Quantum Logic #04 - Slant by Greg Bear

Author:Greg Bear [Bear, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, Science Fiction, Fiction, General, High Tech, Technological, Twenty-First Century, Artificial intelligence
ISBN: 9780812524826
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 1998-05-06T21:14:32+00:00

"It's good to see you again," Tim says. "Sure," Alice says. "I'm sorry. I can go--" "Why?"

"I... didn't want to push in. I honestly--"

"I believe you. But you're here, and I'd enjoy a talk, catching news, you

know?"

Alice swallows and says that she would enjoy that too. She feels so vulnerable

with him, and she is not at all clear why; he has aged a little, but he's only a few years older than her, and beneath the beard, there's still that broad, pleasant face, not handsome but strong and good-looking, not her type at all judging by the record. Tim's eyes are clear blue like a little boy's.

He takes her through the crowd back to the main house and then upstairs

to a sitting room overlooking the backyard. From here they can watch the party, lounging back in two large old deep red leather chairs with their color finely cracked.

"Jakey says you're working together."

e "We are." Tim smiles at the window. Sun is coming through now. "He wants to move me to LA and plug with some full-spinal Yox folks. The next step, you know."

"Isn't what we have now enough?"

"Every few years, we need something new," Tim says. "I'm not saying yes

or no yet, but it's there. It's tempting. We could all write our own ticket. LA is eager to make Corridor deals again. Marilyn and all the others are out there,

but looks like the celeb marketing is cooling off. Home drama is moving up." "I hope it works out for you," Alice says. "I think it will. How about you?" "I've done some work for Francis."

"Faerie Queene. Good move. Might be the hottest thing Disney's ever offered.

It's getting great preevs."

"Francis is just using me for backmind."

"Pity. You look great."

"Nice," Alice says, smiling at him. "And your wife?"

"Living: in Macao. She's working Asian data services. We're on trial sep. I

/ SLANT 197

"I'm sorry," Alice says. Now it's her turn for the sexual co-processor to work overtime, and not because she wants Tim back in her bed; she would do whatever he wants (knowing Tim is a gentleman) as access to that moment when they can be alone for a long time and talk. Tim has always been the man she was most likely to confess to, even more than Minstrel, whom she has never loved in the same way. Minstrel is like a place you come to to relax; Tim has always been a complete and beautiful shadow, a lovely deeply respected other.

She feels herself getting weak and impulsive and clamps that quickly. If he's so great, why did you dis him so bad, and throe times? He kept coming back like it was his fault, and you just got worse, and finally you were also cruel and arrogant. You haven't seen him since and here it's all nicey, no traces.

"No need to be sorry," he says. "I've always chosen badly."

Alice makes a touch face but he doesn't pick up on it.

"She's her own woman. I don't think she'll ever need me the way I need a woman.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.