<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0043</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0044.txt">Next (Page 44)</A><BR><P><P>"I was teleported into a different universe earlier today. So why not begin with that."<P><P>Fife looked down.<P><P>"Okay," Fife said, looking up. "I'll give you the basics--and please--let me get through it before you start asking questions--cuz I'm sure you'll have plenty."<P><P>"Sounds good to me."<P><P>"Okay. This is Earth, but there are many different editions, or versions, of Earth. Each is somewhat different, but there are major similarities. They coexist in some way--we're not quite sure how."<P><P>Fife paused, gauging Grant's expression, which was stony.<P><P>"So," he continued, "a method was developed about 12 years ago on my home Earth--Red Alley Earth--by a former colleague of mine--a method of building bridges between these different Earths. Now, once you know how to do it--building a bridge is pretty easy--but from any given point on one Earth, only one other Earth is available--and location is analogous. The thing is--if you bridge and then travel a ways--and then bridge again--you may find yourself in a different edition of Earth from where you started. There are areas of limit, you see."<P><P>Grant nodded, eyes narrowed.<P><P>"So, to make a long story short, we began exploring, and a few years ago I struck out on my own and discovered the Primate Algorithm."<P><P>Fife eyed Grant, obviously worried as to the other's acceptance of his spiel.<P><P>"Primate Algorithm?" Grant asked.<P><P>"Yes. You see, we discovered, quite by accident, that every Earth has a Primate--an individual who is currently the most important, interesting, powerful, or whatever, on an Earth. See, we discovered a way to find each Earth's Primate. It involves stimulating reality on an Earth in the proper way, resulting in the Primate being brought to the Earth's P-Vest. This is a weird subdivision in an Earth's reality system. And we can send an agent in at the same time to ascertain the identity and location of the Primate."<P><P>"Jake."<P><P>"Yes--she is the main agent we use in P-Vest missions."<P><P>Grant took a sip of good tar, and a waitress came over. They both ordered, and the waitress left. They were silent for a little while.<P><P>"So what do you think?" Fife asked at last.<P><P>"I know you're telling the truth."<P><P>"How do you know that?"<P><P>"It's plainly obvious."<P><P>"How? Most Primates I tell this to are a bit more skeptical than you."<P><P>"So I am this world's Primate?"<P><P>"You are."<P><P>Grant considered this.<P><P>"So what exactly is a Primate again? Not the monkey sort, I assume."<P><P>"No, not at all. What it appears to be, is that in each Earth's reality system, a single person is required to be Prime--to be first--to be apart."<P><P>"Why?"<P><P>"We don't know. There is something of a trend among our Primates, but also a great variety."<P><P>"How many?"<P><P>"Primates? Right now there are 45. You would be 46."<P><P>"Would?"<P><P>"If you decide to join my organization."<P><P>"So I have a choice."<P><P>"You do. If you decide not to join, however, we respectfully request that you keep all the information about us secret."<P><P>"Fair enough."<P><P>Fife looked down into his cup of good tar.<P><P>"What the hell is this stuff, anyway?"<P><P>"Good tar? You mean you don't have it on your world?"<P><P>"No," Fife said. He drank a little, and was struck with the strong flavors of smoke, licorice, and a hint of caramel. "Not bad, though."<P><P>"So I am Primate here."<P><P>"Yes you are. And the most high-profile Primate yet. Never before has the Primate been the most famous person on the Earth."<P><P>"But doesn't that follow?"<P><P>"You might think," Fife said. "But it hasn't really been the case."<P><P>"What would joining entail?"<P><P>"Uh, well," Fife said, "you will agree to join Overwhelm Associates and pledge your allegiance to it. You will swear to keep all our secrets, and promise never to stray away.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0044.txt">Next (Page 44)</A>