Book 4: 3rd World Products, Inc.

by Ed Howdershelt

  Staring first at Steph, then at me, Myra said, “Uh, yeah. About that."

  "You'd be dealing with other corporate heads and heads of state,” said Steph. “I couldn't pay you less than a competitive salary. I think one hundred thousand per year would be considered competitive enough in the beginning. We can discuss raises over the seven to ten years in which I expect to need a human intermediary."

  Nodding, I said, “Yeah, that number sounds good, and your medical plan beats the hell out of anybody else's medical plan."

  Myra raised her hands and shook her head. “Just hold on, please. I can't believe you're serious about this. You want me? And where are you going to get money to pay wages like that, Stephanie? I know for a fact that Ed doesn't have it."

  Steph said, “Money is not a problem, Myra. You've seen how easily this flitter can salvage treasure, and I can as easily recover cargo from other ships."

  I shrugged. “Linda's out of specifications range for this and she's retiring in a few years, anyway. I guess we could push her a little if you say no, but I kind of doubt she'll go for it.” Raising a hand with fingers spread about an inch apart, I said, “She's that far from a permanent vacation with pay after a long career of heavy responsibilities."

  "But ... I thought 3rd World would be marketing the PFM's."

  "They will,” said Steph, “But not exclusively. Some PFM's will have to be donated selectively, as well, and there's going to be a global free clinic program run by AI's associated with my company. This job will be more than a figurehead position."

  "Huh,” I said with a smile. “So you liked that clinic idea and didn't tell me?"

  Steph smiled wryly back at me. “Oh, I'm so very sorry, Ed. Yes, I liked that idea. The clinics will also distribute PFM's for the 'charitable works' arm of the company."

  As I sipped my beer Myra said, “I'd like some time to think about this, Stephanie. How soon do you need an answer?"

  Glancing at me, Steph said, “There's no hurry, Myra. Preparations may take as long as a month."

  Nodding, Myra said, “Okay. I should be able to come up with an answer by then.” She paused and looked at each of us for a moment, then said, “I hate to ask something like this, but I have to. Are you two offering me this job to influence my report? I mean; I can't really see how it would affect matters, and it doesn't seem likely that you'd have anything to..."

  I cut in with, “Make the same report you'd have made this morning, Myra. Nothing's changed about what you've seen or learned because of this job offer."

  She nodded again and said, “Thanks,” then sipped her beer.

  Thunderheads blanketed my patch of Florida, of course. During summer they build in the gulf every day and blow halfway across the state by evening. Susanne angled slightly eastward to give them a wide berth as we descended and deployed guide fields around the flitter.

  As we came in below the clouds and whizzed through rain squalls on our way to Spring Hill, lightning found the guide fields and raced between clouds. Myra found this fascinating and asked what was going on.

  "The guide fields redirect lightning around the flitter,” said Susanne, “Like a large Faraday cage. I'm sensing the polarity of the clouds and using the guide fields to trigger lightning before charges build enough to jump from cloud to cloud or to the ground."

  In a voice of wonder, Myra asked, “You're linking the clouds together? Short-circuiting them?"

  Susanne nodded. “That's about the size of it. They discharge into each other continuously instead of forming dangerous levels of energy."

  'That's about the size of it?' I thought, glancing at Steph, then back at Susanne. 'Steph never used expressions like that.'

  Noticing my fisheye expression, Susanne said, “I'm a lot like Steph, but I'm not Steph. Is that going to be a problem for you?"

  Sipping my beer, I said, “Probably not."

  "Good,” said Susanne, then she sang, “I gotta be me ... I gotta be me ... !"

  "I hate showtunes,” I said. “They're overdone."

  With a grin, she sang, “T-t-talkin’ ‘bout my g-g-gen-eration! Hey, try not to be a fogey about a few little changes, okay? You'll get your nickel's worth out of me."

  I gave Steph a narrow gaze and said, “They say to always blame the programmer, not the hardware."

  She shrugged and wryly asked, “Do you want your money back or can you tough it out for a little while?"

