Feb 2018 v01 online

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The Živa building looked exactly as I expected
it would. It was tall and sleek, covered in
mirrored windows that were bronzed enough
that the light inside would feel warmer than the
frosty day outside. Choppy architectural
decisions – grids of black rails and one wall of
lush vertical garden and a wide, sweeping
doorway – vied for top spot in the tally of
intimidating features. I wondered blithely how
much of it was augmented. The plants for sure;
there’s no way you’d get established flowers like
that this far into the city. The few real plants
you might stumble upon in roadside pots or
between paving stones were petrol-choked and
scrawny. Stop stalling for time, you’ve got a job to
do, one side of me chided, while the other went
on to wonder about the top four or so floors.
Simulated on for effect? Wouldn’t surprise me.
I dimly re-established that I wasn’t alone,
staring up from the pavement. A middle-aged
woman with some weight on her hips and a hat
and scarf had been chatting incessantly at me
for at least the last ten minutes. Coming out of
my reverie, I paused to take her in.
I was trained in the art of identification, and
could break her down at the drop of a hat. She
was exactly 5”4, about ten stone and in her early
forties – not exactly athletic, but she might have
some strength under all those winter clothes.
Brown hair, brown eyes. Overwhelmingly, she
came across as unassuming – another stranger
on the road. This was good.
Despite all this, what I actually thought was
You’ve gained some lines, old girl, perhaps a little