All the Colors of Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

chess.”
    Shiro looked doubtful. “I guess so.”
    “To what purpose to we do this?” asked Trevor.
    The devil was back in Oslovski’s eyes. “To the purpose of
making the irresistible force think it’s met an immovable object. Think, Trev.
What might make our clients adjust their attitude?”
    “Is this a quiz?”
    “Think.”
    “Okay. Well, you said it. An immovable object.”
    “Yes!” Shiro nodded eagerly. “I see. Something they can’t
change. A—a future they can’t change,
perhaps.”
    “That’s what I hope to show them, people,” said Oslovski. “A
future that their monkeying around didn’t change to their liking.”
    “What about the other thing?” asked Trevor. “What are we
going to do about that?”
    “We’re going to stop them. Stations, people. Let’s complete
our calibrations.”
    oOo
    Q-Bert weathered his flight with all the aplomb of a
veteran time traveler. He complained only when his sensors were attached via a
small cap that fitted tightly over his head and fastened under his jaw. Louis
had added insult to injury by laughing at him, something the genteel terrier
couldn’t abide.
    “You’re the first person he’s bitten since he was a puppy,”
said Trevor, as they reviewed Q-Bert’s data.
    Louis stared glumly at the bandage on his finger. “Should I
take that as a compliment?”
    “I think you should take it as a warning not to laugh at
QBert. He’s a scientist, after all, just like the rest of us. Except, of
course, that he has a wet nose.”
    “Yeah, and sharp teeth.” Louis shook his finger. “How did he
do?”
    “Just great. Respiration fine. Brain activity, relaxed—except
when he bit you. Heart rate, normal. Blood panels look good. He’s a healthy,
happy canine.”
    Louis bit his lip and tried not to look desperately excited.
“That means the next step is sending one of us.”
    Trevor nodded. “Once Magda’s seen this data, I think she’ll
agree to that.” He gave Louis a sideways look. “Are you volunteering?”
    “You bet, Kimosabe. Wild horses couldn’t stop me. I can just
see the headlines: Descendant of Sitting Bull First Man to Time Travel.” He
grinned. “My folks will be so proud.”
    Trevor looked skeptical. “Are you really a descendant of
Chief Sitting Bull?”
    “Bona fide, guaranteed.” He twiddled the eagle feather that
hung, solitary, from the braid at the back of his head.
    “That’s ironic.”
    Louis raised his eyebrows.
    “Little Big Horn,” said Trevor. “The Sequel.”
    oOo
    Operation Little Big Horn proceeded the next morning with
a careful, full-staff study of Q-Bert’s data. Q-Bert himself was subjected to a
thorough examination by Drs. Trevor Haley and Judy Walsh. When that was over,
Magda Oslovski okayed the next phase.
    Louis took Q-Bert’s place on the Spectral Grid, watching
nervously as Trevor set up his sensors for the trip. Downstairs in the other
O.R., Vahid Khadivian waited for the materialization.
    Psychologically, Louis didn’t take the Shift as well as
QBert had. His heart raced as the Field was activated and he was unable to slow
it down. The Field danced like a swirling pattern of stars before his eyes. A
tingling sensation cascaded down his back, then spiraled upward again to spin crazily,
but not unpleasantly, in his head. He blinked rapidly several times—saw colors
flash vividly.
    My God, he
thought, it really is a spectrum.
    Then the trembling stars returned and melted and he was
watching Vahid Khadivian blink back at him. They stared at each other for a
moment, then Vahid grinned and said, “Welcome to the Underworld, my son.”
    Louis let out a whoop.
    oOo
    “Your heart rate got a little crazy there, Louis,” said
Oslovski. “All through the Shift.”
    “I just got a little excited, that’s all. Really.” He
shrugged. “Adrenalin is a powerful drug, doctor.”
    “No discomfort?”
    “No. No, it was . . . tingly. Exhilarating.
There really are visible color bands. I saw them flashing