Free Title Wave by Lorna Barrett Page B

must have missed what the timing was for whatever combo played. A little musical interlude might be pleasant. She’d check the Daily Program after dinner to see if there was a listing. A cloth-covered table sat in front of the tiny bandstand, and on it were bowls of various fruits and vegetables, from pineapples to grapes, from peppers to heads of cauliflower.
    â€œDrat!” Angelica cried. “We’ll have to sit by the windows. We’ll hardly get to see a thing.”
    Just then, a couple of crew members wheeled in a big mirror, not unlike the one that used to grace the demonstration area in Angelica’s cookbook store—the Cookery. That is, before she had it removed so that she could expand her line of merchandise.
    â€œAre these seats taken?”
    Tricia looked up to see the Dexter twins standing beside them.
    â€œNot at all.”
    â€œAre you ladies having a nice trip so far?” Angelica asked as the sisters sat down at the little bistro table beside them.
    â€œIt’s a lovely ship,” Muriel said.
    â€œAnd the food is divine,” Midge agreed.
    â€œBut we are a little disappointed.”
    â€œIn what way?” Tricia asked.
    â€œWe hoped at least one of our favorite authors would be on the voyage.”
    â€œWho did you have in mind?” Angelica asked.
    â€œFrank Miller,” Muriel said.
    â€œAnd his name can’t be mentioned in the same sentence without Klaus Janson,” Midge chimed in.
    â€œI’m not familiar with their work,” Tricia admitted.
    â€œThey’re responsible for
The Dark Knight Returns
.”
    Tricia blinked.
    Muriel looked at her with incredulity. “They’re
very
famous.”
    â€œIn what genre?” Angelica asked.
    â€œGraphic novels.”
    Again Tricia blinked.
    â€œDo you even know who the Dark Knight is?” Midge asked, sounding surprised.
    Tricia shook her head.
    â€œBatman!” Muriel cried, and then giggled.
    â€œYou’re into comics?” Angelica asked, surprised.
    â€œOh, yes. We have the most extensive collection in the entire state of New Hampshire,” Midge said smugly.
    â€œWe’re very proud of it,” Muriel agreed. “We’ve even got a copy of
Action Comics
number one—the first to feature Superman!”
    Midge shook her head sadly. “Alas, it’s not in mint condition, so it’s probably only worth a couple hundred thousand.”
    Tricia was back to blinking.
    â€œYou must be the best customers at All Heroes comic book store,” Angelica said.
    Again Midge shook her head. “Not really. Oh, Terry, the owner, has a lot of great stuff, but we head to Boston or New York for the really
interesting
stuff.”
    â€œWhat constitutes interesting stuff?” Tricia asked.
    Muriel leaned closer and whispered, “Vintage.”
    Tricia nodded. “Just like I prefer vintage mysteries.”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œDo you ever read your older comics?” Angelica asked.
    â€œYes—online.”
    â€œWhy online?” Tricia asked.
    â€œWe wouldn’t touch our paper copies.”
    â€œOh, no,” Muriel agreed. “They’re far too delicate. They must be saved for future generations.”
    â€œBut if future generations can’t actually touch them—read them . . . then of what use are they?”
    â€œHistorical documents,” Midge declared.
    Muriel giggled. “Oh, sister, now you’re sounding like the Thermians from
Galaxy Quest
.”
    Midge tittered.
    Tricia and Angelica exchanged confused looks.
    â€œOh my God,” Muriel exclaimed, staring at the Miles sisters. “They’re mundanes!”
    â€œMundanes?” Tricia asked. Was she being insulted?
    â€œYes. Obviously, you aren’t into science fiction and other fandoms and can’t know the joy of belonging to a group of like-minded thinkers.”
    Angelica frowned. “I never thought of myself as