"FWLS48" - читать интересную книгу автора (A Future We'd Like to See)

"You know of her?" I asked.

"Depends. How much do you know?"

"I know that the subject is female, and escaped from
MacroWorld recently. I also know that she holds a vast amount of
information. Just that and nothing more."

"What? No, silly, I mean about the Golden Age. I told you
my files were incomplete. Let's do a swap, everything you know
about the good 'ol days that I don't, in return for more
information on this girl."

"I could just take it from you," I considered. Although
stale, history files were history files, and Nostalgia Man was a
smorgasbord of those.

"Try," he said, pushing his head towards me.

I paused. Obviously a trap. However, one must complete the
social ritual of falling for the practical joke. If you don't
complete the rituals, they get dragged out, prolonging the pain
of social contact. So I pressed my sucker against his forehead,
and fed.

Or tried to. Nothing came through. I withdrew the sucker,
Nostalgia Man laughing.

"Modifications," he said, tapping his forehead. "Nobody's
taking MY memories. I rightfully earned them. Now, about that
deal. I scan you for what I want, I *tell* you what you need."

I growled. I hated talking and N.M. knew it. Direct mental
links were more efficient and calming... talking soured the fact.

"Deal?" he asked, sticking out the non-suckered hand to
shake.

"Deal," I agreed, reluctantly. "Make it fast, and do not
try any neural scramblers."

"I don't have any," N.M. said, twisting his sucker into the
ON position. "Unlike you, I get my fond memories with owner's
permission. Now let's see what we can see..."

N.M. pressed his palm against my forehead, downloading
select bits of my mind. He didn't go for everything, even if he
COULD store it... that's not how N.M. worked.