Free Players at the Game of People by John Brunner Page A

and scissors,

emery boards, nail varnish and cuticle removers, shampoo and conditioner,

bath salts and bath oil, sponges and loofahs, soap and cleansing cream

and depilatory and tweezers and shavers and hair driers and sun-ray

lamps and sun-screen lotions and swimsuits and bikinis and trikinis and

bathing caps and sandals and toweling robes and glasses and sunglasses

and boots and breeches and gloves and your choice of sanitary towels or

the means to render them permanently unnecessary and that ought to do for

the present. Will it?" He smiled dazzlingly. "We aim to offer a complete

service, but you may have thought of something I left out. Naturally

everything will bear the Peasmarsh label unless you'd rather it was

marked Quant or Dior or whatever. Up to you."

By this time she had insinuated himself on to the same inflatabed as

Gorse and cast the other into the void.

In a softer tone he added, "Don't worry about offending me if you say

you'd rather it was Dior. I think you're gorgeous anyhow, and I'm so

glad God thought of bringing you to us. But then, of course, he does

have taste , doesn't he? And anybody with taste can get on in the

world. It's just about the rarest thing on earth, and if you have it,

it's like a magic touchstone -- Did you know we're into magic? Oh, you

must have realized! Of course it does require a terrific investment of

psychical energy, but we are exceptionally well endowed. Now and then

it leads to a period of inescapable replenishment, but even computers

have to have their downtime, don't they?"

By this time she was fondling Gorse's clitoris and his prick was standing

to attention. Godwin, trying hard not to yawn, helped himself to more

of the bloody mary. It was made with wodka Zubrowskar, and deliciously

aromatic. It sufficed to pass the time until Hugo & Diana had finished and

Gorse was cast away again on another of the countless floating couches.

"So" -- with sudden businesslike briskness -- "that lot would suit you?

We'll arrange for it to be delivered. God, where are you stashing her?

Bill's, as usual?"

Godwin risked shrugging, even though it made his own couch bob around

violently in midair.

"Where else?"

"Fine! And I promise you" -- this to Gorse, across the intervening void --

"you not only won't but you can't regret deciding to have the Peasmarsh

label on everything. There are certain principles transcending science

which led us to design our trademark, and they resonate from anything

it's printed on or even attached to. If you have even a trace of doubt

concerning what we're saying, look around you. Si evidentiam requiris,

circumspice! "

"You mean," she responded in a voice full of excitement, "I could have a

place like this?" She gazed about her; there were marble statues, floating

flags of every conceivable color, water sculptures which maintained their

unnervingly accurate course against all odds. Godwin had seen it so often,

he was bored, though he did wish he could share her impressionability.

"No, no!" exclaimed Hugo & Diana in dismay. "Not at all like this! This

is mine! But you can certainly have what you want. Think it over. Make

up your mind in due time. When you do, we promise I'll come and see it."

In a lower, more confidential tone, she added, "But you must be sure to

incorporate the power signs which act as channels for the magic. We've

been telling God that for -- oh, ages and ages! And do you think we

can get him to pay attention? Not on your what's-it! But never mind" --

with a sudden renewal of brilliant charm. "You do it the way you want,

and have your kind of fun."

Godwin, relieved at the chance to leave, signaled Gorse to rejoin him.

She came slowly, relishing the weird sensation of floating, and as she

arrived within range of his hand, which she caught at, she said,

"Is it magic that pays for . . . ? Well, for all of this?"

"Well, we don't," Hugo & Diana said, turning her back and pushing off into

the