Reversion - A Novel Part 20

Instead of explaining, however, she only smiled. aTry it, smarty. The controls are under Active Skin Hygiene.a aMaybe I will later,a I admitted, thinking I wanted privacy for the first trial.

Rosalind grinned at me. aLet us know how you get along.a aOh, weall know!a Alice a.s.serted with a laugh.

Did you ever let a housefly crawl up your arm, tasting the skin cells for sweat? It feels rather relaxing, or so I had always thought. But let fifty thousand insects do the same and the sensation is entirely different.

Nothing I ever felt tickled half so terribly! A few seconds of it were about all I could stand. But I had noticed the footnote in the instructions: Use Temporary Tactile Blanding if the stimulation is too intense. With the myriad clawing of 300,000 feet and sucking of 50,000 mouths reduced to the equivalent of a gentle zephyr it was pleasant enough a" and satisfactorily brief.

The process certainly works. I had deliberately let my underarms get whiffy. When the wasps left, they lifted all the odors with them. In the mirror my nose sparkled. I have never felt so clean.

When I first witnessed her dry bath, Rosalind was two weeks away from activation of her 24th Century biological computer. She is the one with the willpower!

I answered the doorbell on the first of September. It was Agent Smith of the FBI. aMay I come in?a he asked, pushing toward me.

But I wasnat a little kid any more. I didnat budge. aNo,a I said flatly, blocking the door.

I saw his fist form but he didnat c.o.c.k it. He swallowed something instead and stopped, his face about six inches below and in front of mine. aYou are Timothy Kimball?a aSo what?a aGo get your clothes on. Youare coming with me.a aWhat should I pack?a aNothing.a aWhere are we going?a aYouall find out.a aForget it,a I said with finality. aGet out of my doorway.a aIf you donat cooperate Iam authorized to arrest you as a material witness.a aWill you shoot lower this time?a He took a deep breath and backed up a pace. aAre you gonna cooperate?a aNo.a His hand flashed into his coat and reappeared holding a blue steel revolver, snub-nose, in 1950 probably a .38. aGet your hands up and come out on the stoop.a Not only was I now beefier and stronger, my reflexes were faster. An interesting fact about double-action revolvers is that the hammer must travel farther than the trigger that c.o.c.ks it, meaning that the mechanical advantage is with the hammer. My hand started up as ordered but streaked across between us and closed around his weapon, thumb clamped behind the hammer. I donat know if he tried to fire it or not. Probably he did from reflexes of his own. But I twisted the piece out of his hand before he could fully react. I doubt if the partner waiting in the car on the street saw it.

I stepped back and leveled his own weapon at a point between the huge eyes. aNow you may come in, Agent Smith.a I had to tell him again and gesture with the pistol before he recovered enough to lurch after me. I closed the door. aGo on upstairs to the first door on the right. Iall be right behind you.a aWh-what are you gonna do?a aGet dressed. Thatas what you wanted, isnat it?a Alice called incredulously from the den, aIs someone with you, Tim?a aAgent Smith of the FBI,a I replied. aHeas coming upstairs to help me dress.a aHowad you do that?a asked the FBI man, looking back over his shoulder at me as he climbed the stairs. His expression was still one of shock.

aYou broke an elementary rule, Smitha Thatas it. Go on through the door.a aWhat rule?a aDonat draw down on someone within armas reach. Surely you learned that at Quantico.a aWhere?a Didnat the FBI train its agents at Quantico in the Forties?

aNever mind. Sit down on the bed and stay there.a He obeyed as if in a daze. I laid his pistol on the dresser and reached for street clothes.

aTim, what the h.e.l.l?a asked Alice in the doorway. Behind her I could see Clara and Rosalind.

aIt seems Iam going away with Agent Smith.a aWhere?a aIall find out.a aJust you?a aSo far as I know. What about that, Smith?a aHe only wants to talk to you,a was the answer. The agent goggled at my women, all barefoot but wearing robes similar to mine.

aHe who?a Of course I received no answer. b.u.t.toning my shirt, I said, aAgent Smith is authorized to arrest me as a material witness if I donat cooperate.a aBut whose gun is that on the dresser?a aAgent Smith let me hold it. You know how I feel about armed men in the house.a I slipped my stocking feet into loafers and took up the revolver. aCome here, Smith.a aYouall regret this,a he warned but obeyed. I could see him tensing. Did he expect me to blow him away?

I opened the cylinder and let the six cartridges slide into my hand, from there into my pants pocket. I presented his weapon to him by the barrel and said gravely, aI believe this is government property, Agent Smith. Put it back on your belt, if you donat mind.a He took the revolver, pointed it at me for a moment, then slipped it under his jacket. I turned my back to him and went out into the hall among the women, where I quickly kissed and hugged each. aThis should be interesting,a I murmured to Clara just before turning to the stairs.

The FBI agentas footsteps thudded behind me. I felt a curious elation, part fear and part triumph. According to the advice of the 24th Century, if he shot me in the back, the worst I might experience would be equivalent to the blow of a fist, plus a bruise and a dimple of destroyed outer epidermis above the diamondoid layer. If he shot me in the back of the head, however, Iad be just as dead as anyone else.

I had his bullets a" the in-use set, at least. I listened in vain for the sounds of reloading.

He closed the front door behind me. Letting him draw abreast as we stepped down to the front walk, I held out my closed hand. aHereas some more government property.a His hand under mine caught the cartridges, which he transferred to his own pocket.

I expected some denunciation from him. He surprised me. aWho the h.e.l.l are you?a aThe man you want,a I answered.

as.h.i.t! I saw you naked up there. If youare a 15 year-old boy Iam Atlasas next customer.a It took me a moment. This was the era in which a fellow by the name of Charles Atlas appeared in all the comic books to advertise his method guaranteed to give you muscles like a well, me. I chuckled. aWhatas the matter: donat you believe in dynamic tension?a He mumbled under his breath, aThis a.s.signment gets weirder and weirder.a I had to respond, aWhat I donat understand is why the FBI expects people to cooperate when it refuses to tell them anything.a He took a deep breath. Instead of replying to the implied question, he motioned to me. aGet in the back seat, will you?a We stood beside an agency car. I obeyed. He sat abreast of the driver and away we went a" about five blocks. We pulled up behind another car of identical make, model and color. One side of the street contained a large empty field. On the other side was a high concrete wall. A metal telephone booth with wire-reinforced windows nestled against the concrete.

