Read Counting from Zero for Free Online Page A

was announced a few hours earlier in the press.
    Is that it?   Maybe this week won’t be so bad…
    After lunch, Mick spent a few hours writing some computer code for his open source project.   He did it to relax, the way others might flip channels on a TV.
    Next time he checked his mail, he saw one from Kateryna thanking him for his assistance.   He noticed that her PGP key had been signed by Gunter and he made a mental note to ask him about her, as he must have met her previously.   She asked if he were free for dinner; he replied that he wasn't as he and Lars had plans.   He almost asked Lars if she could join them but came to his senses.
    Later that evening, after enjoying their meal, Lars was detailing his latest discovery.
    “Did you see the woman in the men's toilet?” he announced much louder than he perhaps should have.
    “You mean the cleaning woman?”
    Lars nodded and continued.   “I was standing there draining the lizard, and life is good, you know, when this cleaning woman walks into the men's room and right past me!   She did mumble something, which might have been 'Please hide your pecker as I'm coming through' but I don't know.   She cleaned the sink and worked away in the corner where there was a cabinet.   When I left she was cleaning the urinal right next to some guy… What is up with that?”
    “I agree – it is strange.   It’s a shock, like you feel when you accidentally walk into the wrong bathroom.” Lars raised an eyebrow.   “Or so I'm told…” Mick trailed off.
    “Now she was old and ugly.   If they are going to have a woman there, why not a better looking one?” Lars continued.
    “Did you see the latest security vulnerability disclosure by Maddox?” Mick asked, wanting to change the subject.
    “Yeah, that jerk only wants attention.   It’s not like he doesn't know the right way to do things...” he started.   They were discussing the process whereby a security researcher first reports a newly discovered vulnerability to the affected company, giving the company time to release a patch.   The general etiquette of the industry was that once the company has had time to write and deploy a patch, the researcher is free to announce the vulnerability and claim the credit.   Some, such as John Maddox instead flouted the rules when it suited them, announcing vulnerabilities before the system or product could be patched or fixed.   When done irresponsibly, this could result in a zero day attack, similar to the one from the previous day.
    Back at the hotel, Mick and Lars were heading to the elevator when Mick spotted Kateryna in the hotel bar.   He changed course, waving goodbye to Lars.
    “Hey,” he said sitting down next to her and was rewarded with a glimpse into her eyes.
    “Mick!   I was just thinking about you,” she replied, “I had one or two more firewall questions... if you were still willing?”
    “Sure, fire away, and that is my last pun, I promise...”
    Mick admired Kateryna’s methodical and analytical approach that came out in the way she asked her questions.   They talked on other topics, and in almost no time, it was last call, with the staff making polite noises for the last few sharing their custom to finish up.
    “Do you feel like a walk?” Mick asked her.
    “OK – I could use the exercise,” she replied.
    They set off into the night and ended up wandering for hours through the wet streets.
     
    “I love how safe I feel wandering around in the dark around here,” she said after a few blocks.   “Nihon somehow feels both foreign and familiar at the same time.” Mick smiled to himself – someone had obviously clued her in on their little Nihon/Japan word game.
    “I know what you mean.   Are you an only child?” he asked.
    “No I'm the youngest of four – two brothers and one sister.   Believe it or not, I was a bit of a tomboy when I was young.   Why?”
    “You a tomboy?   That is hard to imagine.   And you are the baby of