3

Location: City Airspace.

Location: Somewhere above the New City.

Time: Monday, 12:30.

They talked a lot. She talked about the importance of studying strangers, he - army tales. Over the Insectarium, Ernest poked fun at the habits of the Josers, and over the glass pyramids, Agnett commemorated her colleagues in the department. In general, it could be said that the flight was successful. Especially considering that the temporary unemployed and ex-combatant in general remembered the direction of the main streets and highways of the City.

“You shouldn’t be looking at the roads,” the redhead said categorically. - Look at the rooftops.

- Why did it happen?

- From some rooftops of the Old and New Towns, you can see half of the city.

Do you often jump on rooftops in heels?

Agnett chuckled into her fist, and then poked them in the shoulder. Lightly. But, nevertheless - unexpectedly for A.N.

- Fool. No, but they showed me one roof ... From it you can see four occultories, and the river. I really want to visit it during some of the star holidays of the "owners".

“And the river at sunset, isn’t it?”

- We'll find out now. Didn't get to her at this time of day.

The airship spent the final part of the flight along the river. Ernest finally found a way to turn up the volume on the excursion speaker, and the back row of the gondola spent the whole time over the river in silence. This somewhat calmed the rather nervous Rolando, who had seen everything during his work. And the back row silently admired the rich blue color of the slowly flowing river. Well, the beginning of the sunset of the first of the three suns, of course.

On network forums, it was advised to watch only the first sunset. Starting slowly and imperceptibly, but ending the day in deep twilight after the end. Ernest remembered the advice. Agnett, apparently, too - almost all the time they were looking out the window over the river. Only when the ship began to descend did he feel the insistent clapping of his fingers through the material of the sleeve.

"We're descending," the redhead remarked, pointing her chin at the approaching ground.

— Um, oh yes. It was nice talking to you, Agnett.

The girl smiled tightly and turned away. It dawned on Ernest what a faux pas he had made, so he made an attempt to recapture the position:

- Can we talk more? I don't have a local registration, but I don't think...

Me too, don't worry.

- And how can we be? The ex-combatant raised an eyebrow.

“Please, buckle up,” puzzled Andronika quickly moved between the seats. “We're descending and landing within ten minutes.

“Come on,” said Ernest quickly. “I will be free tonight. Quite in the evening. Set a day, place, and time, and I'll be there.

“Hmm…” Agnett thought emphatically. The ground was getting closer and faster. - And I will have a very busy week, I need to think.

And the next six months? Ernest smiled wryly. His answer was a melodic laugh.

— It's not that bad. Well, today I'll be free too... - she hesitated - in the evening. If you insist...

— I insist.

- Let me think.

The airship gently bumped into the mooring mast. After a couple of minutes, the mooring officers fixed him, and Rolando, tired of calming the passengers who jumped up, silently opened the exit hatch. Passengers climbed briskly away, not listening to the standard phrases of the end of the flight. Already at the exit, politely saying goodbye to the noticeably cheered up guide, pilot and conductor, Ernest drew attention to the time. 16-30. Too much. Damn, he thought, what if the delay was not half an hour, but an hour? And so it’s not a fact that he will have time - and then, according to old memory, he will have to spend the night in the open.

- Thinking?

Agnett, who followed, was clearly confused in her hands and accessories. Ernest calmly took the girl's small (but very heavy) backpack and takes it while the fellow traveler dealt with the sleeves of the green coat and gloves. It was getting colder.

“I don’t want to think here when you are delaying the answer.

“Funny…” the redhead rolled her eyes. But with a slight smile. - Come on. There is a cafe-bar in the Old City. It's called Dirty Harry. I'll be waiting for you there at ten o'clock. And up to ten or thirty. How do you like this arrangement?

- It's coming.

- See you then, - Agnett winked and turned around on the spot.

Soon her green coat disappeared into the crowd. Ernest stood awkwardly for a while. Then he shook himself and went to the cell. He wasn't going to trust storage cells in an unfamiliar city yet.

I’ll have to buy a trench coat from the first paycheck, Ernest thought inappropriately, somehow distracted from the memories of Agnett. The uniform jacket, although it was comfortable, was not at all conducive to gatherings with girls.

He found an office pretty quickly. In fact, her building was located a twenty-minute walk from the station. Well, as a "building" - a shell sandwiched between two massive buildings. One of dozens of these in the city. And one of the thousands with a segregation green badge. Everyone, except for the Charterers and the hosts, is not allowed to enter.

It was not in Ernest's habits to enter the room without looking at the escape routes. But there was little time left. And inside there were probably rooms with full benches of the same goners as himself. Whether the freshly baked expat wanted it or not, he had to go right away. and A.N. made up my mind.

The bell rang on the front door. Before Ernest had time to open his mouth, he was already met by a run-out campaigner.

