This Perfect Day by Ira Levin

Author:Ira Levin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3, pdf
ISBN: 9781453217610
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Published: 2011-01-23T23:00:00+00:00

He got off the plane at four in the morning Afr time and went into the waiting room, holding his right elbow and looking uncomfortable, his kit slung on his left shoulder. The member who had got off the plane behind him, and who had helped him up when he had fallen, put her bracelet to a phone for him. “Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said, smiling. “Thanks, and enjoy your visit.” To the phone he said, “Anna SG38P2823.” The member went away.

The screen flashed and patterned as the connection was made, and then it went dark and stayed dark. She’s been transferred, he thought; she’s off the continent. He waited for the phone to tell him. But she said, “Just a second, I can’t—” and was there, blurry-close. She sat back down on the edge of her bed, rubbing her eyes, in pajamas. “Who is it?” she asked. Behind her a member turned over. It was Saturday night. Or was she married?

“It’s Li RM,” he said.

“Who?” she asked. She looked at him and leaned closer, blinking. She was more beautiful than he remembered; a little older-looking, beautiful. Were there ever such eyes?

“Li RM,” he said, making himself be only courteous, memberlike. “Don’t you remember? From IND26110, back in 162.”

Her brow contracted uneasily for an instant. “Oh yes, of course,” she said, and smiled. “Of course I remember. How are you, Li?”

“Very well,” he said. “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said, and stopped smiling.

“Married?”

“No,” she said. “I’m glad you called, Li. I want to thank you. You know, for helping me.”

“Thank Uni,” he said.

“No, no,” she said. “Thank you. Belatedly.” She smiled again.

“I’m sorry to call at this hour,” he said. “I’m passing through Afr on a transfer.”

“That’s all right,” she said. “I’m glad you did.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“In ’14509.”

“That’s where my sister lives.”

“Really?” she said.

“Yes,” he said. “Which building are you in?”

“P51.”

“She’s in A-something.”

The member behind her sat up and she turned and said something to him. He smiled at Chip. She turned and said, “This is Li XE.”

“Hello,” Chip said, thinking ’14509, P51; ’14509, P51.

“Hello, brother,” Li XE’s lips said; his voice didn’t reach the phone.

“Is something wrong with your arm?” Lilac asked.

He was still holding it. He let it go. “No,” he said. “I fell getting off the plane.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. She glanced beyond him. “There’s a member waiting,” she said. “We’d better say good-by now.”

“Yes,” he said. “Good-by. It was nice seeing you. You haven’t changed at all.”

“Neither have you,” she said. “Good-by, Li.” She rose and reached forward and was gone.

He tapped off and gave way to the member behind him.

She was dead; a normal healthy member lying down now beside her boyfriend in ’14509, P51. How could he risk talking to her of anything that wasn’t as normal and healthy as she was? He should spend the day with his parents and fly back to Usa; go bicycling next Sunday and this time not turn back.

He walked around the waiting room.

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.