Free Body Rides by Richard Laymon

really all that great. Just don’t get caught in a dead person, and watch where you leave your body when you go hitching. As for your body, use common sense. I mean, if you’re in bed in your own apartment, not much is likely to happen to you. But play it safe. Act as if you’re going away on a trip – because you are. Make sure the doors are locked, you aren’t leaving the stove on, that sort of thing. Don’t leave a candle burning. Don’t go on a hitch with a cigarette in your mouth.’
    ‘I don’t smoke.’
    ‘Good. Just try to take every precaution before you go off. And don’t stay away for hours at a time. If you’re somewhere iffy – the beach, for instance – make your hitches shorter. Ten or fifteen minutes, maybe. Come back every once in a while to check up on yourself.’
    ‘You did it on the beach?’ he asked.
    ‘Sure. It’s a great place for hitching. So many people to choose from.’
    ‘Couldn’t you just do it from home?’
    ‘Oh, sure. To a certain extent. The thing is, you’re always better off hitching in the general vicinity of your body. Makes coming and going a lot easier and quicker.’
    ‘So, you just stretched out on your towel, or something, and pretended to be sunbathing?’
    ‘That’s about it.’
    ‘Weren’t you ever robbed?’
    She shook her head. ‘The thing is, nobody knows you’re basically dead to the world. For all they know, you might be completely awake with your eyes shut.’
    ‘But what if somebody does rob you?’ Neal asked. ‘What if you’re off hitching and somebody takes the bracelet off your body?’
    ‘Ah. I’ve had the bracelet taken off. Vince did it once. What happens is, you’re sort of dragged out of your hitch and straight back into your own body. Then you take the bracelet back.’
    ‘Did he know about it?’
    ‘The bracelet?’ Elise shook her head. ‘I told Vince it was a graduation gift from my parents. He never had a clue that youcould travel with it. That’s another thing: don’t let anyone know what the bracelet does. I mean, that should be pretty obvious.’
    ‘It is.’
    ‘Can you imagine what would happen if people found out about it? Everybody’d want it. They’d want to borrow it, buy it from you, steal it. Some people would probably even kill you to get their hands on the thing.’
    ‘Are you the only person who knows what it can do?’ Neal asked.
    ‘Far as I know. I mean, I’ve had it for sixteen years and I’ve never told a soul about its power. Not until you, tonight. The only reason I told you is because it’s your bracelet, now.’
    ‘Are there any more of them?’
    Elise shook her head. ‘Not to my knowledge. I’ve done loads of research work, and I’ve never been able to find any mention of a bracelet like this. As far as I know, it’s one of a kind. And I’ve never found a record of its existence, either.’
    Neal lifted his arm and studied the bracelet. ‘My guess, it was probably forged by Merlin.’
    Elise laughed. ‘Or maybe Saint Patrick. In collaboration with a pack of leprechauns.’
    ‘I can’t believe it really works.’
    ‘It works.’
    ‘I know . I just can’t believe it. My God. I can . . . tune in on anybody I choose? Kiss the bracelet and wish myself into them?’
    ‘That’s basically it. You do have to locate your target, though. You can’t simply think the person’s name, for instance. You need to go to him. Or her. Like the way you went from the sofa to me. But I was right there. Sometimes, it might take a bit of hunting.’
    ‘You said it’s better if they’re nearby.’
    ‘Right. There’s some travel time involved. The farther you have to go, the longer it takes. Both ways. And there seem to be some distance limits.’
    ‘How far?’
    ‘All depends. You’ll have to play it by ear. The farthest I ever got was about thirty miles. But I had to work up to it.’
    Shaking his head, Neal rubbed the bracelet. ‘My God, this is going to be incredible.’
    ‘Just