Aboriginal Science Fiction 047-048 [1996-Spring]

100 Pages·1996·14.7 MB·English

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Editor, Charles C. Ryan Short Stories
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Warnidt earsss isotfa ncAem.e rica) for their encouragement Aboriginal Science Fiction, No. 47 & 48
EDITOR’S NOTES By Charles C. Ryan
Better Late Than ...
irst, let me thank you for your her demise, or that, at best: “she will keep up with. Now, we have to do
Pitre and understanding, never leave the hospital.” things differently.
and assure you that all pre- Instead of relying on volunteers to
existing subscriptions will be hon- Miracle Momma assist in this work, we have to take on
ored. But she again slowly recovered. My part-time paid staff again. That will
As you may have surmised, there youngest sister has taken to calling her put a strain on the magazine’s cash
have been some difficulties at the mag- “Miracle Momma,” with some justifica- flow, but we’ve devised a plan to take
“azine, but it hasn’t been as simple and tion. (My mother is even more stubborn care of the added expense.
straight-forward as you might have than I.) The simple fact is that I can no
guessed. She is now once again at a rehabili- longer do, or supervise everything. We
Aboriginal has been strapped for tation hospital, recovering very slowly. have negotiated a contract with a man-
cash for the past four to five years (Please notice that I haven’t said any- agement organization (Pawn Press,
because it unfortunately made a big thing about health insurance.) Ltd., P.O. Box 355, Station H, Mon
push to the newsstands just when the For those of our subscribers who treal, Quebec, Canada, H8G 2L1) to
recession was crashing into everyone’s may not know, I have a real-world full- help us run the magazine and reacti-
spending habits. What has made the time job (even part-time editors of SF vate the direct-mail campaign — which
last 20 months significantly different is magazines eat, purchase and wear is what made Aboriginal successful
that I haven’t been as free to deal with clothing, and need an occasional roof (growth-wise) in the first place. The
the ongoing operation of the magazine over their heads). The magazine is pro- fact that this issue is in your hands,
as I have in the past. duced in my spare time (without pay). means that we have succeeded.
On June 21, 1994, my mother suf- I have had no spare time since June It is our hope that Aboriginal can
fered a major heart attack which put 21, 1994. now continue to grow, and that the
her into a coma and caused stroke-like Some of you have written to ask why number and size of the magazine’s
symptoms (from oxygen deprivation). you haven’t seen an issue, or about problems will diminish over time.
In fact, for the first 24 hours or so, the some other matter, and may have Anyhow, we're back — nearly two
hospital was treating her as a stroke become miffed by our very slow years late, but back, nonetheless.
victim .,. until she had a second heart response (or apparent lack of concern),
attack at the hospital. She was in a but I just haven’t had the time ... any From the time warp
coma for more than 10 days. After time. : If you think we’re late with this
three days, the physicians began say- I appreciate the patience most of issue, you haven’t heard anything yet.
ing that the chances of her coming out you have shown and ask that you bear The first week of February 1995, I
of the coma were “less than one per- with us a little bit longer as we get received a call from Cherry Weiner, a
cent.” things back on track. . literary agent I know who lives in New
She eventually emerged from the There is quite a bit more to do to Jersey. She had just received a copy of
coma, much to the physicians’ surprise, keep the magazine running than just Aboriginal’s first issue in the mail and
and regained some responsiveness, but reading the 800 to 1,000 manuscripts wanted to let me know.
was on a ventilator (respirator), This which arrive in the mail each month. The reason this was so interesting is
was complicated by the fact she had a There is constant database work which that the copy of the magazine was
pre-existing asthma/emphysema condi- has to be done, including the entry of mailed (addressed to her husband
tion. The doctors implied it might be a new subscriptions, renewals, changes Jack) in July 1986.
long recovery. She recouperated of address, queries, problems, etc. Now, I know some of our subscribers
enough to be transferred to a chronic- Then there is dealing with printers, who work for the U.S. Postal Service
care facility, but it bungled a few the post office, distributors. Plus the get upset each time I mention mailing
things, causing her to be rushed back regular office work, billing, typeset- mishaps, but even they will have to
to the ICU at a different hospital. The ting, proofing — you get the idea. admit this is unusual.
new hospital rectified the second hospi- Unlike a retail concern like a super- To the Post Awful’s credit, Cherry
tal’s mistakes, my mother recovered market, a magazine doesn’t receive said the copy (unwrapped) arrived (8
somewhat and again we were thinking income unless it initiates a specific 1/2 years late) in near mint condition.
of a rehabilitation hospital, but then on action, such as a mailing to get new Go figure.
