Chapter Sixteen
Kristin carried Shepard’s cardboard box of personal effects through the open-plan office acutely aware that she was the center of attention. In particular, she noticed that strange young programmer, Miles Bishop, tracking her curiously. She recalled spending some time collaborating with him about ABACUS and had discovered that despite his ungainly appearance, he possessed the mind of a programming genius.
Hurrying to avoid everybody’s scrutiny, she found Shepard in his new office, sitting behind his desk. Understanding the drill by now, she placed the box in front of him and awaited instructions.
Shepard let her stand there stupidly while he unpacked his things. Apart from the desk and some filing cabinets, the office, she noted, was sparse. When he had arranged everythi