Smith handed me a card and a nickel. The card was blank except for seven numeric digits, hand written. I looked up. aYou want me to call this number?a aI donat give a s.h.i.t if you drop dead. The director wants you to call that number.a aWatch it, Smitty,a warned the driver, a man Iad never seen before.

The director, eh? I began to get a glimmer.

aClose the booth door,a Agent Smith called as I left the car.

The sun-lit booth would have been stifling had I obeyed. I ignored the order, dropped the nickel, listened to the single aBong!a and dialed the number. On the second ring a woman answered, aOperations.a aOperations, eh? Is this a hospital?a Pause. aI think you have a wrong number.a I repeated the number, then said, aYou may be right. I didnat think I wanted a hospital.a aWell, you didnat get one either,a she retorted.

aMaybe the problem is that they didnat tell me what to say.a aSay your name.a aTimothy Kimball.a aOne moment.a The line remained open for a few seconds. I could hear other womenas voices. A switchboard? Was she looking me up in a list? Then I heard a pop and a click followed by a telephone ringing.

A different woman said, aBlair House Three.a aThis is Timothy Kimball.a aOne moment, sir.a I waited, wondering whether human operators were really any better than the machines one had to listen to so often in 2002. A little better, I decided; at least I had the potential of diverting a human from her prescribed path. Confusing a machine was difficult and the rare success unsatisfying, as in besting an idiot.

A third woman said, aPlease standby, Mr. Kimball. Heall speak to you in about ten minutes.a aHe who?a Her voice sounded surprised. aPresident Harry Truman, of course.a aSuppose I donat want to speak to him.a Pause. aMany donat.a aWell, then a"

aBut they speak anyway. The Secret Service will fetch you here in person if necessary.a aIs it against the law not to speak to the president if he wants to hear from you?a aIt might as well be. How old are you?a a15.a aOh. Now I understand. Just hang on to the phone, Timothy. Think what you can tell the guys afterwards!a aLook,a I said with a sigh, glancing at my wrist.w.a.tch. aItas four oh seven here in Chicago. Iall wait till four seventeen, then Iam hanging up.a She paused again. aAre you sure youare 15?a aAnd if I were 70?a aIt wouldnat make any difference. If he wants to talk to you, you have to talk. If you hang up youall only delay it and cause inconvenience to a lot of people.a aTell him Iam waiting another nine minutes. Then all you people will just have to be inconvenienced.a aIall see what I can do. And Timothy, you are well on your way to becoming a rude boy.a I chuckled. aThank you, missy.a She sniffed. A moment later I heard the ring of high heels, receding. Yes, a human on the other end of the line beats the h.e.l.l out of a machine.

I waited. So did the four men in the two agency cars. Smith watched me steadily. Did he expect me to bolt and jump over the concrete rail? Apparently only another empty field extended beyond it. I tried to remember what had become of this oddly empty area in the next 20 years but couldnat. I was about to call up the appropriate platt map, but was interrupted by the phone.

After another click a man said, aIs that you, Tom?a aNo,a I responded. aThe name is Tim.a aOh, yeah. Listen, Iam touching all bases. Does Inchon work?a It was Truman. I said, aYes, sir.a I had expected this and had the display ready for a single command. I read from the blue sky beyond the field, aUnable to appreciate the magnitude of resources available to MacArthur, the North Korean leadership ignored his probe landings on the outer periphery of islands around Inchon. On September 15, 1950, he commanded the daring invasion of Wolmi-do, the largest island in Inchon harbor, followed immediately by capture of the city itself, catching the communists on the flank and cutting the lines of supply and communications to the bulk of their forces at the Pusan perimeter. The trapped men either surrendered or fled in panic. Two weeks later UN forces had returned to the 38th parallel.a Truman was silent for a moment. Then he chuckled. aYour use of the past tense is uncanny. What are you reading from?a I didnat answer that. Instead I told him, aHereas the proper tense. On November 24, MacArthur will tell the world his troops will be home by Christmas. Donat believe him.a Again the man was silent for a moment. aWhat does that mean?a aThe troops wonat be home.a aImplying a what?a aMr. President, history will find the results acceptable. The decisions you will make, considering all the facts available to you, will be judged as reasonable.a aThatas rea.s.suring,a he noted dryly. aTell me why youare not more forthcoming.a aI think you already know. Too much advance knowledge will tempt you to decide on a different fate.a I grinned darkly. aI could disclose every detail to the FBI agent who forced me to this telephone and it would make no difference to anyone. But I canat tell you because you can make such a tremendous difference. Iam sure youare aware, for example, that some of the things you could do might start Word War Three.a aAnd that doesnat happen?a aNo. Iall tell you this much. World War Three never does happen, and by 1993 the United States is recognized as the worldas only superpower.a aNow that is rea.s.suring! Whoas the forceful FBI agent?a aHis name is Smith, from the Chicago field office.a aDid he black your eye too?a aNo. He drew his gun.a The man chuckled. aWhat is your problem with the FBI, Tim?a aThe same as yours with J. Edgar.a aYes. Like master, like man. Thank you, son. Stay in touch.a aGood-bye, sir.a Back at the car I stood beside the open window. Smith asked, aYou speak to him?a aYes.a He jerked his head toward the back. aGet in.a aWhat was this all about, Smitty? Whyad you have to force me out here to a phone booth? I canat believe you people donat know my number at home.a He stared at me. After a bit he said, aIall tell you when we get there.a I got in the car, which started up, backed away from the one in front and pulled out around it. I saw a man leave the other car and walk to the phone booth.

We returned over the same five blocks. Smith got out of the car as I did and joined me on the front walk. He said in a low voice, aWe secured the line to that phone booth. Everybody and his brotheras got a tap on your home line.a I thought about it. aThanks for the tip. Thatas the right way to deal with your subjects, Smitty. To show you what I mean, hereas something for you. You remember Agent Halleck?a aYeah.a He added dryly, aI remember.a aTell Avery not to fire you. Tell him I said so. Tell him I decided you were just doing the job they taught you. If he doesnat believe you, tell him to call me.a His eyes went blank at first, then narrowed. aYou squealed on me, did you?a aTo the man.a aOh, s.h.i.t!a I shook my head. aTake it easy, Smitty.a He watched me enter the house. All three women met me at the door. It seemed they were anxious about me. Amazing what a set of hovering females can do for your self-approval! Clara downloaded my record into a viewer and pa.s.sed it around.

