James walked at Cassandra's side through the nearly deserted corridors of the mall.  Most people didn't linger anymore.  They went whereever they we're going or they stayed in their homes as if that would keep them safe.  He sighed whatever made people happy in these dark time.  He listened as Cassandra quoted Margaret Meade and knew that she was right, the hard part was finding people brave enough to make a stand.  It wasn't exactly easy when you didn't know who trust.  That was true for him, as it was for most.  Nobody, but his parents that he was aware of had any idea that he was anything but your average guy.  Not even Cassandra, whom he was closer to than anyone else, knew that he could survive things that would kill anybody else or that if he wanted to her could pick up a VW bug an throw it 5 to 10 feet.  "Better not say that too loud love," James said in a low cautionary voice.   "People might start to think your trying to insight a revolution."  He frowned slightly and then continued.  "Not that we couldn't use one<br/><br/>It was as they we're approaching the large two story Boarders book store that<strong>Elsworth Bateman </strong>approached them.  From the way it looked he was disoriented and dazed.  He asked what city he was in and James wondered privately if the man had been trying to drown his sorrows, and had to much to drink.  After a moment though he didn't think that was the case.  Mainly because his nose didn't detect alcohol or any other substance for that matter coming from the<strong>Bateman.</strong>Keeping his expression neutral as though the question of what city am I in was a common one Jame smiled back.  "No trouble at all," James replied friendly enough, though he was covertly scanning the crowd for danger or a trap.  "You are in the emerald city of Seattle Washington."<br/><br/>Warily he continued to unobtrusively scan the surrounding with his sense.  He didn't feel, smell, hear, or see a trap coming but it was second nature, and not unsurpising in the current climate.  Everyone was like that these days guilty or not.  It was inevitible in the climate of fear that had been created.  As last when he was relatively sure that tht this was onl the level he allow himself to relax.<br/><br/>They continued to move toward the bookstore and he glanced over at the man.  He looked very haggard, like he had not had a good night sleep in along time.  "Are you alright sir, you seem a bit disoriented," James said genuinely concerned for the mans well being despite the fact that he was a total stranger.  James had always been like that though, he had always cared about his fellow man and helped when he could.