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ELEVEN
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Blurred Lines TWELVE
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of even-numbered chapter time span: 2,4,6, etc.)The next few evenings, after I completed the first hacking challenge under Gregory's guidance, I am busy on hackthissite after hasty study sessions and exchanged supervision duty shifts. Sometimes in my room, other times on Gregory's laptop, in his room. Afterwards, it feels like my head wants to burst from all the information, from the frustration, because the more I learn, the more I see that I still know less."You have to be patient," Gregory advises. "Pay attention to the detail."So, I stumble through the challenges. Struggling, but at least. I learn that when you enter a password on a website. the system must look somewhere in its scripts for a password file. It compares your password with what it has in its password file. If the two match, you're in.In Challenge 2 I find out after a struggle that Sam, the supposed network administrator, forgot to set up the password file. So, there
Blurred Lines THIRTEEN
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)I stare at the black screen. Gregory is gone, and I'm now in G-4ce's realm. The password’s input field is being etched into my retinas and a path burning open to my brain.Password.My gut tells me that this website contains a clue connected to Gregory's disappearance. But what will the password be? I'll have to crack it if I want to get the clue.I try the obvious passwords. First the word "password."Then Gregory's name. And also, G-4ce. It doesn't work. The school's name doesn't work either.Anyway, it's stupid of me to think that G-4ce would choose something easy. He warned me to choose long passwords when I register for something on the web. He warned me to choose long passwords when I register for something on the web, or for my computer itself. I have to use upper- and lower-case letters. There must also be numbers in it, but not at the beginning or end. The word must not appear in a dictio
Blurred Lines FOURTEEN
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of even-numbered chapter time span: 2,4,6, etc.)"Come on," said Gregory as I moved behind the computer for the umpteenth night. "Time for something else. You must be bored with all the challenges." I am on the last one of the basic challenges of hackthissite. I was hoping to finish it tonight, with a little help from Gregory. But he is right: I feel like something new."Bring your laptop and network cable.""Where are we going?" I ask"To school." Gregory got a fine smile on his face, his dark eyes mischievous."The school buildings are closed at the time of the evening," I say."I know, but that's why there's a grounds manager."I quickly put on something warm. The evening air is starting to cool, even though winter is still two months away. Then I got my laptop as Gregory said.In the corridor we find Bill. His eyes are red and move slowly, wandering.It looks like he smoked. He tries to strike up a conversation, but Gregory quickly sto
Blurred Lines FIFTEEN
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)I am sitting with the black web page in front of me. Gregory didn't finish it is the first thought that comes to mind. How stupid was it of me to think that the photo was a major clue and that nap was going to help track down Gregory?The source code, I remember, looking at the page's source code. I right-click on the screen and view the source. But I don't get any further. My attention is interrupted by a sound at my door...Lights out have been for a long time now. Everyone is supposed to be asleep at this time. And what was the sound? It sounded like the door handle was being pushed down. I quickly got up and walked through the door. It's still closed.I turn the key. The door opens silently. It's dark in the corridor, except for the single light that burns in front of the Hangout.The moving shadow born from the darkness first paralyzed my body and then put me into overdrive. I can't see who i
Blurred Lines SIXTEEN
Note: This is a past event, i.e. a (continuation of odd-numbered chapter storyline: 2,4,6, etc.)The June holidays are days away. I just came from eighth and ninth grade. Got the stuff out of bed and I feel good.Later this morning there will be a Student Council with Doc Pat. But I don't expect any trouble. From here it's plain sailing all the way until the holidays arrive."Hey, Erick! And if you smile like that?" asked one of my rugby buddies in passing."Then can't a man smile?""Sure. Just make sure you stay away from Bill's laughing stock," he grinned and slapped me on the back.On my way back to my room I knocked on Gregory's door. I just walk in. He seems startled. He slammed his laptop shut."Caught, G-4ce!"He shrugged his shoulders. "Guilty," he laughed dejectedly."Hacking?""Hmmm.""And that means?""That you shouldn't be so nosy." Am I imagining it or is he a bit nuts because I bothered him?"Okay, then I'd rather not ask you what you're going to do for the holidays eith
Blurred Lines SEVENTEEN