- Good evening, good evening. We are always pleased to see a relative.

"Yes... me too," the ex-combatant grimaced.

— Please take a ticket and wait for your call.

Talon in the age of the laser and the cryogenic fugue, not bad, thought Ernest. But he took the paper. However, he did not have to wait long - as soon as he took off his hat and jacket, his number was called to the sixth window. A calm woman with a reassuring smile was already waiting for him at the counter.

- Hello. Ernest A En.

- Good evening. Your ID card, please... All right, all right. The package of documents is ready, there is no need to wait. You must be fingerprinted right away. If you hand over tissue samples and a pheromone trail, you will receive a discount on the “red” class insurance. Fifteen percent. Believe me, this is a good offer.

The woman at the desk looked friendly and sympathetic. But the feeling of doubt that had grown during the service made itself felt by A.N.

“Thanks, I’ll refuse,” Ernest grimaced and raised his index finger. A non-contact scanner popped out of the table top. He read his fingerprint, blinked and disappeared.

“So… you have a canceled bankruptcy filing, don’t you?”

- Exactly.

- The "owners" do not care about them, and most of the other financial institutions. But…” the bureaucrat even leaned confidentially, “If you need a loan, it’s completely unofficial…”

“Thank you, I’ll refuse this offer as well,” Ernest smiled coldly.

“Well, then it's all right. Your apartment is in a very convenient location. Old City, lane 15b, building 22, apartment 812. The place, of course, has a normal name, but it is on the "master" and it is not indicated in the papers.

- I am completely satisfied.

- If you do not find a formal job within two weeks, you will be deprived of the right to social housing. If within four, you will be deported.

A.N. raised his eyebrows. He understood that the migration office in the Metropolis kept silent about a lot. But now the suspicion crept into him that not much had been said. Maybe instead of deportation they will let him go to kebab? Who knows the local traditions?

- Wow, famously, - only Ernest managed to squeeze out of himself. It is strange that I was not told about such nuances before departure.

“Oh, my dear, there is a lot of things they are silent about,” the female bureaucrat suddenly switched to “you”. - After three months of permanent work, the residence permit is extended until the end of the year. Every year you must write a report on the availability of work.

“Sounds like it, to be honest. And when will they give a look not for a year?

— After three years of living in the city. But don't worry, here's to you... - a pile of booklets appeared on the counter - ... a stack of current vacancies. Are you good at something?

“Something and a little on top,” Ernest chuckled.

“Then you’ll find a job even before you say the full name of the city.” So, here's the package with your ID card. You can leave the old one as a talisman - it is almost never accepted anywhere. The package contains an activation code for a collection of basic city laws, you can d******d the full one yourself. Communicator please. Done, it's registered now. Sign here and you are a free charter, congratulations!

Green blank. Ernest looked at the light - the watermarks are clear. He brought it to an ultraviolet lamp - the watermarks came to life, as if jumped out into space.

- Every time I am surprised by their technologies, like the first, - the woman sighed.

Archaic pen. Painting. Second copy, pen again, painting again.

The package of documents went into the army pressurized backpack taken from the suitcase. Essential items were also moved there - tobacco, a pipe cleaner, some cash and an umbrella. But Ernest imperceptibly put brass knuckles in his jacket. He, of course, had heard a lot about the right of residents (or Charterers, he still confused these concepts) to weapons. Including cold. But have not yet felt this right.

For now.

Landing Page : Old City Old Newspaper

Title : Ao_Ao Group Spokesman - Crime within the Statistical Norm

Host Approved : yes

Ao_Ao Group spokesman Neil Wagelhof commented to our journalist on the topic of complaints from residents of the southwestern part of the Old City. According to Mr. Wagelhof, the degree of activity of criminals is significantly exaggerated by rumors.

- There are no organized gangs in the territory under our jurisdiction. As you know, Ao_Ao controls exclusively "green" areas and solely on private insurance funds. Thus, we are not dependent on municipal contributions and are able to conduct business independently. The crime detection rate is high at 56%.

Recall that earlier residents of the lane "Thirteen Be" and several adjacent complained about several gangs, consisting of juvenile representatives of the human race. An anonymous source reports that not so long ago he caught three teenagers brandishing melee weapons right on the sidewalk, one of whom, in addition, was equipped with a kinetic pistol. However, Wagelhof denies the possibility of such a situation:

- No, it can't be. The only gang that has existed for the past three weeks is the Joser gang from the Vagut hive. It was liquidated a week ago, and since then large criminal formations have not climbed into the areas under our control.

The civilians interviewed by our correspondent reacted ambiguously to the retelling of Mr. Wagelhof's speech. Unfortunately, we cannot accurately convey their statements for reasons of editorial policy. Note, however, that the angry reviews included at least eight unrelated offenses punishable by at least third-degree disciplinary action.