I didn’t know that this was Alexei’s preferred form of entertainment: just flat out ruining your childhood imagination while he does it in such a casual manner that you’d begin to think that he does this as a professional job. I’m kinda wondering, did he already have this kind of conversation with Hiro?
If he did, what a poor kid. He’d probably grow up brooding at one corner of his poorly-lit room with eyeliners running down the corners of his eyes looking like a toerag with emotional issues and a bad taste in music.
“Do you do this often?”
He turned to me, the ghost of a lopsided smile still visible on his face. “What?”
“Making people regret talking to you.”
“Mm-hmm,” he said and leaned back. “People aren’t ready for the truth. Everything is an illusion. Lies are the opium of the peo
