The Alternative

by Richard Dante

  THIRTEEN

  Sharon let Carl lead her down a long hallway, where they met Primagnons of both sexes who smiled at them as they moved along. There were many doors on either side of the hall. Above each a red or green light glowed. They paused before one showing a green light and entered.

  It wasn’t a large room, perhaps fifteen feet square. It was dimly lit and at one end an observation window revealed Primagnons working in the room beyond. Their faces were lit by the glow from control consoles. Beyond was a room like this one.

  In the center of the room, supported by a low pedestal, was a long rectangular glass box which reminded Sharon of Snow White’s coffin. Inside it, however, at either end of the glass enclosure were metallic projections resembling electrodes.

  Carl nodded to one of the figures beyond the window and the female technician gave Sharon a friendly smile. Looking down at her console, she pushed a button and there was the low hum of an electric motor. In front of them, the glass cover on the pedestal started to rise. It stopped about four feet above the table and Carl led her toward it.

  Sharon felt a shiver of fear go through her and she looked at him for reassurance. He squeezed her hand.

  “Everything will be all right. We haven’t lost a Primagnon yet.” he laughed.

  She allowed him to help her up onto the table-like pedestal. It was covered with a soft pad, apparently filled with warm liquid. Carl helped her lie down and then touched her face tenderly with his hand to calm her. Sharon took his hand to her mouth and kissed it. Then he folded her hands across her bosom.

  “All right?” he asked.

  “Very comfortable, thank you,” she smiled.

  Carl nodded toward the window and the humming began again. This time the glass covering above Sharon descended quickly to enclose her.

  Fatigue from the long evening made her welcome the w armth of the water pad beneath her. She found it very relaxing. Looking up through the glass she could see Carl smiling down at her. She nodded slightly to indicate she was ready.

  He signaled the control room again. A rushing sound came into the glass box and along with it a pleasant unfamiliar fragrance filled her nostrils. Waves of colored lights that followed the spectrum a rainbow began to dance before her. There was a high singing sound as the lights wavered, and after a few seconds, the singing changed key to an exotic minor harmony as the lights danced closer to her. They began to touch her and there was a mild tingling sensation as they entered her body. Next she sensed a strange buzzing sound in her head. She glanced at Carl and and their eyes locked. He smiled down at her and the worry dissipated. She became aware of a new sound. A regular beat, a thudding sound she recognized as her own heart. It grew louder and louder and then a strange numbness began to fill her. It started from her toes and moved upward. As she continued to look at Carl, the numbness moved upward until it reached her chest. Soon after another strange thing began to happen. The light started to fade and Carl’s image faded with it.

  “Come back!” her mind called to him, but he continued to fade into the blackness bearing down on her. The beating sound thundered in her ears.

  Suddenly--the beating stopped!

  There was silence--a deep restful silence that went on and on. Sharon floated into the darkness. After what seemed an eternity of time and space, she could feel a glowing warmth flow into the coolness--a warmth radiating from her head and spreading in waves throughout her body .

  Slowly, the light started to return and she discovered the source of the warmth was Carl’s lips on hers. Warming her, bringing her back into the light.

  At length he drew back and looked deep into her eyes, his face so close it shaded her from the ceiling spotlight. He waited for a moment, before asking’

  “Well?”

  He was backlit so his face was in shadow. She could see his teeth, white as he smiled, and the lights glittering as they danced within his eyes.

  Sharon sighed and stretched, “I don’t know yet, Carl. May I get down, please?

  “Of course,’ and he took her hands and swung her to a sitting position. Sharon stepped down carefully. She felt light headed for a moment and unsteady on her feet. Then her eyes opened wide in disbelief. She stood for several moment, testing herself; resisting the impulse to pinch herself out of what seemed to be a dream.

  ‘”It’s strange,” she said looking up at Carl. “I feel wonderful! But there’s something else I feel. I can’t describe it -- unless it might be I feel larger than life. Like I can do anything without effort or pain.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. It’s unreal at first, but you get used to it.” He chuckled at her amazed expression and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She looked at him; studying him. It seemed strange but her first impetuous desire for him was gone. It was replaced by a feeling she didn’t recognize, but she liked it. Perhaps it was a feeling of belonging. Belonging to herself and yet a part of something else. She knew her need for him would return soon, and when it did she would take and take from him as he would take from her. Never again would she have to give herself to anyone.

  “Welcome, Primagnon Shana,” Carl whispered.

  Primagnon, what an awesome sounding title. It appeared to describe the eons of time between the first man and this new, more-than-human state of being. Now she was one of them and she was glad.

  Carl took her hand and led her out of the room. When Sharon reached the door, she turned to wave her thanks at the Primagnon technician who returned the wave with a smile.

  Carl led her down another hall and into a room filled with racks hung with clothing. A uniformed attendant stepped forward and studied Sharon.

  “Size please,” she inquired.

  “Oh...Yes, I wear a size seven.”

  The attendant went to one of the racks and brought back a uniform made of a light, black material with a slight sheen to it. There were silver stripes on the collar and along the sides. Narrow silver and green stripes adorned the cuffs.

  “This is a fourth class uniform. The g reen stripe means you are a new Pri, explained the attendant. “The material is lighter than you’re accustomed to, but with your new higher body temperature, you’ll find it most comfortable. At first you’d have the sensation you’re naked because of the special fabric. But it’s long wearing. You won’t need a coat, even into he coldest weather, nor notice the heat no matter how hot it gets. Shoe size?”

  “Six and a half, double A,” Sharon replied.

  The attendant returned with a pair of mid-calf, silver boots with thin pliable soles.

  “Here, I think you’ll find these comfortable. You may change in there.” she added, indicating the curtained booths along one side of the room. Sharon entered one and dressed quickly in her new attire. She emerged in a few minutes. The attendant showed her to a full-length mirror and Sharon stood in front of it, admiring her new look. Carl had been right, She looked stunning in the uniform and it was the most comfortable thing she’d ever worn.

  She looked over to see Carl smiling at her reflection and she smiled in return.

  She moved closer to the glass to study her face. Mr. Parker’s promise had been fulfilled. The metamorphosis she’d just undergone had erased every trace of bitterness from her face and eyes. She looked as fresh and lovely as on her wedding day. But suddenly, that life all seemed long ago; no longer of any importance. All the frustrations of her former life were gone. Now a sense of happiness filled her. It danced in her eyes along with the glittering lights, and the mysterious forms could new be seen deep within the dilated openings. Carl came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “Shall we join the others now?”

  She touched his hands and nodded to his reflection. They turned and left the room.