Free Elvissey by Jack Womack Page B

eyeing me updown. "Such seachanges in you, Iz. None unknowing should see through the guise. Leverett said his
candy'd perform its tricks, and for once he truthed."
    "It's unnatural," I said. "A stranger in myself. I feel inhabited."
    "You always have," she said.
    "Inhabited," I repeated. "Not inhibited."
    Crossing the room, she neared and embraced. "I've a
secondary failsafe for you. In case." Thrusting her arm
through the crook of my own, she led me into her chamber.
"Mum it with Leverett, it's no matter of his. Scared, Iz?"
    "Greatly," I said.
    "Wise," she said, nodding. "Last eve I gutspilled to
Seamus anew about this madness. But all're mindset, so all goes ahead. Nada to be done then but ready for disaster, and
so lessen cost." Redecoration was underwaying, within her
office. A sail-size portrait had been hung above her faux-log
fireplace. Her drapes were drawn wide, and looking windowways I saw impenetrable layers of cloud without, streaming
and bubbling and flash-lit by lightning.

    "When it rains here, does it rain there?" I said, posing
inquiry to none who could answer; keening to know, all the
same.
    "Leverett assures me these conditions are perfect. He's
assured of all, except when he's not. Here, now," Judy said,
handing me a small green compact. She glanced roundabout before conversing anew, as if even here others' eyes
might peer onward. Her habit, I thought, but I waried as
well. "Additional backup," she said. "As personally requested by me. I'll not hazard you overmuch, however carefree he clads the danger."
    "What is it?"
    "Another Alekhine device. If the Window's unreachable
from wherever you wind up, how'11 you cross back?"
    "The car's equipped. We were enlightened yesterday-"
    "If the car's stolen? Crashed? Commandeered? Additional backup, as I say. Purse it, let it slip your mind unless
called for. Paint with it if desired; it's usable for that as well.
A button within, mirror-hid, must be pressed for ten seconds
to engage device."
    "Timeover we're told that uncontained transferral is impossibled," I said, slipping her gift into my purse. "That if
we did, we'd freefloat between forever. As happened to Jake,
they said-"
    "They know?" she said. "Situate yourself in something
beforehand, then. By all accounts their world's unfit for
brown people, however, white you show. The place inbe-
tween might be preferred, if perchance you're uncovered."
"It'll work for two or more?" I asked.
    "For one, certain," Judy sighed; shrugged. "Who's to tell, Iz?" She paused to insert her teeth, as if prepping to greet
family members. "For the duration Leverett's hands will
steer you. His project is to be overseen by him as Seamus
wishes. Mayhap it'll work as proposed, but I'll not turn blue
waiting. After your return, my hands can reach you once
more, and if Leverett aims you or the company wrong thereafter, I'll hash him sure when the moment comes."

    Unexpressed rage tightened her face's muscles; veins in
her temples throbbed as if to split. Only two years separated
us, truthed; the look she'd grown into aged her a dozen
more. "Such oldline thoughts bear regooding, I'd be told,"
I said.
    "And I'd be telling. Do as said, not as done." She eyeshut,
and sighed; breathed deep as if to take the pipe. "This is a
house of the damned, undoubted, Iz. My time's forever
spent staring at shadows, seeing what moves. Cleaning others' messes, boiling others' stews. Stepping on razors, all the
while, and who's to help? Seamus is mindlost, and no longer
hears what needs hearing. I'm fit to spring."
    `Judy, I--
    She opened her eyes. "Excuse, Iz. You've concerns aplenty. Mine's an untempered tantrum, nothing more. All's not
overmuch, once faced and considered. The worst's longb-
ested, blood under the bridge. Look there." She aimed her
finger toward the fireplace's painting as if feigning aim.
"Reinstalled after twenty years. Distance enough at last regained."
    "Who are they?"
    "The Drydens," she