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.Joss looked at a navigation screen that named the mountains and other features in the region, but he glossed over them in his mind.Out here, names did not matter.The pair could slack off for twenty minutes at a time, relaxing and talking while the onboard systems kept the wings flapping, utilizing stored power generated by their efforts.Any longer than that, and the ornithopter’s automated systems would give them the option of resuming their efforts immediately, or flying them back to their home reservation on solar-reserve battery power.Joss considered how to bring up the subject he’d wanted to discuss with Kupi, their increasingly awkward relationship.He couldn’t quite frame the words.“It’s so quiet and peaceful up here,” Kupi said, interrupting his thoughts.“Don’t you ever wish you could get away from the J-Mac crew and just live in the wilderness?”“You mean like those renegade forest people we’ve heard about?”“Yes, it has a romantic sound, doesn’t it, a free and easy life? Logically, people shouldn’t be able to elude detection by the GSA government, because the authorities have such sophisticated scanning and search devices.But between you and me, Joss, there are renegades living in the woods anyway, using electronic scramblers and other methods to keep from being discovered.I have friends in touch with me by various means, so I know this is true.”“Anarchists, presumably?”“Some are, but others have been persecuted for their religious beliefs, because they follow Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other banned religions.In the wilderness, they are free to worship as they please.”“People are out there living the high life, eating berries, leaves, grub worms, and red ants?”She made a face.“If I lived in the woods I’d rather fish and hunt.Just think of it, Joss, we could eat meat whenever we feel like it.”“Yeah, as long as we can knock it off the hoof.”Kupi stared out a side window.“No rules except one: survive.I like the sound of it.”“You would, Kupi, being an anarchist.You say there are people out in the woods, hiding and living off the land.But what if there were so many anarchists out there that they needed to form rules in order to keep from bumping into each other and having problems? What if the anarchists found they needed—I hate to say it—some form of government, or just a police force?”She smiled.“You seek to trap me with your logic, but you’re extrapolating too far, setting up a preposterous scenario.Yes, there are anarchists living in the woods at this very moment, beyond GSA control, but there are not so many that they would consider forming governmental or quasi-governmental entities.True anarchists would rather die first.”“And are you a true anarchist?”She reddened.“Perhaps not, but if I am not pure I am not alone in having flaws.There are, admittedly, certain attractive elements to the lives that you and I lead.I must admit that I get a major rush whenever I fire Black Thunder!”“And when we run out of areas to split and greenform? What will you do then?”“What any good anarchist would do.I’ll just fade to black.”“Meaning?”“I haven’t thought it through completely.”“How about our relationship? Have you thought that through completely?”Kupi swung out of her power station and leaned over Joss, kissing him on the neck and moving around to his mouth.“What’s to think about?” she asked.“A lot,” he said.“Sometimes I think we’re too different to last.”“Then live for today, my love.” She kissed him passionately.He pulled away and looked at her, feeling his mounting desire, but trying to suppress it.“What about tomorrow?”“We’re back to work tomorrow, Joss.You know that.We’re taking a train to the Berkeley Reservation, the glorious capital of Rahma’s counterculture revolution.”“You know I’m talking about more than that; I’m talking about all of the tomorrows in our lives.”“How romantic, and poetic.So, you want to talk about our relationship, eh? I thought that men were terrified of the ‘r’ word, but here you are bringing it up.”“I just want to know where we stand.”She smiled, and it struck him how much younger than forty-five she looked.In her early thirties like him, he thought, as she nuzzled against him and breathed hot air on his ear
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