Friday of Labor Day weekend, 1994, subscribers, sending out renewal
she came down with pneumonia, com- notices, billing wholesalers and distrib- Boomerang Awards
plicated by septic shock. This caused utors, soliciting for advertising, attend- Because of the problems mentioned
her blood pressure to drop drastically, ing conventions where single copies above, we never announced the
shut down all major organs except her and subscriptions are sold, etc. Boomerang Awards for 1993. To learn
heart, and left her in a much less ten- Up until my mother’s illness, it was who won, please see page 83. Q
able position. The physicians predicted something we (barely) managed to
Copyright © 1996 by Charles C. Ryan
Editor’s Notes Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 3
ee , —=e.sS =, 7 -t=e,se_—_—“.. _-_-___
Revisions
By Chuck Rothman
Art by Jael
ayne read the sign once more just before you can only stay a few minutes, and you can only
she pressed the doorbell: do it once.”
Chris nodded. “Exactly. Five minutes is all you
get. To keep you back six would take all the power
Harrington Business Services the U.S. generates in a year. To make a second try
Technical Writing would theoretically take twice that. And, of course,
Computer Graphics the more memories you have to change — like any-
Revisions thing in the history books — the more power you
need. You see, Jayne, the universe never gives you
Ree: The word had always seemed to something for nothing.” He became very serious. “I
pounce out at her each day as she drove hope you understand. You will have no second
by on her way to work. Today, she finally chance. None at all.” Once again, he leaned nearer
steeled herself to act. The building seemed dark, to her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
but a small computer-printed sign in the window God, she had considered it for ages now. “Yes.”
showed Saturday hours, and instructed her to ring. “What were*you planning to revise?”
Jayne waited nervously. She was about to walk “I ...” She'stopped herself, uncomfortable with
away when the door opened. telling this to a stranger. “I don’t think that’s any
The man at the doorway was about six-feet tall, of your business.”
with jet-black hair speckled with premature gray. “If you want the chance, you'll have to tell me.”
He smiled at her, his warm brown eyes crinkling. He spoke with implacable confidence, as though he
“Yes?” he asked. had had this conversation many times.
“Hi. ’m Jayne Clayman. I hope I’m not bother- “Are you always this way with your customers?”
ing you, but your sign said you’re open.” He shrugged. “Revisions are only a sideline for
“Oh, I’m open,” the man said. He seemed to be me. I thought it might make me a few extra dollars
looking her over. “I just don’t get much call for revi- in the slack times, but it turned out to be just a fad.
sions these days. Come on in.” With only one choice, there’s no repeat business.”
She followed him, and he led her into the wait- He smiled. “I'd toss the machine out if I didn’t still
ing room: two modern couches facing each other owe money on it.” Quickly he became serious again.
and a glass-topped table, copies of Time and He rose. “Come on. I'll set you up.”
Newsweek neatly piled on it. “What? I thought you said you wanted to know
“Sit down,” he said. “I’m Chris Harrington. I run why?”
the place.” He smiled again; it made her feel a bit “I already know why. There are only two or
calmer. “Would you like some coffee?” three reasons these days, and your reaction nar-
“Nothing,” she,murmured. “And ... how did you rowed it down awfully quickly. You want what we
know?” call an ‘instant divorce.” He gestured toward a
“That you wanted a revision?” He shrugged. door. “This way.”
“It’s the nature of the business. I have to hustle for She followed, subdued.
most of my clients, and when someone comes of her The clutter inside the inner office was a con-
own accord — especially on a Saturday — it’s usu- trast to the neatness of the waiting room. A com-
ally for a revision.” He leaned toward her. “Are you puter sat on a wood-topped workstation with piles
sure you know what you're doing, Jayne?” of paper scattered on all available’extra space like
The familiarity made her frown, but she let it gargantuan snowflakes. On a desk on the other
pass. It was better than “Mrs. Clayman” under the side of the room were random piles of bills, maga-
circumstances, “I think so. You use it go to back zines, letters, and advertisements.
and change your past.” In the far corner, next to a beat-up filing cabi-
Chris shook his head. “Not exactly. You only net, was the reviser. It reminded Jayne of the auto-
change your present. The past, after all, exists only matic photo booths of her youth, except that the
in our memories. Any changes you make will give chair was made of molded plastic and had strands
you a different present. But you won’t truly have of wire looping around it. A complicated set of con-
lived through it.” trols covered one side of the machine.
