torn page (#2129)(an instance of Generic Litter made by Boudicea)A printed page from a book, torn across the bottom. Sideways in the margin is the name NEAL STEPHENSON, and then right side up the page number 187. Go to location of this object, Trash Bin. "Bad news. A metavirus," Juanita says. "It's the atomic bomb of informational warfare--a virus that causes any system to infect itself with new viruses." "And that's what made Da5id sick?" "Yes." "Why didn't I get sick?" "Too far away. Your eyes couldn't resolve the bitmap. It has to be right up in your face." "I'll think about that one," Hiro says. "But I have another question. Raven also distributes another drug--in Reality--called, among other things, Snow Crash. What is it?" "It's not a drug," Juanita says. "They make it look like a drug and feel like a drug so that people will want to take it. It's laced with cocaine and some other stuff." "If it's not a drug, what is it?" "It's chemically processed blood serum taken from people who are infected with the metavirus," Juanita says. "That is, it's just another way of spreading the infection." "Who's spreading it?" "L. Bob Rife's private church. All of those people are infected." Hiro puts his head in his hands. He's not exactly thinking about this; he's letting it ricochet around in his skull, waiting for it to come to rest. "Wait a minute, Juanita. Make up your mind. This Snow Crash thing--is it a virus, a drug, or a religion?" Juanita shrugs. "What's the difference?" |