several things. I took it and turned it end for end. "Okay, what am I supposed to see?"

"See that wave?"

"Yeah."

"It's supposed to be straight."

"Oh. Well good luck with that. Did you watch the trial?"

"Yeah." She put the padd down and turned to me. "Not much happened."

"What?"

"Jon mouthed off at the judge. The judge declared a recess."

"Ah."

Edie looked at me closely. "How are you?"

I shrugged. "Coping, I would say. Coping." I kissed her cheek. "I'm going to have a shower. Care to join me?"

"I'd like to, but I'm supposed to have this damned thing ready this evening."

"Have fun."

I had my shower, then went up to the library and checked for the video transcript of the trial. It was, as Edie had said, over quickly. Jon was still ranting when the judge declared a recess until Monday.

Excerpted from _The Bottleneck Years_ by H.E. Taylor

For further information, see
A Gentle Introduction.

If you want a copy, see
The Deal.

Last modified June 17, 2014

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