[no crowd noises yet] Outside Reset Center, the protest was just getting started. I was beginning to have more empathy for the Rebels. Some of them had awful backstories they could not rewrite. I was probably a jerk for complaining about mine. Once upon a time, at least I had two parents and a childhood I couldn't be mad about. Vendors were setting up with T-shirts and posters, and waving me over to pick up flyers. Barefoot musicians were tuning up. Supporter or not, I was getting out of dodge if things got crazy. The Sleepy Security Guard was at the desk, head bobbing, losing the fight. I set his plate down gently. “Eat before you fall out,” I told him. “Much obliged Miss Lady” he gargled. He smiled and reached in the box for a wing without opening his eyes. Old Sleepyhead and EYE went way back to the day before we built Black Stone Maze. He had fallen asleep and let a violent man into a sacred space. People got hurt. How he got this job? I will never know. It was a good thing for me. I did not have clearance to be here. Detective Jimmy made that clear. I didn't care. The Reset Center hadn’t gotten much use since we voted for it in our first election after Black Stone Maze was built. I could see the sun glinting off the structures on the mound in the distance. I walked down the path, through the grapevines, and up the mound stairs to the Reset Pods, where suspected criminals were supposed to be kept in glass domes overlooking Game Valley until cases were solved, or other citizens vouched for them. They presented the idea as a game of sorts. Young people at the meeting shouted out ideas I’m sure they thought would make Game Valley more fun. One of them suggested that Coffy Town offenders could opt to be played, put into games, to work off time on sentences. People laughed and talked about it. But no one took it seriously… I mean, I Didn't. But as I made it to the top of the stairs, I could see that there were at least 20 pods now. They weren’t full of people, but still, it wasn't a good sign. He was alone in pod number 1, being made an example of to all Coffy Town Citizens and future prowlers. Until that moment, I never thought he had a breaking point. But the happy-go-lucky entertainer was beginning to splinter. I slipped the food through the slot, and pressed my hand against the pod. I called out his name, but he did not answer. He lay on the cot in the pod, staring up at the sky; perhaps he was looking for God.... I can't lie. I was wondering where God was myself. It could be worse. We AI could have free will. I sat on the ground for a while with my back against the glass, telling him about the funeral and how much David loved me. I told him that Jackie and I were doing fine and that Unpimpable Missy was so sore about everything that she quit singing altogether. I turned to the broken man in the pod. “It’s a terrible thing to lose your music. I hope you still have a song in your heart.” [Speaking calmly but anxiously] I meant what I said to the music man. At that time, I could not believe he had unplugged David. Maybe I would get answers on my next visit. The protesters were getting louder; there were sirens in the distance. Uh-oh. The fog was rolling in. It was time to go. [SFX: DISTANT STREET PERCUSSION EMERGES] [SFX: CONGAS] [SFX: BUCKETS] [SFX: HAND CLAPS] [SFX: LOOSE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTEST GROOVE] [SFX: STEADY] [SFX: DETERMINED] [SFX: COMMUNAL] [SFX: NOT ANGRY] [SFX: CHANT BEGINS] I hurried away to the beat of war drums. The Rebels and outside agitators were being led in a chant by Emcee Skawla, sitting on the shoulders of Guy Drexel. [a large crowd chants on risers as Lady gets closer] FREE FUNKY! FREE FUNKY! LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO! HE DIDN'T DO IT! WE ALL KNOW! THIS AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A SHOW! TRUTH BEFORE THE TOWER! DOWN WITH THE WRITER! TO THE CITIZEN GOES THE POWER! FREE FUNKY! FREE FUNKY! LET HIM OUT THE POD, FOG! FREE FUNKY! FREE FUNKY! LET HIM OUT THE POD, FOG! [BUCKET DRUMMERS, HAND CLAPS, AND CONGAS FALL INTO A SINGLE GROOVE] FREE FUNKY FREE FUNKY [ECHOES AND REVERB; fade out]