Sitting around the kitchen table, all of us in robes, I told them, aI expected Truman to call about the Inchon invasion. Whatas interesting is Smittyas little revelation at the end. Clara, do you know about bugs?a aBugs? Of course. I use them all the time.a I chuckled. aPretty good name for them, actually. Iam talking about electronic listening devices, tiny microphones with wires to the outside. Until they shrink the transistor we donat have to sweat tiny transmitters.a aI know about them,a said Clara calmly. aWe had two in this house.a She got to her feet, took a table knife from a drawer and prized up a wire from the paint atop a molding over the sink. aFor example, they put one on the end of this.a I stood up. aGood G.o.d! Why didnat you tell us? How long has it been there?a aAbout two years ago, shortly after the Russians tried to kidnap you, a man from the city with papers all in order gave us what he called a aFire Inspection.a He installed two microphones. As to why I didnat disturb you about it, the reason was lack of necessity. I removed and destroyed his microphones before he was off the property.a aDid you get them all?a aYes, I did. The wasps did a sweep.a She chuckled grimly. aAnd otherwise we wouldave heard about it long ago.a aI suppose so.a I took a deep breath, did a turn around the room and paused to look at them. aLadies, the time has come to disconnect.a Clara smiled. aJust say the word.a My eyebrows went up. aDonat you think a little planning is required?a aNot just to disconnect from the government. Iave already set it up.a She lowered her voice. Her eyes sparkled like those of a kid playing whoas-got-the-b.u.t.ton. aOne of my secret ident.i.ties has bought us another house, and I know how we can disappear into it right under the FBIas nose.a

Chapter 15: A Powerful Enemy.

aRosalind didnat come home last night.a I looked up in surprise from the morning paper. Alice stood begowned in the kitchen door with a worried frown. She added, aDid she say anything to you about where she was going?a I nodded. aAt supper. You were there. She was going to fetch something from the drugstore. I gathered it was a feminine product.a Alice sniffed. aI heard you. aIs it cool enough for a coat, Tex?a You men really do jump to your own conclusions, donat you!a aIt was something else?a aYou idiot! She wanted to tell her a.s.sistant English professor good-bye in privacy.a aWell, then, you know where she is.a aWill you quit that? I mean, she wanted to tell him on the telephone in the drugstore.a I studied her, standing arms-akimbo just inside the doorway, and took a breath. aIam sorry, Alice. I can see youare actually worried. Why is that? You know Rosalind. Sheall turn up in a few hours with a humdinger of a story.a aYou think so?a Clara appeared behind Alice. Her eyes locked with mine. aShe might not, Tim. She thinks sheas been abducted.a aWh-what?a Clara pushed past Alice into the kitchen. In each hand she bore a binocular viewer that she laid on the table. Gesturing for Alice to join us, she said, aI have a report.a When Alice and I had applied the internal controls that shaped our bodies to match our desires, we had considered installing the radio transceivers that would permit near-telepathic communication among the three of us, in addition to collecting directly the reports of Claraas adapted animals. The advantages would be immense, with only one real disadvantage a" but that was a doozer. The transceiver would require cellular transformations in the forehead to render skin and skull transparent at the radio frequencies employed, along with a growth of metallic fibers behind that awindowa to serve as antennas. Both adaptations would be only too visible to the milliroentgen X-Ray beams used in doctoras offices and airport scanners after the Seventies. We could just imagine the excitement we might cause at an airport check-in: aYou have a plate in your skull where?a a" not to speak of a CAT scan.

So we had declined, I think to Claraas grave disappointment, which among other things meant we must continue to use the viewers. Perhaps we would change our minds. I was tinkering with a way to dissolve the transmitter quickly. In the meantime a Clara explained, aI think she dropped her purse during a scuffle. One of the ladybugs escaped and signaled for pickup, but it was after dark. Our sparrows were all at roost.a She sighed. aI havenat yet tried to capture a swift, though I think thereas a family in the front chimney of this very house. Iam sorry, Tim.a aSwifts fly at night?a I asked.

aNight and day, but they are very secretive birds. I may have to adapt a falcon to catch a swift.a aBut you said you have a report.a aYes. I skimmed it. The ladybug followed Rosalind indoors but escaped when someone left the door open shortly after dawn. The sparrow responded and fetched it here just a few minutes ago. I think sheas on a ship, Tim.a aA ship? Really?a aThatas what it looks like. Rows of masts tied up at docks.a aWell, great! Whereas the ship?a She sighed again. aThat I canat say. I am really learning the limitations of my animals this morning. I have no recorder in the birds. I canat tell you what it saw nor the direction it flew.a I stared at her. Presumably she always expected to know where the bugs did their spying, as she had known at the FBI office.

She hung her head. aIam so sorry, Tim!a I hugged her against me. aEven to know sheas on a boat is a big advantage. Itas probably on the north side. Let me see if I can deduce anything.a I took up one of the viewers and its earpiece as she handed the second to Alice. Early morning sunlight streamed into a side window toward which I turned the binoculars.

I found myself looking into darkness interspersed with bright points of light. A huge body intercepted one. I recognized a dim hand clutching for me. Suddenly I was free and rising above a scuffle, above oaths and feminine imprecations. My wings were beating hard and fast, straining my back until I found the b.u.t.ton that turned off tactile sensations.

Bodies were milling before me. Suddenly they fell into recognition. A gruff brute roughly hustled Rosalind through a door into a brightly lit room. From the curved walls and short drapes a" and Claraas guess a" I a.s.sumed it was the large main cabin of a yatch. I sailed in behind them, turned and lit upon one of the drapes. Rosalind had stumbled but a man who stood conveniently nearby caught her before she quite fell to the deck.

aCareful, Bertie!a he snapped, helping her regain balance. aMiss Cannell is precious cargo.a aHarrison!a Rosalind exclaimed, looking up at him. Her fearful expression was immediately replaced by one of anger and outrage. aYouave kidnapped me! Why, you aa Words apparently failed her.

