10: The Padlock
DJ woke first and immediately checked buoy C17-H42. Then he checked the time. Too early. The next transmission wasn’t due yet.
Before going to sleep, DJ had broken into the communications server and tried to link directly to the Internet without going through Black Mountain’s networks. He hoped that being outside of Stone River proper would get him within reach of a connection not firewalled by a corporation, but no luck. Every attempt ended in “no connection available.” Apparently, The Butler had been locked out at the Hestia end. So, DJ established and tested his connection to C17-H42. It had nothing for him then and it had nothing for him now.
Below his feet, Paul slept. They needed to get up and get food, but it was only four in the morning. They had time yet. DJ che
