I picked up mine. "Merci. Et a la tienne, mon cher man." The juice was sparkling cold, and as sweet as the sentiment. While I did not intend to have a husband again, Georges would make a good one, whether in jest, as now, or in reality. But he was simply lent to me by Janet.
Our "breakfast" arrived:
Ice-cold Yakima apple juice
Imperial Valley strawberries with Sequim cream
Two eggs, eyes-up and gently basted, resting on medium-rare steak so tender it would cut with a fork-"Eggs on Horseback"
Large hot biscuits, Sequim butter, sage and clover honey
Kona coffee in oversize cups
Coffee, juice, and biscuits were renewed constantly-a second serving of steak and eggs was offered but we had to refuse.
The noise level and the way we were seated did not encourage conversation. There was an Opportunity Ads screen back of the bar. Each ad remained on screen just long enough to be read but, as usual, each was keyed by number to be called back for leisurely viewing at individual terminals at each guest's place at the bar. I found myself reading them idly while I ate:
The Free Ship Jack Pot is recruiting crew members
at Vegas Labor Mart. Bonus to combat veterans.
Would a pirate ship advertise that baldly? Even in Vegas Free State? Hard to believe but still harder to read it any other way.
Smoke the Toke that Jesus Smoked!
ANGEL STICKS
Guaranteed Noncarcinogenic
Cancer cannot worry me but neither THC nor nicotine is for me; a woman's mouth should be sweet.
GOD is waiting for you at suite 1208 Lewis and Clark Towers. Don't make Him come get you.
You won't like it.
I didn't like it anyhow.
BORED?
We are about to abandon a pioneer party on a virgin planet type T-13. Guaranteed sex ratio 50-40-10±2% Median bio age 32±1. No temperament test required No Assessments-No Contributions-No Rescue
System Expansion Corporation
Division of Demography and Ecology
Luna City GPO lock box DEMO
or punch Tycho 800-2300
I called that one back and reread it. How would it feel to tackle a brand-new world side by side with comrades?-people who could not possibly know my origin. Or care. My enhancements might make me respected rather than a freak-as long as I did not flaunt them.
"Georges, look at this, please."
He did so. "What about it?"
"It could be fun-no?"
"No! Marjorie, on the T scale anything over eight calls for a large cash bonus, lavish equipment, and trained colonists. A thirteen is an exotic route to suicide, that's all."
"Read this one," he offered:
W.K.-Make your will. You have only a week to live.
A.C.B.
I read it. "Georges, is that really a threat to kill this W.K.? In a public ad? Where it could be traced?"
"I don't know. It might not be easy to trace. I'm wondering what we will see here tomorrow-will it read 'six days'? Then 'five days'? Is 'N. K. waiting for the blow to fall? Or is it some sort of advertising promotion?"
"I don't know." I thought about it in connection with our plight. "Georges, is it possible that all these threats on the channels are some sort of terribly complex hoax?"
"Are you suggesting that no one was killed and all the news was faked?"
"Uh, I don't know what I'm suggesting."
"Marjorie, there is a hoax, yes-in the sense that three different groups are all claiming responsibility and therefore two groups are attempting to hoax the world. I do not think that the reports of assassinations are hoaxes. As with soap bubbles, there is an upper limit to the size of a hoax, both in numbers of people and in time. This is too big-too many places, too widespread-to be a hoax. Or by now there would be denials from all over. More coffee?"
"Thank you, no."
"Anything?"
"Nothing. One more biscuit with honey and I would burst."
From outside it was simply a hotel-room door: 2100. Once inside I said, "Georges! Why?"
"A bride should have a bridal suite."
"It's beautiful. It's lavish. It's lovely. And you should not have wasted your money. You've already turned a dull trip into a picnic. But if you expect me to behave as a bride tonight, you should not have fed me Eggs on Horseback and a whole big pan of hot biscuits. I'm bloated, dear. Not glamorous."
"You are glamorous."
"Dear! Georges, don't play with me-please don't! You caught me out when I killed Dickey. You know what I am."
"I know that you are a sweet and brave and gallant lady."
"You know what I mean. You're in the profession. You spotted me. You caught me out."
"You are enhanced. Yes, I saw that."
"So you know what I am. I admit it. I passed years ago. I've acquired much practice in covering it up but-that bastard shouldn't have pointed that gun at Janet!"
"No, he should not have done so. And for what you did I am forever in your debt."
"You mean that? Ian thought I should not have killed him."
"Ian's first reaction is always conventional. Then he comes around. Ian is a natural pilot; he thinks with his muscles. But, Marjorie- "I'm not Marjorie." "Eh?"
"You might as well have my right name. My crèche name, I mean. I'm Friday. No last name, of course. When I need one I use one of the conventional crèche surnames. Jones, usually. But Friday is my name."
"Is that what you want to be called?"
"Uh, yes, I think so. It's the name I'm called by when I don't have to cover up. When I'm with people I trust. I had better trust you. Hadn't I?"
"I shall be flattered and much pleased. I shall try to deserve your trust. As I am much in your debt."
"How, Georges?"
"I thought that was clear. When I saw what Mel Dickey was doing, I resolved to surrender at once rather than cause hazard to others. But when he threatened Janet with that burner, I promised
myself that, at a later time, when I was free, I would kill him." Georges barely smiled. "I had no more than promised myself that when you appeared as suddenly as an avenging angel and carried out my intent. So now I owe you one."
"Another killing?"
"If that is your wish, yes."
"Uh, probably not that. As you said, I'm enhanced. I've usually managed to do it myself when it needed to be done."
"Whatever you ask, dear Friday."
"Uh, oh, hell, Georges, I don't want you to feel in debt to me. In my own way I love Janet, too. That bastard sealed his fate when he threatened her with a deadly weapon. I didn't do it for you; I did it for myself So you don't owe me anything."
"Dear Friday. You are as lovable as Janet is. I have been learning that."
"Uh, why don't you take me to bed and let me pay you for a number of things? I am aware that I'm not human and I don't expect you to love me the way you do your human wife-not love me at all, really. But you seem to like me and you don't treat me like- uh, the way my Ennzedd family did. The way most humans treat APs. I can make it worth your while. Truly I can. I never got my doxy certificate but I've had most of the training... and I try."
"Oh, my dear! Who hurt you so badly?"
"Me? I'm all right. I was just explaining that I know how the world wags. I'm not a kid still learning how to get along without the crutch of the crèche. An artificial person doesn't expect sentimental love from a human male; we both know that. You understand it far better than a layman can; you're in the profession. I respect you and sincerely like you. If you will permit me to go to bed with you, I'll do my best to entertain you."