Winter City rarely had any nightlife.
Even after the city became much wealthier and the quality of life had significantly improved.
The people here still weren't used to going out at night.
Most of the time, the nights were just too cold, so dark they felt like they could swallow all life.
Who would go out for no reason?
9527 would.
But he had business to attend to.
Ten o'clock at night. The glow from the Magic Energy street lamps washed out the stars.
During a bout of insomnia, 9527 had once squatted on his windowsill, watching to see if these lamps really stayed on all night.
The answer was no.
The street lamps would go out at one in the morning and turn back on at five. It was understandable; after all, lighting streets that almost no one used was a bit of a waste.
Piled beneath the lampposts was dirty snow mixed with mud, probably also laced with animal droppings and the urine of some drunkard who'd just stumbled home.
