NEAL STEPHENSON

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It’s still not clear whom the Orthos are defending themselves against. Making his way through the waterfront area, Hiro doesn’t see much: just more Chinese Refus in baggy clothes. It’s just that some of them look a lot more alert than others. They have a whole different affect. Most of the Chinese have their eyes on the mud in front of their feet, and their minds on some. thing else. But some of them are just strolling up and down the street, looking all around, alertly, and most of these people hap. pen to be young men wearing bulky jackets. And haircuts that are from a whole other stylistic universe than what the others are sporting. There is evidence of styling gel.

The entrance to the rich people’s pier is sandbagged, barb-wired, and guarded. Hiro approaches slowly, his hands in plain sight, and shows his pass to the head guard, who is the only white person Hiro has seen in Port Sherman.

And that gets him onto the pier. Just like that. Like the Hong Kong franchulate, it’s empty, quiet, and doesn’t stink. It bobs up and down gently on the tide, in a way that Hiro finds relaxing. It’s really just a train of rafts, plank platforms built over floating hunks of styrofoam, and if it weren’t guarded it would probably end up getting dragged out and lashed onto the Raft.

Unlike a normal marina, it’s not quiet and isolated. Usually, people moor their boats, lock them up, and leave. Here, at least one person is hanging out on each boat, drinking coffee, keeping their weapons in plain sight, watching Hiro very intently as be strolls up the pier. Every few seconds, the pier thunders with footsteps, and one or two Russians run past Hiro, making for the Kodiak Queen. They are all young men, all sailor/soldier types, and they’re diving onto the Kodiak Queen as if it’s the last boat out of Hell, being shouted at by officers, running to their stations, frantically attending to their sailor chores.

Things are a lot calmer on the Kowloon. It’s guarded too, but most of the people appear to be waiters and stewards, wearing Snappy uniforms with brass buttons and white gloves. Uniforms that are intended to be used indoors, in pleasant, climate. Controlled dining rooms. A few crew members are visible from Place to place, their black hair slicked back, clad in dark wind. breakers to protect them from the cold and spray. Hiro can only see One man on the Kowloon who appears to be a passengec a tall

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