My Library

The desk clerk dropped the card into the pouch on his belt. (That ought to about cover it.) I started to protest. (But that’s all I got, I can’t …) (In that case we’ll have to flag you.) The second KGB stepped forward and took my hands. (Can’t have you walking around upsetting things without any ident.) I flickered. (What are you going to do?) The second KGB pulled a small flat box out of his pouch and opened it. (Hold still, this won’t hurt.) He took one hand and pressed my fingertips into the box. I thought, fingerprints, they’re taking my fingerprints. But I was wrong. A black dye spread quickly up my fingers until it covered my entire hand. As I stared at it, bewildered, they stuck the fingers of my other hand into the box and I had two black hands. I tried to rub it off, but it had penetrated the skin. The first KGB looked at my hands, satisfied. (That ought to do it. At least the people will see you coming.) (And be warned,) the second KGB added. (I’d advise you to go back home. Not much action for you here, the way you are. No ident to play with.) The first KGB looked at me hard. (We’ll be keeping an eye on you.) Then the two turned and walked across the room and out into the street. I smoothed at the desk clerk. (Sorry, I didn’t know it was a private space.) The desk clerk vibrated. (What other kind is there!) I flickered. (You mean all of these buildings are private?) The desk clerk dulled. (Then what are all these people doing here? There must be a hundred!) I hit it strong enough to catch his attention. (It’s their private space, naturally.) (All one hundred?) The desk clerk waved me over to the desk and I followed. He pointed to the drawing on the wall behind him. It showed some five rows of large black dots that looked like holes, twenty to a row.