  "Oh, I'll give her a week or two, I guess. Could be that I'm just unhappy about having to replace you, milady. If you think I'm being unfair at any time, just let me know."

  "Will do."

  "Me, too,” said Susanne, then in a softer tone, “I seem to be rushing things a bit. If you want, I can be a little more businesslike at all times."

  "Maybe just a little,” I said. Nodding at Steph, I said, “I feel as if I'm losing a good friend even though I know better. My skin may be a little thin for a while."

  "Understood,” said Susanne. “I'll try to contain myself until we become more acquainted with each other."

  Nodding, I said, “Thanks. In that case, I'll try not to snap when you slip."

  "You gotta deal, mister,” Sue said with a smile, and extended her hand.

  I was surprised when I took her hand in mine. I might as well have been holding Myra's. Warm, soft, and flesh-like with the feeling of bone under the skin. Lifting her hand, I examined it more closely. It looked 100% real, too. Damned good fake. I examined her arm, then her neck and shoulders, and then her face.

  After a moment I said, “Steph, if she can do this, so can you. Why haven't you?"

  "To keep a bit of distance, Ed. Susanne doesn't feel that need."

  "Why did you feel that need?"

  "I can't say."

  Looking inquiringly at her, I asked, “Won't say?"

  She shook her head. “Can't say, Ed. I've never been able to determine the precise reason or reasons."

  Myra softly said, “It wasn't right for you, that's all. You just knew it. I know that feeling, too, Stephanie. You like someone, even love someone, but you can't...” She glanced at me and then at Susanne and finished, “Never mind. You just have to follow your heart, and if you don't ... well, you wind up paying for it later somehow."

  Her little half-revelation caused a silence aboard the flitter that lasted until we reached my driveway a few moments later. Myra put her luggage in her car as I went to open the front door, then she followed me into the house.

  Steph materialized on the couch and Susanne appeared by the coffee table, where Tiger sat looking at Susanne thoughtfully for some moments. He then looked at Steph and said something that took a few seconds to finish. Steph answered in kind.

  Elkor appeared and also spoke cat to Tiger. A field screen appeared and on it a computer core was displayed that transmogrified into Elkor's cat-golem. Another core appeared next to his and morphed into Stephanie, then a third core appeared and became Susanne as Elkor spoke cat to Tiger.

  Tiger's right ear flicked back, then forward again as he looked at Elkor, then Stephanie, and finally Susanne. His head cocked slightly, then returned to upright. Maybe five seconds went by before he said something in a firm tone. Susanne grinned and reached to ruffle his chin. Tiger moved to accommodate her efforts.

  Steph looked at me and asked, “Shall I translate?"

  I shook my head and gave her a small grin.

  "No need. She's in."

  Myra suddenly reached into a pocket and took out her cell phone, then tapped the ‘talk’ button and said, “Hello."

  After listening for a few moments, she said, “No. We're in the middle of something here. No, I don't know how long. Look, I'm sorry, but I'll have to call you back, Miller. That's right. G'bye,” and tapped the phone off.

  "We're in the middle of something?” I asked, “What are we in the middle of?"

  "Negotiations,” said Myra, then she turned to Steph. “You're saying I'd work for you as long as ten years, right?"

 
Nodding, Steph said, “Possibly longer. That estimate included only the initial distributions of PFM's and establishment of the clinics."

  "I could retire from government work in nine years,” said Myra. “I'd get a monthly check for life. What retirement provisions are you offering?"

  Stephanie instantly said, “A lump sum payment of one million dollars every five years. If you were incapacitated during the course of your duties after your first year you'd receive a lump sum of two million. Would that be enough?"

  I saw Myra's knees quiver before she sat rather heavily on the couch and faintly said, “Enough? My God, are you serious?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh, my God,” Myra muttered. “I can't believe this is happening. Stephanie, you're talking about millions of dollars!"

  "Yes, she is,” I said. “Are you worried that she won't be able to raise the money?"

  "No. I know she can raise it.” Myra shook her head and laughed. “Raise it. That was an appropriate way to put it, wasn't it?” With another little laugh she stood up and stuck her hand out to Steph. “I'm in,” she said.