It sounded to Jayne like he was splitting hairs,
but the only thing that mattered was that she’d
step out of the reviser with a different life. “I heard Copyright © 1996 by Chuck Rothman
4 Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 Revisions
Rev isions Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996
Chris pushed several cardboard boxes aside. She nodded. “March 10, 1989. 8:30 a.m. And if
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Wasn’t really expecting you ask me if I’m sure, I'll bite you. I’ve spent a lot
company.” He looked up at her. “There’s just one of time agonizing about it.”
thing I need to know. Are there any children?” Chris laughed. “I’d better set the controls cor-
“Children?” Then she understood. If she were rectly, then. Or make sure you have your rabies
successful, any children would have been snuffed shot.” He adjusted the dials for a moment, then
out of existence. announced, “All set. You have five minutes. When
The idea horrified her. “God, no. No children.” that’s over, you'll return to this exact moment.”
He studied her a moment. “Why this?” he asked “With a new life.”
gently. “Why not divorce?” “Maybe.” He returned to the controls. “All right.
“I don’t hate Henry.” Talking about it was mak- Here goes.” He paused, then smiled. “Well, if you
ing her feel better. “I just don’t want to put him do succeed with this, and you're free tonight,
through that.” Or myself, she thought. It would be maybe we can get together.”
an admission of failure, in the most public way pos- She found herself flattered by the proposition.
sible. “We married much too young; it was a mis- “We'll see. Now, let’s get it over with.”
take from the start. I know it, and I think he knows Chris nodded and pressed the keypad.
it.” She laughed. “Or he would if he ever thought
about it. Henry’s too self-centered to notice and too he felt no sense of transition.
self-satisfied to think there could be a problem. But Se moment she was wired inside the
it seems we spend more time bickering than talk- booth, the next she was rushing into
ing. I don’t know the last time we had any fun English 101.
together. Even sex ...” She stopped herself, then God, she felt so good. She had always kept her-
shook her head. “No divorce. I just want to get out self in good shape, but now, fifteen pounds lighter
and forget he was ever part of my life.” . and with sixteen years less wear and tear, she felt
Chris shook his head. “You won’t forget. The old like she was dancing while she walked.
memories will be fainter than the new ones, like The classroom was nearly filled. She spotted
recalling a movie, but you'll still remember that Henry, almost missing him before she remembered
you made a revision, and most of the reasons why.” he had a mustache back then. In a few moments, as
She hadn’t heard about that part. “Will Henry Kilbourn passed out the tests, he would ask her out
remember, too?” for the very first time.
“If he’s not making the revision, probably not. She could not let that happen.
But there may still be a few ghost memories of the She thought about sitting on the opposite side of
previous life. They'll be buried, nearly forgotten, the room, but avoidance wouldn’t help. Henry
but they might be brought to the surface, especial- would only try again, and her former self would
ly if he runs into you or something that has been accept. No, she needed to make him never want to
revised away.” approach her again.
She wasn’t sure how to take that. “How likely is Jayne took her regular seat. Henry smiled at
that?” her as she sat down.
Chris shrugged. “I don’t know.” Talk to me, she thought.
Well, she had gone this far. “Let’s get it over Almost as though he could hear her thoughts,
with.” Henry spoke. “Test is going to be a killer today,
He nodded. “OK. My fee is $500. Cash up front. isn’t it?”
And you have to understand I guarantee nothing.” Jayne nodded. Please. Ask.
Jayne nodded and counted out the bills from her “We're going to need a break after this one,”
purse. Harry.said. “Want to go to the concert tonight? I’ve
“All right, then,” Chris said. “We’re ready to got an extra ticket.”
begin.” He paused for a moment. “Don’t think of me At last!
as some kind of ogre,” he said. “I just needed to And despite her resolve, Jayne found herself
make you realize what was at stake. I do sympa- hesitating. It wasn’t too late to change her mind.
thize with you. If ['m scaring you, I mean to. Maybe there was a way to work things out.