She glared at Cleaver, whose visage of smug aplomb I recognized only too well. He smiled broadly, brushing her shoulder lightly as though she had indeed fallen and required tidying.

aThat will be all, Bertie,a he said to the brute, who departed, closing the cabin door. Cleaver regained his smile as he turned back to the girl. aKidnapped? Rosalind, are you kidding? There must be some misunderstanding. Didnat my secretary inform you that Bertie would pick you up?a aHe grabbed me off the street, Harrison! Whatas this all about?a aOh, I am sorry, Ros. Itas so hard to find decent help. Iall have words with the man. Iave asked you here,a he cleared his throat, ato boast about my new toy.a He waved his arm widely. aAnd I thought we might share a bottle of Chablis in celebration. Itas from California, the Napa Valley, where they are growing wine that rivals the best French stuff.a She sniffed and continued to eye him suspiciously.

aI missed you last week at your Uncle Manfredas funeral,a he announced. aManny was a dear old friend of mine, you know. We did business together at times. Your mother was there, of course. Iave known her for years as well, though not so sweetly as you.a He grazed her left breast with the back of his hand and smile grandly. aHow many times have we delighted each other? At least two, isnat it, not even speaking of that splendid encounter at my annual party.a aAh, yes. That party.a Her frown was fading. aI do recall your visit to me then a" to renew our acquaintance, you said.a aRosalind! Please! Weare much more than mere acquaintances. Itas unfortunate I seem always to be sharing your favors with others. I truly want to spend more time just you with me.a He chuckled deprecatingly. aAs for the party, are you sure you can recall anything that happened? I swear I did not take advantage of you on that occasion, however attractively you were splayed on the bed. You were pa.s.sed out, dear girl, and in no condition to respond as I prefer.a aSo! Youave dragged me here for a more leisurely bout of s.e.x and fun.a She smiled despite the irate words.

aNot exactly, sweet one, although Iam game, if you are.a He palmed her cheek. aNo. Your mother complained to me that youave abandoned your apartment and moved in with Tim and his family. I thought I might inquire about that. Iam actually very curious about the boy.a She pulled at his tie, loosening it. aIall have some of that wine you promised. Heas scarcely a boy any longer, you know.a Cleaver took a couple of steps backwards to reach a silvery ice bucket. Without moving eyes from her he retrieved a bottle clouded with condensation.

aIave heard that!a he exclaimed, rummaging in a drawer for a corkscrew. aItas amazing how he has grown. His sister too, they say. Like the surprising development of your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, only more so. Your mother commented on that, by the way. She has no explanation. Sheas as flabbergasted as I.a aThe growth is rather obvious, isnat it?a Rosalind smirked, plumping them with both hands.

aIt certainly is! How do you explain it?a She grinned slyly. aPerhaps thereas something wrong with the plumbing in my old neighborhood.a aPlumbing!a Cleaver exclaimed, handing her a gla.s.s of wine. aItas something beyond magic, young lady. Donat you have any idea at all?a aTim suggested it was because of all the male attention theyave gotten this year.a Cleaveras eyes narrowed. aHe said what?a Then he laughed. aHeas pulling your leg a" or perhaps your nipple. At best he has the cart before the horse. But he, or his family, are at the root of it, arenat they?a She straightened. aTheyare my friends, Harrison. Theyave invited me to live with them, to join their family. And I like my new b.o.o.bs. I always had such small ones! The men say they like small ones, but theyare a lot more attentive now!a aIam sure. But do you know how it was done?a She shook her head. aI never asked, Harrison. Whatas that western saying about a gift horse? Iall tell you this. They havenat said. So it must be a secret, like s.e.x to a kid. And Iam a member of that family now. You canat expect me to blab their secrets.a He laughed. aYouare just like your mother, Ros. The only secrets you know were written in Latin two thousand years ago. Admit it. You know nothing about science, so how could you be in possession of any specific information?a His observation, which was the truth, irked her as he had intended.

aOh, yeah?a she interposed dourly. aHow would you cla.s.sify time travel? Is it magic or science?a aTime travel!a Cleaveras eyes expanded, then narrowed scornfully. aThatas the stuff of fantasy books, young lady. You know itas not possible. Just think about it for only a moment.a She shrugged. aI donat see why itas so impossible. Weare traveling forward in time even as we speak.a aWhy do you bring it up?a he asked, eyes glittering.

Rosalind sipped her wine. aNo, you must be right about that. I have a feeling the three of them are always playing jokes on me, even when they appear to be serious. Theyare weird, but I love them. Can you imagine keeping monkeys and bugs as pets?a aMonkeys, yes. But bugs?a aTheyave got them trained.a aTrained? How?a She wagged her head slightly as if becoming confused. Cleaver appeared to be matching her sip for sip, but I noticed that the level of liquid in his own goblet was hardly lower. Rosalind said, aThe monkeys are like servants who donat know their place.a She giggled. aI discovered them when one of them licked me. As for the bugs, they swarm on your body, a huge number of them, and suck your skin clean. Theyare scary but fun. I always used to hate bugs.a aYes, yes. Nasty things.a Cleaver, sipping again, peered at Rosalind over the rim of the gla.s.s. He shook his head as if abandoning that line of inquiry. aGetting back to the party: those were federal officials who burst in so rudely to spirit you and Timas family away to Washington. What was that all about?a aI was just along for the ride,a she explained, holding out her gla.s.s for a refill. aThey went to meet President Truman.a aTruman! What on earth for?a He poured more wine.

aHarrison, Iam uncertain about what to believe, and I donat understand a fraction of what they tell me. All I know about the trip to Washington is that they had some information the government wanted, something to do with the mess in Korea, which I first heard about that very morning.a He grunted. aAlong with the rest of the world. What could Tim contribute nationally about Korea?a She hesitated. aI think Tim knows a lot about the future, Harrison. And so does Truman.a His eyes flashed. aKnows a or guesses?a She shrugged. aHe argued with the president. He wanted to use j.a.panese soldiers.a aTim?a aNo, the president. Tim talked him out of it.a aYou mean, Truman wanted to send j.a.ps to fight in Korea?a She nodded. aThatas what I remember.a She chuckled. aAnd something else. Tim knew about the general getting promoted before he did.a aWhat general?a aIt was in the papers yesterday. Heas going to get a fifth star.a Cleaver shrugged. aAnybody with a line into congress would know that. But why would an obscure Chicago family have such a line? Unless, of course, theyare very special people.a aTheyare special to me. But I know what you mean. Theyare important somehow. Theyave been to Washington before and there are federal cops always lurking about protecting them.a aFederal cops?a Cleaver glanced around the cabin with a look of consternation. He had a point. I wondered if the FBI was watching out for Ros yet.