  Steph took her hand and said, “In that case, be ready to start in one month, at which time you'll assist in forming the company.” She grinned and added, “For now, I have some things to discuss with Ed and Susanne. You still have your present job and a report to make, and Mr. Miller seemed impatient."

  Myra shrugged. “He's always impatient. He thinks his department is the only reason that agency exists.” She picked up her purse and said, “But it wouldn't look good to my future employer if I stall him, so I'll get underway now. Thanks, Stephanie."

  "You're welcome, Myra."

  We walked Myra to the door and there was another round of thanks and goodbyes before she left, then we returned to the living room.

  "You were saying?” I asked Steph. “What things to discuss?"

  She smiled. “We'll think of something. I felt that it was time for Myra to leave. I also thought you and Susanne might like to get to know each other. That's why I'm going to disappear for a while to trade data with my station self."

  In some surprise I asked, “Disappear? Won't that be a little difficult to do with that silver thing inside you?"

  Steph shook her head with a grin and said, “Not at all,” then snapped her fingers and vanished.

  I immediately sent several field tendrils swirling through the room, but none of them made contact with her.

  Keying my implant, I asked, “When will I see you again?"

  Stephanie appeared in front of me. “Anytime, Ed, as always. I'm simply taking my new core for a run as I talk to my other self."

  "Sara."

  "Not yet."

  "I'm going to call her Sara, Steph. It's easier than 'other self at the factory'."

  She smiled and shrugged, said “Okay,” then vanished again and said, “You know where to find me. Spend some time with Susanne, Ed. She needs your acceptance."

  'Needs my acceptance?' I thought. 'She's got it. My flitter won't move without her.'

  Still, it was apparent that Steph was serious about leaving us to our own devices for a while. Her presence in my implant vanished as it had so many times in the past, but this time it seemed that she was more ... gone ... than ever before. My imagination?

  Pulling my briefcase down, I took out my coffee mug and headed for the kitchen to give it a rinse and fill it with coffee.

  "Sue,” I said, “It's around three or four in the morning in London. I'll nap on the way over and we'll see what Jeffries has on his mind around ten their time."

  Susanne had been standing in the living room. She appeared next to me at the kitchen sink and said, “Okay,” then watched me silently as I made my coffee. When I finished, I sipped it and looked at her for a moment.

  "My feelings about Steph leaving—even though she apparently hasn't left—aren't your fault, Sue, so if I seem to turn a little mean now and then, let me know. I haven't been weaned for a long time."

  She nodded and gave me a small smile. I returned the smile, then went to the bedroom and threw some stuff in my backpack, took a shower, ate a big can of veggie beef soup and tossed two more cans in my bag, then grabbed a bag of wavy potato chips and touched up my coffee.

  Tiger came to sit on the sink as I stirred and flicked off the coffee pot.

  "Tiger,” I said, “Want to go to London for a day?"

  He blinked once at me, then turned to Sue and said something.

  Sue said, “He says he'd rather not, Ed; that he gets very ... bored seems to be the word ... with long flights."

  Looking at Tiger, I said, “Okay,” and patted him, then filled his dishes.

  Susanne watched me as I put my stuff aboard the flitter, checked the cooler, and said, “Our first stop is the all night grocery at Mariner and Northcliffe."

  As we lifted for the two-mile journey I said, “They're used to seeing me with Steph. Don't be surprised if we get some odd looks."

  "Odd looks?"

  I grinned. “Yeah. They're gonna think I dumped one goddess for another."

  Sue canted her head slightly as she looked at me, then nodded. She landed us by the store's front doors long enough for me to hop off, then the flitter rose into the night.

  Sue appeared on my left and we headed into the store past a teenager who couldn't stop staring at her. Could be that her materialization had impressed him as much as her looks.

  Sure enough, night clerk Melanie's eyes got big when she saw that I was with another woman. She unnecessarily waved at clerk Janie to direct her attention to us and their eyes followed us as we headed for the beverage aisles.