Things don’t always work out the way we want “Well?”
them to, even in the past.” But she knew better. She had to go through
“I won’t know until I try, will I?” Jayne asked. with it. “With you?” She pumped fifteen years of
Chris smiled. “No, you won’t. Well, get in. The frustration into her voice. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
sooner we get it over with, the better.” He looked perplexed, like a sad puppy. “I
She found herself smiling back. He was an thought you might like it.”
attractive man. She had grown used to not notic- She had always melted at that look; it was one
ing. of the reasons she couldn’t bear a divorce. “Well,”
The chair was uncomfortable and the electrode she said, “you thought wrong. I don’t like you and I
paste smelled sour and felt unpleasantly sticky on wouldn’t let you take me across the street. Get the
her arms and forehead. hell out of my life.” She turned away from him.
“Do you have a date and time?” Chris asked.
6 ; ’ Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 Revisions
“All right,” she heard him whisper. “You’re not “On our wedding day.” His smile was the sweet-
the only girl — est thing on Earth.
The room faded away.
She was back in the booth. She looked for Chris, “Ma-ma,” Billy said.
and found herself smiling. “Now, about —
He wasn’t there. “Here, Billy.” The little boy looked at his
And the new memories of her life flooded in. mommy. “Take a step.”
Uncertainly, the boy took a step forward, then
series of boyfriends all through her col- another, then another ...
; lege years. Some were just friends, others
: eemed like the real thing, at least for a “T don’t think the reviser will solve all our prob-
night or two. But none were what she really want- lems, but it will help us broaden our base. We can’t
ed. depend on GE for all our business.”
She looked at the machine dubiously. It had
he walked rapidly through the halls, already been a big jump for Chris to go out and
glancing at the room numbers as she sped start his own company. “Is this just one of your
by. It was late, and these damn state toys?”
offices were built like mazes. She had been “Of course. But it’s bound to be successful.
assigned to HESC, and barely understood what the Wouldn’t you want to go back and make a few
initials stood for, let alone where anything was. changes?”
She bumped into a black-haired man, nearly Jayne thought, then smiled at him. “No. Not
knocking him over. one.”
“Whoa,” he said in a Bott, yet gentle voice. Chris laughed. “Well, me neither, now that I
“What’s the rush?” think of it.” He took her in his arms. “But then,
“T’ve got to find room 230A. Could’ you help me?” we're both one in a million.”
“First day on the job, is it?”
Jayne smiled. She liked the warm way he L= afternoons at the lake were the best
smiled, and the way his eyes seemed to twinkle. “Is times of all, Jayne thought as she
it that obvious?” watched the sun slanting through the
“No one who’s worked here before would rush trees. It had been the perfect day to end the vaca-
anywhere. Come on. I'll show you.” tion; only a few small clouds marred the deep blue
“You don’t have to go out of your way.” sky.
“Tm not.” He smiled again. “It happens to be Chris leaned over her chair and kissed her.
where I work, too. I’m Chris Harrington.” “Having a nice time?”
“Always. And the rest seems to agree with you,
“So,” Chris asked. “Would you like to go to a too.”
movie or something tonight?” Chris nodded. “We haven’t had this much time
“T’'d love to,” Jayne said. together since our honeymoon.” He nodded at the
sun-browned - little boy playing on the beach.
“T love you, too,” Jayne said. “Although I admit we had a bit more fun when it
was just the two of us.”
“IT now pronounce you ...” “We’ve had plenty of that here, too. I’m just glad
you were willing to take some time off.”
“Push,” said the nurse, and Jayne tried to com- “I’m glad you twisted my arm. But the business
ply. The pain wracked her body as she concentrat- is pretty sound and now that Billy’s starting first
ed on her breathing. grade and you want to go back to giving me a hand,
“That’s right,” Chris said. He put a chip of ice in we might even be able to expand in a couple of
her mouth and squeezed her hand as though years. About the only thing that didn’t pan out is
regretting she was the one forced to go through the the reviser.” His eyes twinkled. “And you have the
pain. “You’re almost there.” good graces not to say you told me so.”
Jayne? Are you awake?” “T told you so.”