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)Monday morning. It's probably stupid, but it feels like I wake up every day with a limp leg. Okay, not really a limp leg, but just that feeling that something is not right. My days always began with Gregory's knock at my dormitory door and then his shrill exclamation: "While Zeus, the ruler of Olympus, sleeps with folded arms in Hypnos' wings, his son Heracles' ship stands stranded again today on Kos."Then I knew I could sleep five more minutes before my ship stood stranded, or whatever that means.The dining hall is as busy as a shopping mall on a Saturday morning. Guys push in by the rows, others grumble unsatisfied, and bump into each other."Erick, just check what those guys are up to!" JT said disgruntled as another guy pushed his way to the front of the line. "Do something man, or we'll be in line until doomsday."My mind is on other things. By Gregory. By Doc Pat. And the mysterious visito
Blurred Lines EIGHTEEN
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of even-numbered chapters time span: 2,4,6, etc.)We take our towels and walk into the house. Get snacks in the kitchen and walk to the room. Gregory is with my laptop. I pull a chair closer and sit next to him. He logs onto the web and seems to be looking for something to work with. Something to show me what social engineering is. Then he got it. He is on one of the mobile phone companies' websites.CallCom.First, he reads up a bit and clicks on a link on the left of the site. It looks like CallCom is celebrating its fifth birthday with a special promotion. Prize money of 2 million dollars is up for grabs.After a while Gregory. "Alright, let's get started."He moves the mouse to the log in part of the website.Gregory clicks to register.The following screen appears. The fill-in fields are blank. To register, you must answer some personal questions. Name, surname, gender, date of birth, mobile phone number, and email address. If your re
Blurred Lines NINETEEN
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)The school day is over. I hurriedly walk back to the hostel.After the interview with the police, I can't think of anything else. I'm in deep trouble. Okay, Inspector Kumar-them doesn’t know about the hacking. But what if they find out? I can't tell them everything I know without dragging myself into it too.But I have a plan. Plan A. It just has to work because there is no plan B.I have a quick lunch in the cafeteria. Later this afternoon there is also rugby practice. I can't miss it. Not now that, whether it suits me or not, I've found my place in the team again. I indulge my father's ass-crawling at Doc again. And immediately I feel guilty: I know I will have to correct myself. But it only remains with good intentions.In my room, I take out my mobile phone and the piece of paper I found on top of my suitcase from my jacket pocket.Don't let him mess with you like that.Who put it on top of my
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Blurred Lines Epilogue
Outside the car, the landscape glides by silently in the dark. Erick's cell phone breaks the silence. Private number, read the mobile screen."Erick, hello?" He listens. And then just push it to death."Who was that?" asked his mother tiredly."Someone from a newspaper."She sighed. Erick turned in his seat and looked at the car following them.His father. His face was barely visible in the dark. He turned back again. It is still a long way to Johannesburg. The car lights flow brightly across the tarmac.Lux est imago veritatisErick leaned his head against the passenger window. His tongue felt thick in his mouth."I'm not as solid or bullet-proof dead as I thought," he said softly.A hand on his shoulder. His mother's.Only now can he cry. For his father, and also for Daniel.The cell phone rings again. The journalist still hasn't gotten the message that he doesn't want to talk to her. "Just one thing please, Erick," he heard her say, "the guy the police are looking for—I have two na
Blurred Lines THIRTY-FIVE
Note: (odd & even-numbered chapters’ time spans – merge continue)This is the last I see of G-4ce. The panel van races down the street, around the square. Away!I walk slowly back to the guest house. Totally rattled. There are more people on the street now. They just look at me, at my broken face, and torn clothes. Blood. One woman wants to help, "Leave me!" I screamed, yanking my arm out of her hands.My mother is alone in the guest house room. She looked up from a magazine, and turned pale when she saw me, "Erick!""Where's dad?" I ask"What happened?""Dad. Where is he?" Harder."He went to look for cigarettes before he drove.""Row?""To Bergville. Doctor Paterson..."Of course. Suddenly I wonder if my father left all his business interests for my sake or if he came to help Doc."I have to go see him," I said and turned back to close the door."You can't! Not like that. My child, what is the matter with you?" Panic in my mother's eyes. Only now I think about it: how will mother ta
Blurred Lines THIRTY-FOUR
Note: (odd & even-numbered chapters’ time spans – merge continue)On Wednesday evening, about two weeks after Gregory and I were in the Blackwood memorial museum, I crack the online store's site, get the administrator password and penetrate their server. Client names, home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, login codes and passwords. And yes, credit card numbers.Gregory just smiled when I gave it to him. Quiet and withdrawn.I'm already in bed when I get a message on my cell phone. Probably Isabella again, I think. I limp across the cold floor to get the mobile phone on the desk and then quickly jump back into bed.It's an MMS then. And it comes from GregoryA picture of a white hat...It was the night before he disappeared.