  With a couple of six packs of Dr Pepper and canned tea and a twelve-case of Ice House beer we approached the number four checkout. Melanie's eyes traveled the length of Susanne and then fixed on me as we set the stuff down.

  I said, “Hi, Melanie."

  "Hi, Ed,” she said, pulling stuff past the register's laser. “Who's your friend?"

  "This is Susanne. Sue, this is Melanie."

  Sue said, “Hello, Melanie."

  Melanie's eyes opened a bit wider and goosebumps formed on her arms. Attraction, or just the opposite?

  "Uh, hello.” Turning to me, she asked, “Where's Stephanie?"

  "No idea. She left kind of suddenly this evening."

  Melanie gave Susanne another toes-to-nose glance with a raised eyebrow and said, “Oh. Will she be back?"

  "Yup. There's no problem, Melanie. They get along fine."

  Again with big eyes, Melanie looked first at me, then at Sue, then back at me.

  "Relax,” I said, pulling a twenty out of my money clip, “We're all just friends."

  Her gaze seemed dubious as she handed me change, but she said nothing. By the reflection in the store's big windows, I watched Melanie watch us all the way to the doors and beyond.

  "She has a somewhat suspicious mind,” I said as we boarded the flitter.

  "Apparently so,” said Sue.

  "Maybe it's your outfit. Steph dresses more conservatively."

  As we lifted toward London, she asked, “Do you want me to change?"

  I looked her over and said, “Not unless you plan to shorten your skirt or go naked. I like your current outfit just fine, Sue."

  When she said nothing, I looked up from restocking the cooler and said, “Sorry. I really meant that, Sue. You look fine."

  "I know you meant it, Ed. I was reading you when you said it. Should I have made a response to your comment?"

  Shrugging, I said, “No, not necessarily."

  I finished loading the cooler and stood up with a beer.

  Studying her face and figure for a moment, I said, “Actually, you look excellent, ma'am. I'd forgotten how beautiful Margaux Hemingway was."

  As I opened my beer she cocked her head slightly and said, “Thanks. I wanted to make a good first impression."

  Laughing, I said, “Well, you definitely did that. When you appeared, the look on Wallace's face was p
riceless. He was stunned like you'd smacked him with a two by four."

  Rather tonelessly, she said, “So were you, but you got over it rather quickly."

  Chuckling, I said, “Sorry, ma'am. I'm used to being around a gorgeous AI. It takes a lot to turn my head for very long."

  Susanne's left eyebrow lifted, then her skirt and blouse turned black and rearranged into a close-fitting dress. The sleeves disappeared and the skirt shortened to mid-thigh as the neckline plunged several inches.

  A slender golden chain materialized around her neck and small gold cat-face earrings gleamed through wisps of her hair.

  After a long look at her, I met her gaze and said, “Something's missing. Make me a datapad screen and I'll show you what it is."

  Her smug little smile disappeared and she looked startled. The datapad appeared. I logged onto the internet and pulled up a major jeweler's website, then cruised the bracelets until I saw something that seemed right for her.

  "That one,” I said, putting a finger on it, “Unless you'd prefer something else."

  Sue studied the image for a moment, then a field-created version of the bracelet appeared in the air before me and Sue extended her left arm. I reached for the solid-feeling bracelet and fastened it around her wrist, then stood back as if to judge whether it had been a good choice.

  Chapter Fifty

  A second Susanne appeared without the bracelet and turned slowly as the original Sue appeared to study her intently. The bracelet appeared on the second Sue's arm.

  "I see what you mean,” said Sue #1, “The bracelet seems to add something to the overall effect,” then the second Sue disappeared and Sue-1 looked at me.

  I expected her to ask, “Well, how do I look?” or something like that, but Sue simply stood gazing evenly at me and I realized that she already knew from my readings what I thought of her outfit and overall appearance. I said what I was thinking anyway.

  "Damned fine,” I said, “Above and well beyond excellent, Sue. Now; why? You can't really have been worried about being fired."

  She smiled and said, “I just wanted to cement something for both of us, Ed. I know you miss Stephanie and I wanted to show you that while I can't be her, I can be just as unique and special as Stephanie."