But the girl continued, aIf it werenat for that and for Tim and Alice growing into adulthood over a period of weeks, I would dismiss them as lovable eccentrics wh.o.a.re nuts about alternate universes and s.p.a.ce travel.a as.p.a.ce travel!a Cleaver grabbed her arm so firmly that Rosalind sloshed her drink. aYou mean rockets and that sort of thing?a Rosalind sought to pull her arm free. aPlease, Harrison! Youare hurting me!a aOh! Iam terribly sorry, dear girl.a He released her. aKnowledge about rockets would make sense of this, you know. With rockets and atom bombs the United States could rule the entire world.a Rosalind rubbed her arm and pouted at the man. aI donat think Iam supposed to talk about these things, Harrison, even though I donat understand them.a He lifted her arm for a generous kiss on the soft inner part just below the elbow. aYou understand much more than you realize, darling. But I wonat press you to reveal confidences. I actually invited you here to show you my new yacht.a aYou abducted me,a she said with a smile.

He dismissed the complaint with a wave of his arm. aI have a splendid idea,a he said. aLetas sail to my cottage on Beaver Island. Itas about 300 miles up the lake. We could be there in two days or so, and Iam certain youad love the voyage.a aThat sounds like fun, Harrison. It really does, but such a trip would last at least a week, and I canat stay away that long. I want to be around to help Tim set up his factory. Heas letting me write the recruiting blurb.a Cleaver sought to refill her gla.s.s, but the bottle was near empty. He reached into a cupboard to retrieve a fifth of Scotch.

aFactory? Is Tim going into business?a he asked as he poured.

Rosalind waved her gla.s.s back and forth, sloshing some whiskey onto her wrist. aThatas more secret stuff, Harrison,a she slurred. aItas all about s.p.a.ce ships. And some new kind of s.p.a.ce drive. You said youad not press me about these matters.a aA new s.p.a.ce drive? You mean itas not a rocket?a aI donat know how it works, Harry.a She grinned loosely. aRockets are so masculine a" spewing at everything in sight!a She took another swallow and added, aTim said his s.p.a.ceship will be to the veetoo as the veetoo was to a childas toy. Whatas a veetoo?a aYouare pulling my leg,a he a.s.serted. aDid he say how it works?a aHe might have, but I donat remember. Does it make any difference to us?a aPerhaps not, darling,a he responded, filling her gla.s.s again. aItas just that s.p.a.ce ships might become important in coming years and Iad like to get in on the ground floor. Perhaps I could offer Tim some funding.a She got to her feet but swayed dangerously. aIam drinking too much. Whereas your powder room? And letas not talk about Timas secrets. I donat know anything valuable in any case.a aAs you wish, sweetheart. And Iad rather you not get drunk.a He took the gla.s.s from her hand. aWe could truly enjoy ourselves tonight, if you remain somewhat alert.a She gazed at him with a crooked smile as he began to unb.u.t.ton her blouse. aI know what you want,a she remarked with approval. aBut letas not talk about Tim anymore.a aBut, darling, you must at least tell me how he is as an adult lover. Did you know I sucked on him at the party when he was still a pretty boy?a aI doubt you want to know the truth of it, Harrison, because the news could give you an inferiority complex. Iall just say heas grown dramatically, in all directions, although heas still pretty. Sucking him now is a real challenge, I can tell you.a Cleaver grunted an amused laugh. aI donat know what to say, Ros, except Iam jealous. I suppose he satisfies you.a aSatisfy me! Harrison, the guy leaves me limp every time.a He unclasped her bra and pulled it off to free large, firm b.r.e.a.s.t.s. aMagnificent!a he exclaimed, palming both. aTheyare just the right size for a tall girl like you.a aOh, dear!a she cried in a stagy voice. aIam a prisoner and at your mercy!a Cleaveras nostrils flared. aI know that game, Ros. It can get rough.a She stepped back to a.s.say him. aItas either that, Harrison, or I can service you like a wh.o.r.e. Iall enjoy the s.e.x either way, although it wonat be, you know, special.a aHeas that good, is he?a Cleaver began to undo his clothes. aI have no illusions, sweet one. I wonat attempt to match Timas prowess. Iam not comfortable with rape, however, despite your playful willingness, so letas go to bed for some mutual pleasure.a He paused. aI hope I can excite you. Please donat fake it.a She embraced him lightly. aIam very o.r.g.a.s.mic,a she whispered into his ear, aand I remember your tongue. Itas as talented as an old womanas.a They entered a pa.s.sageway at the rear of the cabin. Cleaver showed her into a stateroom on the right, leaving the door open. I heard him say, aUse the lavatory through there, but look at this, will you? You probably donat recognize the electronics. Those machines are wire recorders. Youave heard of them? And that, my dear, is a 20 inch television receiver, one of the largest made.a I heard nothing further. Impatiently I skipped ahead and saw motion. Rosalind, still dressed, appeared in the pa.s.sageway. Cleaver, naked except for his socks, steered her by the elbow. aLetas use this other stateroom, where you can snooze as late as you wish.a They pa.s.sed out of sight to the left.

Again I skipped ahead. Did the bug have sense enough to move its perch? To my surprise, it did. It entered the pa.s.sageway and swung to the left through the open door, taking a position on the wall, I presumed.

Cleaver knelt beside the bunk in the small sleeping cabin, bent over the nude girl, mouth nuzzling her hip and belly, hands on thighs and b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

aHave you found everything in order, Harrison?a she asked fretfully. aIam getting impatient.a aLet me part these legs so I can get at you, dear girl. I have a reputation to defend.a She opened them eagerly and his head moved directly between them. She sighed in contentment and began to play with her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, pinching the nipples. Soon, she squirmed her lower body and her sighs progressed to light moans.

aDonat tease me!a she cried when he paused and raised his head.

