25
- 25 -
Kharem stood in the operations room, silent and alone, watching the multitude of screens. They each showed something different, but were all the same; streets, some empty, some with people, some being patrolled. The people stayed to the edges, out of the way of the troopers. Some made gestures behind their backs. The residents were angry, deep down, and better for it to surface in these little ways than to simmer and boil over in something more forceful.
It amazed him how quick the change had been. Only a few days ago, these streets would have been full of life. He could have sat here and watched people chatting, maybe making deals, maybe the odd fight. But that never happened now. People didn’t fight amongst themselves. If they made deals, it was in rooms and in darkened corn
