~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
«THAT WAS wonderful and delicious," Rachelle said, rolling over at last after hours of lovemaking.
Bantam could only nod. He was still catching his breath. He couldn't believe how long they had. «You're amazing," he finally managed to say. «I thought Victorian girls were all prim and proper. Where did you come from?»
She smiled. «Why, I came from you, silly.» Bantam raised a brow. «If it wasn't for you coming back in time, the Day of the Red Sun would have never happened. My parents would have never met.»
«That is a weird thought," Bantam said, truly digesting it for the first time.
«It is strange indeed. To think! Here I am with a man who accidentally caused my very existence!»
«Yes. You were my accident," Bantam kidded. He was rewarded with a flurry of tickling.
«You are so unlike any man I've ever met," Rachelle said with a new sparkle of wonder in her eyes.
«How so?»
«You're … you're free. You're not caught up in embarassment when you are with a woman. You're a wild thing. You must understand that is very rare in this world. The men here … they are not as open as you.»
Bantam smiled. «Ah. That's easy. They simply haven't invented rock n' roll here yet.»
«And what is — ?»
«Never mind …»
With that, they spent another few hours together until they were utterly exhausted and into a deep sleep.
WHEN BANTAM awoke next, he saw to his surprised that Rachelle had a surprise for him: a tuxedo, complete with cane, top hat and cape.
Bantam laughed aloud when he saw it. «Where did you get that?»
«This is only the most stylish hotels in the world, Mr. Bantam. Just about anything can be had simply by asking the concierge.»
Bantam eyed it. «Will it fit?»
Rachelle giggle and snuggled up to him. «I measured you as you slept.»
«Hopefully I can figure out how to put it on. All the odd clothes in this world are completely confusing.»
«Oh, but you do think us odd. Don't you?»
«Yes. All these twirly moustaches make me dizzy.»
«What was it you called it in the hydrologics room? 'A crazy top hat world'. Yes, that was it. What exactly is so crazy about it?»
«Oh I don't know. Everybody talks on eggshells. You all fly around in balloons.»
«But you like it," she grinned.
«Oh. I'm beginning to really like it.»
She grabbed his arm and grinned wide. «You're going to really like dinner tonight. I think you will be amazed by what you will see! Hurry up and put on your tux!»
THE GRAND ballroom was a vision unto itself. It was situated in the exact center of the 'Phlo-Jo' as Bantam had taken to calling the hotel (he explained that 'Ho-Jo' was short for another 'famous and elegant' hotel in his own world; Rachelle was puzzled as to why he found this hilarious in the extreme). It was a massive wide-open space, shaped somewhat like an egg, and topped with an iron spiderweb of glass and jewels that let the moonlight and starlight bathe gloriously down in shafts of silver and ivory.
But the most amazing thing was the people, who 'danced' on the air, aided by Helux pouches strapped to their gowns and tuxedos. They twirled and spun, laughing, some very high in the air, some barely two meters from the ground. Some floated to open landings above, situated everywhere around the ballroom and stood there, watching the other dancers. Others performed choreographed tumbles and rolls, showing off their prowess in three-dimensional dancing.
As Bantam looked more closely, he saw that the Helux harnesses were controlled by small propellers attached to the boots and back of the dancers. Only the men wore these, and thus led the dance.
Waiters also went to and fro the domed ceiling above, wearing the batwing contraptions that Bantam had seen policemen wear in New York below. They carried silver trays of food to the diners, who were all seated on the ground in alcoves near the dance area. There was also an orchestra, and several couches beneath the dancers, arranged in concentric circles, where the men smoke cigars while their ladies fashionably sniffed cocaine from their rings.
The whole thing had a marvelousness to it that Bantam could barely pull his eyes away from. Rachelle, noticing this, smiled. «Crazy top hat world, hmm?»
«And getting crazier by the second," Bantam replied, wonder drenching his voice. «We don't have Helux where I come from. But if I ever get back there, I'm inventing it. This'll be a huge hit with skateboard set.»
«Why? Would you want to try the air-waltzing?»
«Oh no. No. I can't even dance on the ground, let alone …. that.»
As if to emphasize his point a woman suddenly screamed — partly in fear, partly in pleasure — suddenly realizing how high up she was. Her gentleman quickly propelled to her to a nearby balcony far above.
A hostess — floating just above them, and evidently expert at graceful motions in the air — led them to their table, which was near the orchestra.
«Well. I can't wait to see what's on the menu.» When the waiter arrived, bringing giant, oversized tomes all hand-written with calligraphy, Bantam was surprised to notice that it was all birds. Ostrich, goose, chicken, turkey — even dodo, Bantam noticed to his surprise. «This place has a feather fetish. Does everything have to be about flying?»
Rachelle laughed like tinkling crystal. «That is the theme of the hotel, my sweet.»
Bantam grinned and reached out for her hand. She pulled back demurely and raised a fan to her face, hiding behind it. «Oh no. Not here in the age of aether. Not in public, anyway.»
Bantam raised an eyebrow. «The — what? Age of --?»
«Age of aether. That's what many philosophers call the modern times. All of our inventions, the spirit of the age, the zeitgeist if you will.»
«I like it," Bantam said. «Good branding. Better than the industrial age, anyway.»
«That gypsy. Miss Romani. She told me that another age was coming soon. The age of iron. That the world would be a prison. Oh heavens. Do you think she could have meant the Nazi's?»
«If they win the war …» Bantam said.
«But they can't!» Rachelle protested. «They just can't. There are things we are working on, we Americans, you know. Weapons.» She lowered her voice. «I never told Dr. Hardin about this … as he would never approve … but the main project I was working on was biological. A sort of weapon. We're not defenseless against the Nazis.»
Adrenalin zinged through Bantam's chest. Biological? Could it be? Could it even possibly be?
«Rachelle. This is important. Is this biological weapon based on smallpox?»
It was her turn to look up in shock. «Why. Yes. Yes it is. How did you know that? How could you know that? It's a complete secret!»
«Because I was sent back in time to find the cure for a disease. One that was based on smallpox, one invented in 1944. We call it The Shadow. It works by causing these black boils to appear and --»
«And by attacking the blood," Rachelle finished. «It turns black; the red blood cells are turned. Yes I know. We crossbred it with bubonic plague and several other strains of lnfluenza. Released into population, they will all be dead within days.»
«Rachelle. Do you have the cure? Do you know what the cure is for The Shadow?»
«Yes," Rachelle said. «Of course. I developed it. That was my work.»
Oh my God. Oh my God.Oh. My. God.
The room yawned around Bantam and the dancers suddenly seemed like demons circling in the sky. His eyes rose as he struggled to process this.
But just then, Bantam rose from the table suddenly.
«What is it?» Rachelle asked.
«I'll take you up on that dance now," Bantam replied, eyes full of odd intensity. Quickly, he grabbed her hand and headed for the booth where they rented Helux harnesses.
«Two please. You'll be paid double if you move fast.»
«Yes sir!» the man said beaming. He did so, and inside of a minute, Bantam had his strapped around his tuxedo. The man had given him a lead weight to hold as he buttoned him up.