He resumed the task with determination. She became increasingly agitated. aYes! Yes!a she exclaimed then yelled inarticulately. Her body went rigid and her thighs closed on the manas head. She relaxed after less than a minute.

aThank you, Harrison,a she said with eyes closed. aYour reputation is intact.a aYouare welcome, my dear. I have always treasured that flavor. Would you mind lying on your stomach for my turn?a aHarrison! You want something nasty?a aIf you donat mind, dearest. Iall be very gentle.a Without reply she rolled over. He stroked her fresh, plump b.u.t.tocks and fondled the soft thighs below them.

aMy, my, Rosalind, you are indeed a splendid piece of a.s.s!a She giggled. aIall get Tim to make me a p.u.s.s.y between my b.o.o.bs.a aCan he do that?a aHe can do anything!a Cleaver rose to his feet. aJust a moment, sweet one. Iall get you a relaxing drink.a He returned in seconds and offered her a gla.s.s containing a clear liquid. She raised up on an elbow and sniffed it.

aGin,a she announced. aBut something else as well. Harrison! I believe you intend to drug me.a aJust something to loosen you up, my dear.a aMy tongue or my sphincter? It wonat do you any good, though, because I donat know anything of value, as you mentioned earlier.a aSwallow it. Youall feel better.a She glanced askance at his rigid organ. aI know you like lively women, Harry. Okay, Iall drink it.a She downed the potion and laid her head on the pillow. He quickly lubricated himself with salve from a tube. After parting her long legs, he climbed between them and lowered his body to hers. She uttered a grunt when he penetrated her, but otherwise remained silent and still as he sought his pleasure in languid strokes. After a couple of minutes he suddenly plumbed her with two rapid, long thrusts then lay heavily upon her briefly, quivering and whining as if in pain.

aYouare squishing me,a Rosalind protested in a weary, slurred voice.

He dismounted to kneel again at the side of the bunk. aNow letas talk about that factory,a he said into her ear.

aItas for s.p.a.ce ships,a she mumbled. aThey want to go to the moon.a aWhen?a aI donat know, acept itall take a few years. We have losh to do. Tim neeash losha people, special people.a Her voice began to fade. aI get to help pick aem.a aWhere will he build it?a Her eyes, which had drifted closed, flickered open. aHe neesh a" needs somewhere without radar. Ish that the right word? Maybe you can help a find aa Her head sagged.

Despite repeated efforts Cleaver was unable to elicit any further information. He finally gave up in disgust and left the cabin. I needed a long skip in the report to observe anything but the random limb movements of a sleeping and probably drugged Rosalind.

Finally the light brightened. Cleaver was looking in. My viewpoint moved towards him, pa.s.sed over his shoulder and entered the cabin. Itas main door stood open, admitting the reddish light of dawn. I sailed through the door and rose into the air with a glimpse of large boats lined up in rows. In short order a small bird zoomed toward me and everything went black.

I set the viewer on the table and looked up as Alice did the same with hers. aWhat do you think?a I asked.

aAt least she got laid.a When I only sniffed, she added, aIf itas a boat, itas a big one.a aCleaver called it his yacht. He can afford a large one.a aBut where is it?a I shook my head. aI donat know. But I suspect Cleaver wants to talk to me.a I stood up. aThink Iall go for a walk.a * * *

aYou canat be Tim!a I turned in startlement at the feminine call. A limousine had stopped at the curb beside me with pa.s.senger window open. The face behind it was beautiful, well made-up, smiling with a wrinkle of puzzlement a" and only too familiar.

aBut you can be Mona.a She blinked. aNow how would Timas older brother know me on sight?a She sniffed. aI didnat think Tim had an older brother, and youare too pretty to be his father.a aBoys grow up, Mona.a aIn a couple of months?a I smiled. aTeenagers can change quickly sometimes.a aYes, in all directions, Iall bet.a She leered at my groin ostentatiously, then pushed open the door. aGet in. I want to find out.a aYou want to take me for a ride, eh?a aIf youare running an errand, Iall be happy to give you a lift.a aThatas nice. Is it just coincidence that brings you in front of Rosalindas old apartment?a She grinned. aWell, no, as a matter of fact, I was looking for you. Your housekeeper said you had come this way.a aMy housekeeper?a aPerhaps another member of your harem, then. You can do better than she. Come on, big boy. I know you had fun before. Think how it can be now!a Hand on the top of the open door, I bent down, stared into her eyes and said in low but firm tones, aAll right, but I want you to take me to Cleaver.a She lost her smile. aI thought you were on an errand.a aItas the same errand. Move over.a I put a foot in the car, dropped my hip beside hers and simply slid her b.u.t.tocks across the wide velvet seat, closing the door behind me.

Her eyes had widened. aYou a you shoved me!a She was alone in the large pa.s.senger compartment. I pointed to the speaking tube. aTell the driver to get going.a aOkay!a she snarled, but her hand squeezed my thigh and she breathed admiringly, aGood heavens, Tim, thatas hard muscle!a aTell him.a She pulled the funnel to her mouth and said, aHome, James.a Immediately the long car slid forward.

I returned her grin. aIs that the chauffeuras name?a She shrugged. aTo me theyare all James. Where do you want me to drop you?a aI told you. I want to see Cleaver.a aThatas good. He wants to see you too.a aHe ordered you to fetch me, didnat he?a aOh, I was easy. I wanted to see you again, especially after all the changes I heard about. Will you force me to drag it out myself?a I chuckled grimly. aThe referent of your it is not hard to guess. Iam sorry, Mona, but today Iam in no mood for hanky-panky.a aI can put you in the mood.a aNot in time to be of any use to you. It canat be that far to Cleaveras yacht.a She had reached across me and pulled down the window shade on the pa.s.senger window. She froze at my words, her face in front of mine. aHowad you know about the yacht? He only bought it last month.a aI know. I also know thatas where heas holding Rosalind.a aHolding?a She smiled. aOnly for this.a Her hands caught me behind the head and pulled our faces together in a kiss. I allowed her tongue to probe but failed to follow it on withdrawal.

She backed away slowly, studying my eyes. aThough you donat know exactly where it is. How interesting!a aIall know when we get there.a She chuckled slightly, but her expression showed no humor. aHow is it I get the impression the worst thing I could do is take you to Cleaver?a She reached for the speaking tube. I s.n.a.t.c.hed it and held it away from her.

