bruise-purple below waistlevel, breadspread-yellow above; it resembled one of those
tropical beetles occasionally used by jewelers.
"The dash design couldn't remain so trad," Tak explained, beginning to decipher the two dozen dials. "Multiple readout devices are guised in old format where possible.
Observe, por fav." John and I followed the route of his finger
as it mapped the terrain. "Speedometer, here. Recompensa-
tor. Lightrod inserted here, to allow better nightsight; pulls out when needed and automatically ignites. Battery gauge.
Compass."
"Compass? Where're the geographics?" asked John.
"There'll be no satellite on that side to atlas in with," said
Tak, prodding a stubby rod attached to the steering column.
"Automatic transmission, three gears and reverse. AM radio,
guaranteed against fadeout or sunspots." Switching its
knob, he tuned in, bringing up the news.
`-missile fell this morning in Mexico City exurbs sustaining minor damage. Seven hundred missing-"
"Five hundred HP," Tak said, pressing the ignition. We
tried to hear the actual engine's gentle whir beneath the
soundtrack, a loud, rhythmic pounding. "Authentic V-8 engine sound. Inbuilt Lasereo on and offswitches automatically. Handy if otherworlders give ear as it's running. This is
the flux monitor. Digitalizer, with necessary graphs available
on demand. Geiger counter. Agitators, inside and out. Compensator. Tachometer. Area meteorologics panel here-"
"What's this?" John asked, tapping a blue ovoid bolted
onto the steering wheel.
"Necker knob," said Tak. "Original accoutrement."
"Purpose?"
"For onehanding the wheel, freeing driver to fondle willing companions without dysfunctioning driving." Tak
pointed at a red button located below the radio. "Most
important. Your plan calls for returning to original entrance
point after completion of mission, correct?"
"AO," said John. "If possibled."
"If OEP is unreachable, employ this. Only if danger demands. Otherwise, consider it nonexistent."
"Why?" I asked. "What is it?"
"Concealed as overdrive," Tak said. "In truth, an Alekhine device. Upon employment, transfer immediately effects
and car crosses back to this world. Trauma to vehicle and
occupants will be great upon application, increasing proportionate to speed at the instant of transferral. Inferences suggest that this method caused, if in unknown manner, all
previous terminations. The Alekhine device kills as it cures,
authorities believe. But-"
"If needed," I said.
"Pay up and chance," said Tak. "But there it is."
"This screen," John said, fingering a blank rhomboid
bordered by chrome ribbon. "Catalytic readings? Reconnai-
sance tracker?"
"Clock."
The pills Leverett provided drained away my lingering dark
with indecent haste; ten hours after I'd dosed, my skin's gray
vanished beneath a wash of pink and crimson, as if in night
an artist, possessed by artistic inspiration perhaps believed
divine, came upon me while I slept, and bespattered without
warning the canvas there found.
"Bedaway, Iz," my husband said, calling to me through
our bathroom door, on our predeparture evening. "Tomorrow'11 be yesterday too soon."
"Hold the horses," I said, disrobing. Rinsing my flati-
roned hair a final time, rubbing added blondness into every
strand, I concluded my bleach. Standing naked before the
mirror, I saw myself through blue lenses, recreated as desired, an artist's delight: Venus atremble at seaside, another
regooded resident to best suit our eternal city; one showing
neither black nor white, but golden. I eyed my new and
forever-unfamiliar image, troubled and attracted, wondering how long it would take me to forget who I'd been. Would
my persona change to match my appearance? Had it already
changed?
Prolonging my look overmuch, I began fearing that this
metamorphosis was, rather, metastasis; soon enough supplanted that fright with a new one. Stepping into our bedroom, I allowed my husband to behold me. John lay
tropical beetles occasionally used by jewelers.
"The dash design couldn't remain so trad," Tak explained, beginning to decipher the two dozen dials. "Multiple readout devices are guised in old format where possible.
Observe, por fav." John and I followed the route of his finger
as it mapped the terrain. "Speedometer, here. Recompensa-
tor. Lightrod inserted here, to allow better nightsight; pulls out when needed and automatically ignites. Battery gauge.
Compass."
"Compass? Where're the geographics?" asked John.
"There'll be no satellite on that side to atlas in with," said
Tak, prodding a stubby rod attached to the steering column.
"Automatic transmission, three gears and reverse. AM radio,
guaranteed against fadeout or sunspots." Switching its
knob, he tuned in, bringing up the news.
`-missile fell this morning in Mexico City exurbs sustaining minor damage. Seven hundred missing-"
"Five hundred HP," Tak said, pressing the ignition. We
tried to hear the actual engine's gentle whir beneath the
soundtrack, a loud, rhythmic pounding. "Authentic V-8 engine sound. Inbuilt Lasereo on and offswitches automatically. Handy if otherworlders give ear as it's running. This is
the flux monitor. Digitalizer, with necessary graphs available
on demand. Geiger counter. Agitators, inside and out. Compensator. Tachometer. Area meteorologics panel here-"
"What's this?" John asked, tapping a blue ovoid bolted
onto the steering wheel.
"Necker knob," said Tak. "Original accoutrement."
"Purpose?"
"For onehanding the wheel, freeing driver to fondle willing companions without dysfunctioning driving." Tak
pointed at a red button located below the radio. "Most
important. Your plan calls for returning to original entrance
point after completion of mission, correct?"
"AO," said John. "If possibled."
"If OEP is unreachable, employ this. Only if danger demands. Otherwise, consider it nonexistent."
"Why?" I asked. "What is it?"
"Concealed as overdrive," Tak said. "In truth, an Alekhine device. Upon employment, transfer immediately effects
and car crosses back to this world. Trauma to vehicle and
occupants will be great upon application, increasing proportionate to speed at the instant of transferral. Inferences suggest that this method caused, if in unknown manner, all
previous terminations. The Alekhine device kills as it cures,
authorities believe. But-"
"If needed," I said.
"Pay up and chance," said Tak. "But there it is."
"This screen," John said, fingering a blank rhomboid
bordered by chrome ribbon. "Catalytic readings? Reconnai-
sance tracker?"
"Clock."
The pills Leverett provided drained away my lingering dark
with indecent haste; ten hours after I'd dosed, my skin's gray
vanished beneath a wash of pink and crimson, as if in night
an artist, possessed by artistic inspiration perhaps believed
divine, came upon me while I slept, and bespattered without
warning the canvas there found.
"Bedaway, Iz," my husband said, calling to me through
our bathroom door, on our predeparture evening. "Tomorrow'11 be yesterday too soon."
"Hold the horses," I said, disrobing. Rinsing my flati-
roned hair a final time, rubbing added blondness into every
strand, I concluded my bleach. Standing naked before the
mirror, I saw myself through blue lenses, recreated as desired, an artist's delight: Venus atremble at seaside, another
regooded resident to best suit our eternal city; one showing
neither black nor white, but golden. I eyed my new and
forever-unfamiliar image, troubled and attracted, wondering how long it would take me to forget who I'd been. Would
my persona change to match my appearance? Had it already
changed?
Prolonging my look overmuch, I began fearing that this
metamorphosis was, rather, metastasis; soon enough supplanted that fright with a new one. Stepping into our bedroom, I allowed my husband to behold me. John lay
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