<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0044</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0045.txt">Next (Page 45)</A><BR> You will be given assignments, but as time goes by, you will have more and more of your own command. You'll also have to make up an excuse for those here as to why you'll be disappearing for long periods of time."<P><P>"All this is acceptable to me, but I need proof and I need it now."<P><P>"I thought you said you believed me."<P><P> "I said you were telling the truth, as you know it. You could be mistaken."<P><P>"Well, I--"<P><P>"--I'll be frank. Mr. Fife. In analyzing the situation, I've determined that if you stall in proving your claim, the likelihood increases that you--or those controlling you--mean me harm."<P><P>Fife looked out the window, at the empty streets, and then back to Grant.<P><P>"I can bridge us out of here, but we'll need a boat. The next Earth over in this exact area is ocean, here in Haybelcord."<P><P>"Come again?"<P><P>"If I were to build a bridge right here, we'd wind up in an ocean, on the next Earth over."<P><P>"It would be proof, though."<P><P>"Yeah, but it would also be suicide."<P><P>"This booth can float."<P><P>"Huh?"<P><P>"The booths here--they're designed to float in a flood."<P><P>Fife began looking around.<P><P>"This is crazy."<P><P>"Yes it is," Grant replied.<P><P>"And it'll draw a lot of attention."<P><P>"I do that already."<P><P>"But you don't understand," Fife said. "It's not like teleportation--you walk to move through the bridge--a couple of times, usually. So we'd have to move this booth into and out of the space I build the bridge in."<P><P>"I can move it."<P><P>"Yes, but think of the consequences. 'Captain Perion, war hero, seen rearranging restaurant furniture and then disappearing, only to reappear later soaked from head to toe.' Don't you want to avoid that sort of publicity?"<P><P>"I don't really care. I'm tired of pussyfooting around. I hate it! Let's do this. You do what you have to do, and I'll get rid of the people in the immediate vicinity."<P><P>"Oh no, don't--"<P><P>"--come on! I'm not gonna hurt them--I'm just gonna bribe them!"<P><P>"Shew! You had me scared there."<P><P>"So do what you have to do--build the bridge--and let's get the show on the road."<P><P>"You really have to get the people out of here first."<P><P>"Okay."<P><P>Grant went over to the manager of the Thing Ping at the register, and made some sort of transaction. Soon, the manager announced the place was closing, and the few customers that had been there were on their way out anyway.<P><P>Soon, the manager turned out the lights, shut the door, and locked it, with a strange glance at Fife and Grant.<P><P>"What did you tell her?" Fife asked.<P><P>"Nothing perverted, if that's what you mean."<P><P>"Good. So look--this is crazy--but we need to clear a space large enough to hold the both of us and the booth--which I really hope floats--and space to move it in and out of the bridge."<P><P>Grant heaved a number of tables and booths into a messy pile. Fife was impressed at his natural superstrength.<P><P>"Okay, there you go--the space you need," Grant said.<P><P>"Okay, now stand beside me as I build the bridge."<P><P>Grant stood back and watched Letevs as he stared intently in front of him, a wild and intent look on his face. Granticaine looked around, but saw nothing visibly different. Suddenly, however, Grant felt a weird sort of soft jolt and a little rush of air. A feeling something like electricity was in the air.<P><P>"Got it," Fife said. "You may be able to see it a little--only a tiny fraction of photons get through, outside the bridge, but there should be a little bit of a shimmer."<P><P>"Can you see it?" Grant asked.<P><P>"Yes--but I'm used to it. Can you see it?"<P><P>"A little. I think I see something. Now what?"<P><P>"Well, we have to move inside of the bridge, and then we have to exit the bridge. At that point, we have a fifty-fifty chance of bridging. If it doesn't work the first time, we have to keep doing it.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0045.txt">Next (Page 45)</A>