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15 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods there, it's—well, somewhere else." He looked thoughtful for a moment.
     
    "Think of it this way," he continued. "Think of opposites.
     
    Nature usually contains opposites. There is even, I hear, a different kind of matter, anti-matter, that's as real as we are yet works so opposite to us that, if it came into contact with us, it would cancel itself and us out. When the Earth was created, my world was also created—a by-product, you might say, of the creation. It's very much like Earth, but it is in many ways an opposite. It runs by different rules. But it's as real a place as any you've been to, and, I think, a better, nicer place than Earth in a number of ways..
     
    Far off in the distance there seemed to come a deep sound, like a boat's whistle, or a steam train blowing off. Ruddygore heard it and turned back to Joe.
     
    "You have to decide soon, you know," he told the driver.
     
    "The ferry's coming in, and it won't wait long. Although few ride it, because only a very few can find it or even know of it, it keeps a rigid schedule, for the path it travels is impossible unless you're greatly skilled and well timed. You can die and pass beyond my ken to the unknown beyond, or you can come with me. Face it, Joe. What have you got to lose? Even if you somehow could beat your destiny, you're only going through the motions, anyway. There's nothing for you in this world any more. I offer a whole new life..
     
    19 JACK L.CHALKER "And maybe just as short," the driver replied. "I did my bit of soldiering..
     
    "Oh, it's not like that. We have many for armies. I need you for special tasks, not military ones. Adventure, Joe. A new life. A new world. I will make you young again. Better than you ever were..
     
    Something snapped inside the driver. "No! You're Satan come to steal me at the last minute! I know you now!" And, with that, he fired three shots point-blank at Ruddygore.
     
    The huge man didn't even flinch, but simply smiled, pursed his lips, and spat out the three spent bullets. "Lousy aim," he commented. "I really didn't catch any of them. I had to use magic." He sighed sadly. The whistle sounded again, closer now. "But I'm not the devil, Joe. I'm flesh and blood and I live. I am not a man, but I was once a man, and still am more than not. There are far worse things than your silly, primitive devil, Joe—that's part of what I'm fighting. Come with me— now. Down to the dock..
     
    Joe looked disgusted, both with Ruddygore and with the pistol. "All right, Ruddygore, or whoever or whatever you are.
     
    It don't make any difference, anyway. I can't go. Not if I can save her. You understand the duty..
     
    Ruddygore nodded sadly. "I feared as much when I saw her in the cab. And for such a motive I can't stop you or blame you. Damn! You wouldn't believe how much trouble all this was, too. What a waste..
     
    Page 16 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods "Hey! Wait a minute!" the woman put in. "Don't / get to say anything about this?.
     
    They both looked at her expectantly.
     
    "Look, if I had a million bucks, I'd bet that I'm still sound asleep in that truck up there, speeding down a highway toward El Paso, and that this is all a crazy dream. But it's a great dream. The best I ever had. I'm on my way to kill myself.
     
    I've had it—up to here. I gave up on this stupid, crazy world.
     
    So I'm dreaming—or I'm psycho, in some funny world of my own. Okay. I'll take it. It's better than real life. There's no way I'm going back to that life. No way I'm getting back in that truck, period. I've finally done it! Gone completely off my rocker into a fantasy world that sounds pretty good to me..
     
    Ruddy gore's face broke into a broad, beaming smile. He looked over at the driver. "Joe? What do you say now?.
     
    20 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS "Well, I heard her story and I can't say I blame her. But I'm the one who's gone bananas, not her..
     
    "Dreams,"