Her eyes grew wide. aTimmy, youave changed!a I grinned. aI thought youad already noticed.a aYouare so much more forceful!a While she watched my face, her hands went to the zipper of my fly. Mona was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, whose perfectly proportioned body remained the choice memory from Cleaveras orgy in June. But impatience was my principle reaction to her pressure in my groin. I shook my head and brushed her hands away. aNot now, Mona.a Her eyes flashed in protest. aYou must know Iam curious!a aSo am I. Tell me about Cleaver.a Her hands fell dispiritedly into her lap. She took a deep breath. aCleaver is like an old sock.a aYour employer?a aEmployer?a She grunted. aMy keeper.a aThatas what they call the attendants at a zoo.a She chuckled. aItas a zoo, all right. Except he doesnat clean out the cages a the gilded cages.a aHow rich is he?a aOh, heas up there, though maybe not with Rockefeller and Ford. He packed most of the military K- and C-rations in the war.a aThen he deserves some credit.a aCredit? I think he made a few hundred million for his efforts a" despite our confiscatory taxes.a aDid he cheat?a aOf course he cheated! How else can you keep anything with a 96 per-cent tax rate?a aThatas why they invented tax shelters. He seems to be interested in my family for a lot more than s.e.x. Do you know anything about that?a She laughed sarcastically. aYouare asking the wrong person.a aWell, Iall ask Cleaver himself in a few minutes, but Iad like to hear your slant.a aMy slant is s.e.x, Timmy: the stiff tongue or c.o.c.k. Cleaver has a lot of interesting men around him.a aNo doubt. But whatas your future in 20 years?a aHuh! Ten years is too long. I donat think about the future, Timmy, beyond the next c.o.c.k. Itas scary.a aYou ought to get ready for it. Make him buy you an annuity.a Her pretty face grew solemn. She sighed. aI know what I am, Timmy: Cleaveras voluntary slave. He takes care of what I need or want and in return I do what he tells me, which is mainly f.u.c.king when and whom as ordered. Iam in no position to make him do anything. Hey! What would I have to do to become your slave a" with an annuity?a aIam not a keeper, Mona. Where exactly is Rosalind this morning?a aThe last I heard of her, she was asleep in one of the staterooms.a Her hand moved back to my groin and fondled the contents. aWouldnat you like to have a slave whoad f.u.c.k anyone you named?a I caught her arm and gently removed the hand to her own lap. aNo, I would not,a I answered emphatically. aTreating a person as if she were just a piece of meat is not my style.a aReally?a Her tone expressed surprise. aBut thatas all women are.a I studied her. She wasnat kidding. aMona, why did you buy into such vicious nonsense?a aBuy into? What do you mean?a d.a.m.ned anachronisms! aYou are a beautiful, bright woman, Mona, yet you seem to be caught like a fish on a hook. You donat need him, you know. Youare wasting your life.a aIam what?a aYou could move away, go to school, make of yourself anything you wanted.a She stared at me. Her lip curled. aIs it the Reverend Tim these days? Where the h.e.l.l would I get the money to go to school?a aLots of places. From me, for example.a She blinked at me. Suddenly she smiled saucily. aIave already offered to be your slave. If you ordered me to go to school, guess Iad have to go. To what school would you send me, Tim?a An interesting question. aHow about art or design?a I mused. aI can see you have good taste. Bright people usually have talent.a aHmm. I used to draw. Maybe Iad like that, if the school were coed.a aThatas true of most art schools.a aMaybe. Are you rich too, Tim?a aMe? I donat have a penny to my name.a aBut you have a PhD in physics. Thatas a kind of wealth.a aPotentially youare right. The truth is, Mona, Iam as rich as I wish to be just now. Money is not the object. Thatas the problem with most rich men, I think. They confuse means with ends.a aWhat is the object, Tim?a aFreedom.a aFreedom to starve?a aYouare right. Freedom is only a necessary condition, for which money is the grease.a aThe grease to what?a aTo whatever goals you set for yourself.a aReally? Just now my goal is to suck your c.o.c.k again. Do I have enough freedom for that?a I had raised the window shade. I said dryly, aGive me a rain check. This looks like it might be Cleaveras slip.a Indeed the car had proceeded cautiously down onto a board dock to which a large yawl was tied up. As we pa.s.sed the stern I saw the name: GerryMand Two. It was Cleaveras, all right.

I followed Mona out of the car. The vessel, long enough in my opinion to qualify as a ship, was tied against the dockas cork b.u.mpers. A short gangway had been laid down to the rail. A man in work clothes sat in the forward well deck. He seemed to be splicing some lines. He looked up at us, gave me a hard stare but dropped his eyes when they lit upon Mona. I paused to study the vessel. The hemp halyards were secured to simple cleats. They were not the glittery nylon lines attached to power extenders that I recalled in the Nineties a" of course, but meaning that under sail this ship would require a sizeable crew. I wondered how much of it was aboard.

aCome on,a said the woman, stepping lightly across the gangway. aIall take you to him.a Not for nothing did the limousine possess a long whip antenna. Cleaver stood in the aft cabin doorway looking up at us, shirtless under a satin smoking jacket and white slacks. He smiled widely, exhibiting white teeth in a closely shaven, tanned face. aWelcome aboard!a he called.

Monaas feet twinkled girlishly down the companionway steps to the after well deck as if she had been raised on yachts. Perhaps she had. I had spent time on them in my fifties. Grasping the rails loosely, I descended in one leap, thumping onto the deck behind her and straightening to tower over her.

And over Cleaver. He stared up at me open-mouthed. aMy G.o.d, they told me a" Can you truly be Timothy Kimball?a aIn the flesh,a I said dryly. Mona slid out from between us with a slight smile.

aWhat about it?a He demanded of her.

She smiled. aHe claims all Timas molecules are still there.a aAnd a lot more!a He shook his head. aHow could this possibly happen to you, Tim, in less than three months?a aIave had a huge appet.i.te,a I admitted. aWhere is Rosalind?a He glanced at his diamond-studded wrist.w.a.tch. aStill doing her beauty sleep, I imagine. Itas only a little after eleven, you know.a His eyes widened dramatically. aGood lord, Tim, you canat be concerned about her! You know all about her, ah, interests.a I stared into his eyes. aSomebody said she was abducted.a He possessed untapped reserves of incredulity. His eyebrows rose toward his hairline. aAbducted! My G.o.d, Tim, you know thatas a canard, whoever said it.a He raised his chin. aAnd sheall be the first to put it straight when she gets up.a aGive her a call, then.a I still hadnat smiled. aIad like to hear it from her.a aThen why donat you rouse her?a He stood calmly to one side of the doorway. aGo through the salon. Sheas in the stateroom on the left.a I pa.s.sed him without another word. The asalona was a cozy room of plush chairs and drink tables, lined with windows presently covered by drapes. I pulled open a door to a short hall and knocked on the door to the left.

