Chapter 1 - Part 1

Outside Tucson, Arizona, American Province

The dirt road near the Cañada del Oro Wash was rockier now after last week's storm. Each uncovered boulder now shook the dice dangling from Curtis Erickson's rear-view mirror. This was Curtis first opportunity to test out his new truck's four-wheel drive. So far it was passing the test, but Curtis clearly was not used to driving a stick shift. Each rock he hit in the road would cause Curtis to swerve the truck in a seemingly unnatural direction. But with each, Curtis seemed to be getting the truck under better control.

Curtis bought the truck with his advance payment. It was a vintage 2021 Dodge Ares. It was difficult finding a retro-fit early 21st Century car. Most had been banned when the Green Party took power in the 2070s. It was luck that Curtis and his brother Steven were able to find one at a local dealer who sells antique vehicles.

Would his bosses find out about his new car? A truck from the 21st Century costs far more than a code monkey can ever hope to afford in a lifetime. Certainly, Curtis could not drive it to work. His parents did not die wealthy. Curtis' mom was a high-school physics teacher. His father was the chair of the local Green Party, but the party had been out of power for almost his entire life, so that certainly was not a cushy job. Curtis and his brother did not grow up poor, certainly not. However, a vintage car was still beyond the means of most. Curtis could not drive his truck around town, that's for sure. While the car itself was vintage, its engine was brand-new, and everything about its electronics was modern. In other words, the innards of Curtis' new car would make a car thief drool.

Just as Curtis was getting the hang of driving his new prize, he was approaching his objective.

Curtis was driving to a clearing near the edge of wash. Waiting there was a much more modern hover convertible, with black exterior, and apparently, leather seats (likely not REAL leather). Waiting at the back of the car was a tall man with black sun glasses with a green polo shirt and black slacks, his short, cropped hair slicked back. Much more fashionable than Curtis expected.

Curtis pulled the truck up beside the convertible. He hesitated...was he doing the right thing? What if he gets caught? Could they trace the download to his system? He opened the glove compartment are removed the data card, then slowly opened the door.

"We told you not to buy anything flashy."

"Well, it's my money; I can spend it how I like. I just have to be careful where I drive it, that's all."

"It was still idiotic. You have the information we want?"

"Yes. It was not easy to get. I had to use some safe guards to keep them tracing the transfer. I may need to run."

"That's not my problem. That truck could put suspicion on you. You really should get rid of it. Regardless, let me see the card."

The buyer took the data card from Curtis and put it into his PDA.

"We will transfer the money when I verify the contents."

"So do all you guys go by pseudonyms? The guy I talked to said his name was Mammon. That's from Paradise Lost, isn't it?"

"Yeah, one of Lucifer's lieutenants."

After a few minutes, the man in dark sunglasses' PDA started to beap. It had finished analyzing the card. The man clearly was satisfied.

"Well, that's a shame... Anyways, the contents look like their in order. Enter your account number and verify your identity."

Curtis walked up to the nameless man's laptop and entered the information he wanted. As he did so, the man in dark sunglasses took out a gun from his left pants pocket.

"It will take a minute to confirm the transfer. You know, I only got about halfway through Paradise Lost in college. I could never get past the language Milton used. Worse than Shakespeare, I think."

"Well, that's a shame..."

A gunshot rang out.

Preface - Part 2

The mind is its own place, and in it self
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.
What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less then hee
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.
- Satan in John Milton's Paradise Lost