Summary

Chapter one opens with Clay in New York looking through Star Wars binoculars he borrowed from Mat, sitting with Kat. Clay and Neel have both been to New York, but this is Kat’s first trip. She’s also waiting to hear the selection of the new project manager. Clay spots a man he refers to as Round Nose who ends up going into the Unbroken Spine building. Others go in after him.

Kat is overwhelmed by the amount of people in New York in general. Neel asks her where she’s from; she’s from Palo Alto. They discuss the urban and suburban mindset. Neel leaves and goes to the Met. Kat and Clay stay, and that afternoon Penumbra arrives. Clay intercepts him. Penumbra tells him he’s wrong about the burning and that he’s here to talk to Corvina...