Blurred Lines THIRTY-THREE
Note: (odd & even-numbered chapters’ time spans – merge in this chapter)The reflection in the glass door of the gallery. "Gregory!""Didn't think you'd see me again, huh?"I swing around. Walk closer to grab him. Relief. "Is that genuinely you?"But Gregory only lifts one arm, presses against my chest, and pushes me away. a crooked smile drew around his mouth."Your hair...Blonde? And the goatee?" I want to take his hand away, but he pulls it back hard. "Where have you been? The whole world is looking for you!""Mmm... know, I saw my food on Police File. Never thought I'd end up there.""But if you saw it, why—""What's this? Twenty questions? Leave it. I'm in a hurry: just came to finish something.That's what fear feels like Fire flashes through your body, every nerve jolt awake, adrenaline throws your mind into overdrive, your eyes open, your breathing stops and your chest cavity squeezes. And you hear it - your own breathing stops and your sinuses squeeze. And you hear it - your
Blurred Lines THIRTY-TWO
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of even-numbered chapters time span: 2,4,6, etc.)"I've never been here," said Gregory. It's a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of winter. The last bell rang. I'm in a hurry, want to get to the hostel. This afternoon there is another rugby practice.Gregory stopped me with his arm just as I was about to run. He looked up at the two-story building in front of us. We've walked past this a thousand times, but it's one of those places you never see again.It's right there. Just another college building."It's the Blackwood Memorial Museum," I said."Let's go in.""I have to get moving.""Come on, Erick," His eyes darkened. "We'll walk through soon."A hand wraps around my throat. I look at the museum. Maybe I overlooked it on purpose at other times, because the memories are waiting inside. Gregory is already up the stairs, looking back at me as he stands in the doorway. "Come now!"Daniel.I follow Entangled in my own thoughts.Step by step bac
Blurred Lines THIRTY-ONE
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3, etc.)"Come along," said Sergeant McCallister."Where to?""The local precinct. The community service centre."I frown."The police station, Erick.""Are you arresting me?""No. You must come and make a statement." Sergeant McCallister was right, it was going to be a long day.A little while later I get into the back of the police car. The classes are changing. Curious eyes stare at me. They can think about what they want.The asphalt road on which we stop in front of the police station is crumbling against the curb. A fence about four meters high spans the building. Every few steps there is a lamppost that would illuminate the fence in the dark. On the pale winter grass in front of the sandstone building with the green are two flagpoles. On the left hangs the national flag, on the right the police flag.The police offices are clean, but the furniture is old. In the office where we sit, there is a single
Blurred Lines THIRTY
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of even-numbered time-span: 2,4,6, etc.)The mother of all challenges, is what Gregory calls it.Hack the website of an online shopping group. Without any help. Get personal information of buyers, addresses, names, phone numbers, email addresses. Credit card numbers deserve extra kudos."No, I’m not doing it," I say. "We're going too far now, Gregory.""Are you scared?""No, it's just...I can't.""Can't? Or won't?" His attitude defiantly. Typical Daniel liked when he came up with a new extreme sport."Okay, won’t," I tell myself it's the right thing to do. I should have stopped earlier. "What if I get caught?""I taught you what to do. No one will know. You're not going to do anything with the info. White hat, remember.?""I don't know. It's too dangerous.""What could be so dangerous? You hack the site, poke around in a few scripts, and see if you can get to a mainframe. A database. That's all.""No." Definitely."So, what you're really t
Blurred Lines TWENTY-NINE
Note: This is a present-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)"I see I was right then," said the man there in front of the computer."Even if you no longer have your laptop, you would still continue with your hacking."He turned in the chair and looked up. Straight to me.It's not Doc. It's Sergeant McCallister. He looks tired. "I've been watching you all evening. I wonder what the inspector is going to say now? She thought you had a big enough scare. Said I was going to waste my time. But look now."I swallow, my throat is dry. The pack of ream paper in my hands willy-nilly slip out between my fingers."What is all this stuff?" asked Sergeant McCallister.There is no way out. No sweet talk will help. I have to tell him about Doc."There's something..." The words struggled to get over my dry tongue."Speak louder, Erick, I can't hear you!"I just want to start over when Sergeant McCallister reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. It didn't rin
Blurred Lines TWENTY-EIGHTH
Note: This is a past-day event, (continuation of odd-numbered time-span: 1,3,5, etc.)Autumn turns into winter. The trees are stripped bare and in the morning the mountain is a black stone giant that hugs the school.It's Saturday night. Blackwood kicked ass with the rugby and there is reason to celebrate. Residence barbecue. There is a crazy electric atmosphere at the school. Loud music blares through the hostels all afternoon.The dormitory father has heard that there are some guys planning to smuggle in liquor and the Student Council is supposed to be on high alert.The chefs are planning a feast. Doc's instruction. Long-covered tables stand under the trees. Snacks, soft drinks and fruit juices. A bar where a bartender mixes mocktails.I call Isabella. "Are you going out tonight?""Will see what Clarissa-they say. Maybe we'll chill tonight at the one with DVDs."The conversation is the same as pretty much any other we've had before."Love you, Erick," she finally said."Same."I br