She opened her eyes. Chris stood by the hospi- Chris shook his head. “I guess you don’t have
tal bed. “Did you see him?” she asked hoarsely. good graces.” He ducked away from the paperback
He nodded. “He’s beautiful.” she launched at him.
“Takes after his daddy.” Her eyes filled with “Daddy?” Billy said, running up from the beach.
tears. “Can we go for a sail?”
“Honey? Are you all right?” Jayne looked at him. He was so much like his
She nodded and smiled. “I just never knew I father: playful, always happy. Two people cast
could be this happy.” from the same mold.
“Oh, you have’ been. I’ve seen you glowing like “T don’t know, skipper,” Chris said. “It’s getting
this before.” near supper.” He looked over at Jayne.
“When?”
Revisions Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 ; Fé
“Oh, go ahead, you two. You can start the bar- “It’s all right,” she said, holding her, wondering
becue when you get back. I’m not that starved.” who was comforting whom. “There are others.”
“Oh, boy,” Billy shouted, and ran down to the
old sailboat tied to the dock next to the beach. “Sorry, Jayne. I would if I could, but I’ve already
Chris kissed her. “See you later.” made my revision. Believe me, if I could, I’'d be glad
She watched as they hoisted the sail and tO
pushed off into the lake. Billy, looking like a jack-
o’-lantern in his orange lifejacket, waved. “Sorry, Jayne ... “
She waved back, smiling, then lay back in the
chaise to doze. - “Please, Paul. You were Chris’s friend ... “
Paul couldn’t look her in the eye. “I can’t do it,
drop of cold water abruptly splattered Jayne.” |
A= her face, waking her. It was followed “But s28
moment later by another. “Jayne, believe me, I liked Chris as much as
Jayne sat up. anyone. But I only have this one chance.”
The sky had darkened while she had napped, | Jayne would not let herself cry. “And you’re not
the blue swallowed by furious gray clouds. She going to waste it.”
glanced out over the lake, searching for the blue Paul reddened. “It’s not like that. Look, suppose
and gold sail. It was about a half-mile away. something happened to Beth? Do you know how I
A rumble in the distance made her jump. She would feel if I blew my only chance to go back and
looked behind her to the east, to the heart of the save her?” He paused. “Oh, Jayne, I’m sorry. I did-
approaching storm, and saw her fears materialize: n’t mean ... “
a bright flash of lightning. “Tt’s all right,” Jayne murmured. “It’s all right.”
One one-thousand, she counted. Two one-thou-
sand. Three “ he phone rang. Wearily, Jayne picked it
The thunder crashed. up. “I saw your ad,” a rough-edged voice
God, so close. said.
She looked out again at the boat. It was heading “How much do want?” There was no point in
for her, tacking against the heavy breeze. asking anything else.
“Go the other way!” she shouted, waving at “Half a million.”
Chris. “Don’t worry about me. Just get to shore!” The lowest so far, but it might as well have been
Her words were swallowed by the quickening the highest. “That’s a lot of money. Look, I might be
rain. Chris waved back at her, grinning. able to scrape together $100,000.”
Another crash, and the rain became a curtain. “Tll think about it,” the voice said. “If I don’t get
The wind died. Chris took out a paddle and a better offer, I’ll call.”
began to fight his way toward shore. She could see The better offer would come. If you were rich,
determination on his face. No fear. you’d pay a million to make a revision, All those
Another crash, lightning and thunder barely who answered her ad already knew that.
separated. The rain was making it more difficult to “Please,” Jayne said. “My husband and son are
see. dead. I want them back.”
Then, through the misty shadows, the boat “I’m willing. Get me the half million.”
emerged. It was only thirty yards or so from shore. “I can’t.”
She could see Chris paddling powerfully, Billy near “Then I guess you didn’t really love him all that
tears, but hanging on bravely. much.” The phone went dead.
“Mommy!” Billy cried.
There was a thunderous crash and time seemed T's avalanche of years took its toll. Jayne
to stop. Then Jayne began to scream. felt like gasping for breath as a half a life-
time of new memories became part of her
“Ashes to ashes ... “ in an instant. She felt like she had lived through it
all, in just a few intense instants. The small, com-
Jayne pounded on the reviser until her hands fortable life she had envisioned would have been
were sore. “Why?” she screamed. “I never used you! enough to digest, but this explosion of feelings left
Why won’t you let me go back?” her weak.
