She finds a free cupule nearby and settles down to pretend to work but really she’s listening hard to Dol and the others around her. Halfway through the morning a bell rings and the cyberworkers stop for a break. Mara sips the warm, frothy, bittersweet brew that has popped out of a hidden compartment in her cupule. She’s not sure if she likes it but it seems to give her a much-needed buzz of energy. Dol is gesturing upward and Mara glances above her head at the Thought For Now slogan that beams above the heads of the workers in the cybercath. The huge No enemy in New Mungo slogan has started to scramble. “Hackers,” grins Dol. “Watch.” The letters scramble at top speed. The hum of the cybercath falls quiet as everyone holds their breath. A great cheer erupts as the letters settle and the workers break up in laughter at the Thought For Now, which proclaims there’s No meeny in New Mungo. Mara laughs too and settles in her hug chair till Dol is ready. She has agreed to give Mara a short training session.