Hearing a moan, I unlatched it and stepped through, closing it behind me. The room was very dim. I found a light switch and changed that. Rosalind lay nude on a double bed whose coverings above a single sheet had all fallen to the floor a" excuse me, the deck. She blinked at me owlishly. Her hands went to her temples.

aTimmy! Wheread you come from?a I sank to the bed beside her and raised her to a sitting position. aAre you all right, Ros?a aNo! My head is killing me.a aKiss me,a I told her, working up my saliva.

aMy breath is terrible, Timmy.a aNot to me, my dear.a My hand raised her chin. Despite her worried look she let our lips meet, opening hers expectantly.

aSwallow it,a I told her after a moment. aYouall feel better.a She obeyed with a snort that was almost a giggle. aThatas what Harrison said.a We sat quietly for a minute or two. I wondered at Cleaveras forbearance in permitting it, then thought of a reason why.

My companion said in awe, aI didnat know a manas spit could make such a difference!a aDo you feel better?a aOh, yes. Youare a wonder! a Oh, Timmy!a Her expression faded from approval to anxiety. aHarrison said a lot of other things. And so did I.a aI know. Do you need help dressing?a aNo. Not now. My clothes are in that pile and I recently discovered thereas a lavatory through that door. Give me five minutes, Tim.a She smiled wanly. aJust donat expect Betty Grable.a I squeezed her against me. aIad rather have Rosalind any day.a aOh, Tim!a She kissed me again.

Cleaver sat in the salon, a tall drink in hand. Mona had disappeared. He gestured to the short table between his chair and the next on which another tumbler rested, frosted with condensation. aTake a seat and have some refreshment. How is our favorite tall redhead this morning?a I took a seat but ignored the drink. aSheall be all right. Sheas dressing.a aAre you satisfied she wasnat brought here by force?a aI never asked her that, Cleaver. Force would not have been necessarya a" I fixed his eye with mine a" athis time.a He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow inquiringly, then shook his head. aTim, apparently we are getting off on the wrong foot. I deplore that very much. We seemed so compatible at my party in June. It was obvious to me that, although you were very young, you had a good head for business on your shoulders. Certainly someone who earns a PhD in physics at the age of 15 is bound to shake the world! I admire that talent and ability, Tim. I think it represents the highest type of human, the cream of life on this planet.a His face was earnest. I said, aWhat do you want, Cleaver?a aCanat you call me Harrison, or even Harry? After all, we have been the most intimate of friends.a aWe have been intimate,a I admitted grudgingly. aCan it be that you want to control your ahighest type of human?aa aControl? Tim, what an idea! Donat you understand? I want to help him!a aTo help him,a I repeated. aWith money, perhaps?a aOh, certainly. And I donat refer to piddling amounts, either. Iam prepared to invest 50 million dollars.a I shook my head. aPiddling is a relative term.a He studied me with obvious interest, doubtlessly thinking of Rosalindas disclosures. aDo you have any idea a" that is, do you have any justification for a larger sum?a I said confidently, aI have a detailed development plan. It includes commitments, not mere estimates, for $500 million in the first year.a aFive hundred a"a His eyes were round. aCommitments, you say?a aOh, yes, from many investors.a I smiled internally. Clara has a cautious soul despite her reversion across four centuries. She had used more than 25 aliases a" that I knew of a" to manage her money accounts.

He licked his lips, eyes glowing. aTo develop what, Tim?a aI understand that Rosalind told you.a as.p.a.ceships? To the moon?a aThatas only the beginning.a He stared at me, breathing in slow pants, like a gun-shy dog who hears distant thunder. He shook his head as if recovering from a dream. aThis is incredibly interesting, Tim. I think I know who your investors must be, and Iam surprised that Truman has so much vision. By the way, Iam most pleased that you are so forthcoming. But let me ask you something that may be of even greater importance than moon colonies.a aGo ahead,a I said cheerfully. That was the moment I keyed run to the NEPENTHE program already setup for my saliva glands.

He asked earnestly, aDo you know how your sudden growth to physical adulthood was accomplished?a I smiled. aYes, I know.a He took a deep breath. aTim, surely you realize what such an ability implies for medicine. Are these techniques of yours, including breast enlargement, applicable to the general population?a aIam confident of it.a His face lit as if in a spotlight. aMy G.o.d, Tim, this may be the greatest discovery in history!a On that note Rosalind appeared in the doorway. She looked from Cleaver to me. aAm I interrupting something?a aNot really,a I answered, getting to my feet and going to her.

I took her in my arms. As our faces closed, I whispered, aDonat swallow,a and shoved in another mouthful. I released her immediately. To Cleaver it must have resembled a pro-forma peck. She regarded me in wonder, lips pressed together.

aWeave got places to go,a I remarked in an offhand manner. aGive Harrison a kiss for his hospitality.a He surged to his feet, protesting, aTim, you must always consider my house your home away a"a Rosalind, who was in fact slightly taller than he, pulled him against her and kissed him thoroughly and lingeringly. I saw his larynx bob.

She released him lazily. aHarrison, that was a wonderful evening.a He smiled quickly. aFor both of us, sweetie.a Then he frowned and made tasting motions.

She looked at me with a twinkle. aMen are easy to please.a aWhich is why aa Cleaver began. He shook his head dizzily. aWhich is why women hate to do it. Whoa!a He took a deep breath and looked at the girl. aWhat a what was it you asked me, dear?a She backed away from him and turned to me inquiringly.

aTime to go,a I said, spinning toward the exit.

aMy G.o.d, sir! Who are a You must be related to a" No!a He struck his forehead with the heel of his hand. aI know who you are. Youare Timothy Kimball, grown up in three months!a aItas been fun, Harrison,a I told him. aYouall want to think about what we discussed. Come along, Ros.a aBut, but aa He stared after me with open mouth.

I led her out into the well deck. A burly man stood at the top of the companionway, glaring down at us. He looked familiar. His fists clenched and unclenched.