he watched as one of the robots positioned another of the site 's `` lamp poles . '' where boots , jeans and hats were worn for both everyday and formal attire . * * * in his apartment , sam meadows was finishing a phone conversation . when i tug at the hem of his shirt , he lifts it up to help me toss it away . `` sorry , '' he said , glancing up at me . and i see the swelling around her eyes . then he wasted more time watching people walk up and down past the shop . 