"The Spook is all anyone knows. I like to keep it that way,"
Spook said as he laid the roach end of the joint in the ashtray.
"Not bad, huh?" He asked Scott.
"Christ, no. Kinda hits you between the eyes." Scott rubbed them to clear off the invading fog.
"After a couple of days it won't get you so bad," Spook said.
"You said you wanted to do a fair story on hackers, right?"
"Fair? A fair story? I can only try. If hackers act and talk like assholes then they'll come across like assholes, no matter what I do. However, if they make a decent case, hold a rational, albeit arguable position, then maybe someone may listen."
"You sound like you don't approve of our activities." The Spook grinned devilishly.
"Honestly, and I shouldn't say this cause this is your grass," Scott said lighting the joint again. "No, I don't approve, but I figure there's at least 10 sides to a story, and I'm here to find that story and present all sides. Hopefully I can even line up a debate or two. Convincing me is not the point; my readers make up their own minds."
The word 'readers' momentarily jolted the Spook until he realized Scott meant newspaper readers, not his team of Van-Ecking eaves- droppers. Spook took the joint from Scott. "You sound like you don't want to approve."
"Having a hard time with all the crap going down with computers these days," Scott agreed. "I guess my attitude comes through in my articles."
"I've never read your stuff," Spook lied.
"Mainly in New York."