The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Author:Joe Haldeman [Haldeman, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Tags: nebula award winner, sci-fi, space, locus award winner, classic science fiction, aliens, military science fiction, joe haldeman, classic sci-fi, military sci-fi, hugo award winner, science fiction, military scifi, scifi, classic scifi, anti-war, future shock, war, time travel
Publisher: Ridan Publishing
Published: 2011-07-03T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-four

I came home and the phone was blinking pale blue. Didn’t know what to do so I punched “Operator.” A pretty young girl’s head materialized in the cube. “Jefferson operator,” she said. “May I help you?”

“Yes…what does it mean when the cube is blinking blue?”

“Huh?”

“What does it mean when the phone—”

“Are you serious?” I was getting a little tired of this kind of thing. “It’s a long story. Honest, I don’t know.”

“When it blinks blue you’re supposed to call the operator.”

“Okay, here I am.”

“No, not me, the real operator. Punch nine. Then punch zero.” I did that and an old harridan appeared. “Ob-a-ray-duh.”

“This is William Mandella at 301-52-574-3975. I was supposed to call you.”

“Juzza segun.” She reached outside the field of view and typed something. “You godda call from 605-19-556-2027.” I scribbled it down on the pad by the phone. “Where’s that?”

“Juzza segun. South Dakota.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t know anybody in South Dakota.

A pleasant-looking old woman answered the phone. “Yes?”

“I had a call from this number…uh…I’m—”

“Oh. Sergeant Mandella! Just a second.”

I watched the diagonal bar of the holding pattern for a second, then fifty or so more. Then a head came into focus.

Marygay. “William. I had a heck of a time finding you.”

“Darling, me too. What are you doing in South Dakota?”

“My parents live here, in a little commune. That’s why it took me so long to get to the phone.” She held up two grimy hands. “Digging potatoes.”

“But when I checked…the records said—the records in Tucson said your parents were both dead.”

“No, they’re just dropouts—you know about dropouts?—new name, new life. I got the word through a cousin.”

“Well—well, how’ve you been? Like the country life?”

“That’s one reason I’ve been wanting to get you. Willy, I’m bored. It’s all very healthy and nice, but I want to do something dissipated and wicked. Naturally I thought of you.”

“I’m flattered. Pick you up at eight?”

She checked a clock above the phone. “No, look, let’s get a good night’s sleep. Besides, I’ve got to get in the rest of the potatoes. Meet me at…the Ellis Island jetport at ten tomorrow morning. Mmm…Trans-World information desk.”

“Okay. Make reservations for where?”

She shrugged. “Pick a place.”

“London used to be pretty wicked.”

“Sounds good. First class?”

“What else? I’ll get us a suite on one of the dirigibles.”

“Good. Decadent. How long shall I pack for?”

“We’ll buy clothes along the way. Travel light. Just one stuffed wallet apiece.”

She giggled. “Wonderful. Tomorrow at ten.”

“Fine—uh…Marygay, do you have a gun?”

“It’s that bad?”

“Here around Washington it is.”

“Well, I’ll get one. Dad has a couple over the fireplace. Guess they’re left over from Tucson.”

“We’ll hope we won’t need them.”

“Willy, you know it’ll just be for decoration. I couldn’t even kill a Tauran.”

“Of course.” We just looked at each other for a second. “Tomorrow at ten, then.”

“Right. Love you.”

“Uh…”

She giggled again and hung up.

That was just too many things to think about all at once.

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