noon
`` I mean , the worst possible scenario is that Debra will do her job very , very well , and make things even better than they are now . That 's not so bad . '' This was a 180-degree reversal of her position on the subject the last time we 'd talked , but you do n't live more than a century without learning when to point out that sort of thing and when not to . My cochlea struck twelve noon and a HUD appeared with my weekly backup reminder . Lil was maneuvering Ben Franklin II out of his niche . I waved good-bye at her back and walked away , to an uplink terminal . Once I was close enough for secure broadband communications , I got ready to back up .