She sank to the floor. “It’s not fair,” she sobbed The room seemed different, yet perfectly famil-
like a disappointed child. “It’s just not fair.” iar. The computer sat neatly in its corner, the desk-
top clear except for the term paper she had been
Chris’s mother stepped out of the reviser. “I’m working on. She went through the drawers of the
sorry, Jayne.” desk. Every object neatly filed inside was some-
The words were unnecessary. Jayne knew. They thing she recognized.
had picked the wrong five minutes. In the bottom drawer she found a picture frame
She could see the sadness in her mother-in- lying face down. She picked it up, knowing what
law’s face and knew they shared the same feelings. she’d find, but needing to look anyway.
8 Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 Revisions
Chris was smiling at her, years and, more weakly, the
Billy beside him. memory of hearing it just this
The image drove an ice morning. “Hello. Is this Henry
pick into her heart. She Clayman?”
dropped it and staggered “Yes.” The voice was wary.
away from the desk into % “Who’s this?”
the waiting room. “My name is Jayne
Glancing out the window, #) Kernaghan.” She paused,
she saw the sign outside: ## "% but the information
brought no hint of recog-
Harrington Business nition. “You probably
Services: don’t remember me, I
Word Processing guess. We went to Union
Resumes together.”
Revisions “What are you sell-
ing?”
She remembered { “What?”
ordering the change. Chris | “I asked what you
had been proud of the busi- were selling. Or are you
ness. It wouldn’t do to asking for a contribu-
abandon it. But she didn’t tion?”
have his talents, so she had ' “Nothing.” She
to change its nature. vaguely recalled he
Jayne sighed and man- hated telephone
aged to calm herself. She solicitors. She need-
had a new life now, what ed to cut through his
she wanted when she suspicions. “Are you
came in here, a few min- sure you don’t remember
utes on the clock, a new life- me? I think we had a class together.”
time in her head. Her previous life was distant Nothing. “Professor Kilbourn.” Still
and vague, and she was free of ... Henry? Yes, | nothing. “I sat beside you.”
Henry. There was a_ pause. “Jayne
And, she told herself, if she hadn’t wanted Kernaghan?”
the revision, she’d never have met Chris. She 4 “Yes.”
should treasure the happiness they had together. “Oh. I remember.” His tone was near-
She couldn’t. She had the memories, but never ly neutral, but she had lived with him long
lived through them. Everything she knew about enough to know he was masking his hostility. “I
Chris she had discovered in the past half hour. remember quite well. You didn’t like me much
She could only recall the high points — and the then.” —
pain. None of the little things that make you feel “T behaved like a jerk to you. I know that. I
good, those which aren’t important enough to wanted to apologize.”
recall. “After all these years?”
And there was one more thing: if she had taken She reddened. “Yes,” she said. “It’s bothered me
Chris’s advice, had _ gotten a_ divorce, a long time and I wanted to make it up to you.”
he would still be alive. She could have gone out Henry said nothing. She knew he wasn’t believ-
with him, discovered him a few years later than ing a word.
she had ... “All right,” she said. “There are other things I
She tried to shake off the thought. There was no want to talk about.”
way for her to change the past. There was no one to “What?”
help her. How much should she tell him? It was impossi-
She stopped. No, she realized. There might still ble to get a feel for things with just a voice on the
be someone. Someone she never would have line. “I can’t really discuss it over the phone. How -
thought about, who she never would have known about over drinks?” No answer, and she had the
about until right this moment ... terrible fear she was blowing it. “Please,” she whis-
Henry. pered, very softly.
“You make it sound awfully mysterious.”
he dialed the number that had once been “Well, it’s nothing illegal, I assure you.”
S:« own from her memory of her first life. “Damn,” Henry said, and she could hear he was
smiling. “You take all the fun out of it.”
Henry answered it on the first ring. “Hello?” “How about the Parc V?” It had been one of their
The sound of his voice triggered double memo- favorites. “Seven o’clock.”
ries: something old, nearly forgotten after so many
Revisions Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 9
“Well ... “ wants a new traffic light, I have to figure out if they
“Please, Henry. I need ...” Your help? No. “I just really need one.”
need to see you. For five minutes.” Jayne nodded, pretending that the words were
Another pause, then, “The Parc. At seven. For news to her.
five minutes.” ‘Tve got a nice apartment on Dove Street.
