KIM KITSURAGI - “The major is in a private hospital across the river. Turns out he's *insured*.” HALF LIGHT - There is unveiled anger in his voice. KIM KITSURAGI - “We won't get to him anymore. The good news is -- he's not coming here either. I did some damage.”

A BRIEF LOOK AT INFRA-MATERIALISM - If you're like most people, you probably believe that your thoughts reside in your brain, right? ENDURANCE - Maybe if you're some kind of binoclard. *You* on the other hand, are a gut-thinker, through and through.

SHIVERS - Few *petits rats* return from the shafts -- and even fewer find what they're looking for. A small child steps out of a black tunnel, with silver trinkets in her pockets.

KLAASJE - “Love is terror.” HALF LIGHT - Sheer terror. Panic and screaming.

YOU - “So it's the world that's the thought reader?” Noid - The young man picks up a level and inspects it against the floodlight. “Yes,” he says after a while. “I think it's correct to say that.” SHIVERS - THE WORLD IS A COLD SINK.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - You wanna party, don't you? Party right now with Miss Page-Three. *Unzip* and party.

SUNDAY FRIEND - “This fugitive must be turned over to the ICP immediately. Have you apprehended them already?” ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Turn her in now and you'll never get the chance to feel her sweet young flesh against yours.

YOU - “You should have a hat on.” ACELE - “So should you.” HALF LIGHT - You don't *have* to do anything.

YOU - Should I invite Kim to travel to the origin disco with me? ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Absolutely not.

KIM KITSURAGI - “Respiratory system…” Back hunched -- as if in prayer -- he begins to pry open the dead man's jaws. He stops to exert more force. Both hands are used. PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - He's really *doing* it -- the dead man's teeth cut into his gloved hands.

YOU - Who were you when you were alive? THE HANGED MAN - A killer. A motherfucker and a killer. HALF LIGHT - Takes one to know one.

ENDURANCE - Second chances are not about questions, they are about actions. Are you ready to start taking action, bröther?

HALF LIGHT - Quick, kill it with fire before it organises a *happening*! YOU - All stations beware, it's a level three happening-alert!

YOU - Why would anyone like it here? SHIVERS - It's home.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Old Filippe was also a prodigious snorter of nose candy. ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Not just *any* nose candy, though. We're talking royal *Filippian* blow, allegedly twice as potent as the stuff you find nowadays. And purple, Filippian cocaine was purple.

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - These manly men are playing *balls*. This is a *ball* game.

YOU - What's in the north? SHIVERS - An abandoned church that's being turned into a dance club. Four youths are hard at work there, making it ever harder core.

SHIVERS - Coal City is worse. A charred limb. Rain falls on its slick black streets.

FUCK THE WORLD - “It's the last thing you'll ever see before the void consumes you.” HALF LIGHT - You don't feel very scared.

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - It's just the comfortable darkness. Interrupted by the pain in your body. A telegraph, far away. PAIN THRESHOLD - Far enough not to hurt for a while.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Party later. Party in *private*. Like you would if you ever prayed.

CONCEPTUALIZATION - An idea. Told to him by grown ups, from radio towers and leaflets, in beautiful print when he was still a teenager: everything is possible. If we fight. PAIN THRESHOLD - And then he lost. So did they all.

YOU - “Revachol forever.” KLAASJE - “For ever and ever.” SHIVERS - And ever and ever…

JOYCE MESSIER - “I assure you, officer, these are *not* the sort of parties you'd want to attend.” ELECTROCHEMISTRY - She has no *idea* what kind of parties you've been to.

YOU - Punch the door. DOOR, ROOM 3 - You slam your fist into the vinyl. It does not produce a hole. The door sits sturdily in the frame and your fist hurts. This was all a very good, normal thing to do. PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Not to mention *great* exercise!

SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - “It reminds us of death. And we humans tend to think that death is pretty scary.” ENDURANCE - Death *is* scary. You can't just start over again. Or can you?

YOU - “Is that my coat up there? I'm pretty sure it's mine.” CUNO - “Is it? You got pretty fucked. Cuno's surprised you've still got your head after all that.” ENDURANCE - That explains the callouses on your hands. You scaled the side of the building, entertaining local kids.

YOU - It's not my fault this pinball operation failed. SHIVERS - No, but how does it make you feel, to dig through its trash? YOU - Like an intruder.

YOU - Was I right? SHIVERS - YOU WERE.

SHIVERS - WHAT IS THIS PLACE TO YOU? YOU - It's free. That's good enough. I could live here.