the vid floating out on the net, they didn’t even throw the first punch.”
Queene said, “And don’t you think I won’t be dealing with them as soon as I can get them in to my office.” She hesitated for a moment and continued, “What video?”
Vittie, recognizing the genuine confusion on Queene’s face said, “I know how you feel. I felt the same way myself once. I found it surprising coming from Earth, but people here record and take pictures of almost everything and post them on the local net before you could say ‘Tweedledum’.”
Queene frowned, “But, what about an individual’s right to privacy?”
Vittie continued, “ Earth privacy laws aren’t enforced here. It seems almost everything gets recorded by someone, most of the time from multiple someones, so you get multiple viewpoints of the action. Everything can be downloaded and broadcast on the city’s open net.”
Willem shook his head, “Earth laws don’t make sense. Why should I expect privacy when I am in public? So what if someone takes a video of something I do in public? The rule of thumb is that if you don’t want to be embarrassed, then don’t do anything embarrassing.”
Queene looked surprised. “I hadn’t realized that. I mean, we record everything in the office, but that is for safety reasons and for employee training purposes. But, back home such a video would be frowned upon, it might even be cause for litigation.”
Vittie smiled, “Good thing we aren’t on Earth anymore.”
Queene gave a genuine laugh, “If we were still on Earth, I wouldn’t have stumbled coming in because gravity is the same on both sides of every door.”
Willem said, “Sorry about that. Did you read the door pad?”
Queene gave a puzzled look. “Door pad?”
Willem replied, “The door pad is the sign next to the door. You know the one that is by every door everywhere? It says we are open, or whether we are home or not, or what our business hours are, or even that welcome mat in front of your apartment door. There is a small number, always in the bottom right corner. Have you noticed that? It tells you what the gravity is on the other side of the door. I thought you knew.”
Queene shook her head. “Maybe someone should put together a manual for incoming visitors.”
Vittie said, “I think the point is that we earthers either get it figured out or we go home. It took me a while, but then I had Willem to catch me when I stumbled.”
Queene said, “I am really busy this afternoon . I am so, so sorry I have to rush off to a long and boring meeting, but again I wanted to apologize, whether you think it was needed or not. I will call real soon. We do need to get together again.”
Queene swept out of the room with a quick wave of her hand. Neither Vitt ie nor Willem noticed when Wallace followed her.
After the door seals sighed shut Vittie said to Willem, “I still don’t trust her. She came a long way over here for something she could have said on the comm.”
Willem replied, “It was a personally delivered apology. Give her a break. Besides it isn’t that far. It is an easy walk for anyone in light gravity. It is only about four blocks.”
Chapter 7.1
“Four blocks!” Queene said to Wallace. “What a barbarian city! They expect everyone to walk everywhere. How can they run a city without any taxis or even a pedway!”
Wallace did not answer.
“Did you get it?” She asked.
Wallace just tapped his temple.
“Good ,” Queene said. “When are our four boys due out of the medboxes?”
Wallace replied, “They should have been out and back at the office by first thing tomorrow morning, but it seems Mario’s has filed a complaint against them. A couple of their debit cards came up short to pay for damages and other charges. Sheriff Bob will have to lock them up until Mario’s bills are paid. It might be a couple of days.”
“ That might be good, we can wait that long to light their fuse. The extra delay might give them
Queene said, “And don’t you think I won’t be dealing with them as soon as I can get them in to my office.” She hesitated for a moment and continued, “What video?”
Vittie, recognizing the genuine confusion on Queene’s face said, “I know how you feel. I felt the same way myself once. I found it surprising coming from Earth, but people here record and take pictures of almost everything and post them on the local net before you could say ‘Tweedledum’.”
Queene frowned, “But, what about an individual’s right to privacy?”
Vittie continued, “ Earth privacy laws aren’t enforced here. It seems almost everything gets recorded by someone, most of the time from multiple someones, so you get multiple viewpoints of the action. Everything can be downloaded and broadcast on the city’s open net.”
Willem shook his head, “Earth laws don’t make sense. Why should I expect privacy when I am in public? So what if someone takes a video of something I do in public? The rule of thumb is that if you don’t want to be embarrassed, then don’t do anything embarrassing.”
Queene looked surprised. “I hadn’t realized that. I mean, we record everything in the office, but that is for safety reasons and for employee training purposes. But, back home such a video would be frowned upon, it might even be cause for litigation.”
Vittie smiled, “Good thing we aren’t on Earth anymore.”
Queene gave a genuine laugh, “If we were still on Earth, I wouldn’t have stumbled coming in because gravity is the same on both sides of every door.”
Willem said, “Sorry about that. Did you read the door pad?”
Queene gave a puzzled look. “Door pad?”
Willem replied, “The door pad is the sign next to the door. You know the one that is by every door everywhere? It says we are open, or whether we are home or not, or what our business hours are, or even that welcome mat in front of your apartment door. There is a small number, always in the bottom right corner. Have you noticed that? It tells you what the gravity is on the other side of the door. I thought you knew.”
Queene shook her head. “Maybe someone should put together a manual for incoming visitors.”
Vittie said, “I think the point is that we earthers either get it figured out or we go home. It took me a while, but then I had Willem to catch me when I stumbled.”
Queene said, “I am really busy this afternoon . I am so, so sorry I have to rush off to a long and boring meeting, but again I wanted to apologize, whether you think it was needed or not. I will call real soon. We do need to get together again.”
Queene swept out of the room with a quick wave of her hand. Neither Vitt ie nor Willem noticed when Wallace followed her.
After the door seals sighed shut Vittie said to Willem, “I still don’t trust her. She came a long way over here for something she could have said on the comm.”
Willem replied, “It was a personally delivered apology. Give her a break. Besides it isn’t that far. It is an easy walk for anyone in light gravity. It is only about four blocks.”
Chapter 7.1
“Four blocks!” Queene said to Wallace. “What a barbarian city! They expect everyone to walk everywhere. How can they run a city without any taxis or even a pedway!”
Wallace did not answer.
“Did you get it?” She asked.
Wallace just tapped his temple.
“Good ,” Queene said. “When are our four boys due out of the medboxes?”
Wallace replied, “They should have been out and back at the office by first thing tomorrow morning, but it seems Mario’s has filed a complaint against them. A couple of their debit cards came up short to pay for damages and other charges. Sheriff Bob will have to lock them up until Mario’s bills are paid. It might be a couple of days.”
“ That might be good, we can wait that long to light their fuse. The extra delay might give them
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