Plenty of room for me and Jill.”
e was late. She sat at the bar, sipping a “Jill?”
Hine sour, telling herself that he “My cat.”
often arrived late, that the traffic on “Oh,” she said, hiding nae relief. “I’m surprised
Wolf Road was always bad on a Saturday ... you're single. If you don’t mind me saying so, you’re
Finally, she spotted him, stepping inside the too attractive a man to be on your own.”
door, standing near the ferns as he surveyed the Henry grinned. “Don’t mind at all. I tried mar-
drinkers. Again, the memories clashed, three riage. It didn’t take.”
Henrys now: a moustachioed college student, fresh “Divorced?”
in her mind from having turned him down only a He nodded. “There’s a lot of it going around.” He
few hours before; a vaguely remembered boy who pointed at her left hand. “I don’t see any rings on
was in a few of her classes; a husband she had seen your finger. You go through it, too?”
only that morning. . “No,” Jayne said. “I’m a widow.”
She shook her head to clear it. The conflicting The animation in his expression vanished. “Oh,”
memories could be dangerous. She wondered how he said, very softly. “I’m sorry.”
many ghost memories he might have. “Thank you,” Jayne said.
Evidently none, by the way he was peering “Has it been long?”
around the room, lost. “Seven months.” The pain she felt was as sharp
She breathed a sigh of relief and waved at him. as ever but she fought to keep from showing it. “I
“Henry? I’m here.” was moping, and I wanted to get out. I thought it
He spotted her and threaded his way to her would help me forget. But all our old friends were
table. “Sorry. I didn’t recognize you. Your hair’s dif- either married or reminded me too much of Chris.”
ferent,” “So you called me.”
She stood up. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, She nodded. And she realized that, for a part of
thinking he’d aged well — and also thinking he her, at least, her words were the absolute truth. It
looked more haggard than he had this morning. had been seven months, and she missed Chris so
“You made it seem awfully important.” much.
“It is — to me at least.” She had made a vow Henry was silent for several minutes. “Look, I’m
when she arrived: no mention of her request at sorry I was so hostile to you at first. I didn’t real-
first. Maybe not at all. She needed time to feel him ize.”
out, so she wouldn’t scare him away. “And I did She shrugged it away. “You couldn’t have.”
want to apologize.” There was deep concern in his face. “Are you
Henry shrugged. “It was ages ago.” managing all right?”
“Maybe. But it still bothered me. I don’t know “Well enough. I’ve taken over his business.” She
why I treated you like that.” She smiled at him. realized that this was an opening. “Maybe you've
“Can I make it up to you? Treat you to dinner?” seen it: Harrington Business Services.”
He frowned. “What’s this really about?” “On Central Avenue?”
“Nothing. I just —” She nodded. “We — I doa lot of odd jobs.
“People don’t just come out of the woodwork Consulting work.” She paused. “And revising.”
after fifteen, sixteen years and start springing for Henry nodded. “I didn’t know there was any
meals without an ulterior motive.” demand for that anymore.”
He’s going to leave. Damn. God damn. I’ve “Some. Not very much.” She knew she could not
ruined everything. delay. The conversation could take a different turn
Henry leaned toward her. “What’s wrong?” at any moment. “Have you tried it?”
“Wrong?” He paused and she tried to read his expression.
“You looked like ... look, forgive me for being so She realized her heart was thumping.
brusque. I couldn’t imagine this could mean so For a moment, he looked wary, then he smiled.
much to you.” He slid into the seat. “I certainly “Trying to drum up business?”
won’t mind being treated to a meal.” She forced herself to smile back. “Never hurts.”
“Thank you,” Jayne murmured. “Well, you’ve chosen the wrong person.”
He had gone. Her last chance ...
(44 ell, there’s not much to tell,” Henry “It’s a waste of money, if you don’t mind me say-
said as they waited for the chef's ing so. Too much of a gamble. I’ve never seen the
salads to be served. “I graduated, point of them and you wouldn’t get me into one ...
then went to work for the state. Department of are you crying?”
Transportation. I do studies. Whenever someone “No,” Jayne said quickly, blinking. “Just some-
thing in my eye.”
10 Aboriginal Science Fiction — Spring 1996 Revisions