Read Online The Fabric Of Reality by Benjamin Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

machine in his hand, wondering how something so tiny could produce such gut-wrenching noise. “I have no idea what that means, but if it’s less frightening, I’m willing to listen.” Alesia tightened her grip on his hand while he thumbed his device. She breathed a sigh of relief as the soothing sounds flowed over her. “Is that some sort of wind instrument?”
    “Yes. It’s called a saxophone.”
    She closed her eyes for a moment, soaking up mellow tune. “I believe this will do nicely. Put your other arm around my waist and come close. All you need to do is follow my lead and let the music move your feet, but be careful not to step on mine.”
    Gil continued gazing at the screen on his little device. “I suppose a classical orchestral piece would be more appropriate for this ballroom setting. I wasn’t thinking. Let me see what else I can find.”
    “Gil, the music is wonderful. Are you frightened to dance with me?”
    Gil shrugged nervously. “I don’t want to do it improperly.”
    “There’s a high probability that we’ll both be dead in a few days. What does it matter if you dance properly? This opportunity may never present itself again. All that’s important is that we enjoy this moment. Please, Gil, dance with me.”
    “Yes, yes, of course.” He gripped her fingers tightly and bowed. “My lady, may I have this dance?”
    Alesia curtsied and gave a single nod of her head. “It would be my pleasure, sir.”
    He slipped his arm around her waist, pulled her close, and they swayed to the music. The fact that Gil didn’t know how to dance couldn’t have been less important to Alesia. She had dreamed of a moment like this for so long she could hardly believe it was happening. She was in the arms of a tall, handsome man, dancing the hours away. She had been right all along. Someone was waiting for her in the castle. Even if he wasn’t the hero she had hoped would rescue her from her miserable life, he saved her in a way. He showed her kindness and compassion and gave her at least a little taste of what it must feel like to be loved. Held there in his arms, she found contentment within her soul that she never knew she could feel.
    Alesia raised her gaze to meet his and felt a tear trickle down her cheek. Gil brushed it away with his thumb.
    “What’s wrong?”
    She sniveled a little and cleared her throat. “How could you see that?”
    “I—I’m not sure I could, it just felt like the right thing to do. Why are you crying?”
    “I wish I could feel you for real, touch your skin. My God, Gil. This is so unfair. How could fate be so cruel to bring us together in this hopeless situation where we can’t even get to each other?”
    “I’ve asked myself many times what I did wrong to end up in my current situation, but I have no answers. When we first discovered what this place is, everyone was so full of hope for the future. Junctions opened onto countless worlds. Some in the middle of huge cities, some in barren wastelands, others in uninhabited wilderness that was teaming with animal life. We thought we could go anywhere and start fresh. We decided that starting from scratch in the wilderness would be too difficult, but the inhabited worlds didn’t want a huge influx of refugees. It took years of contacting thousands of governments before we finally found an Earth that would take us.”
    She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat for a few moments. “I suppose we should quit stalling and continue our search. What should I be looking for? I’ve never seen a doorway between Realities.”
    “It won’t manifest itself as a visual phenomenon. Our Window is invisible in its natural state, but if you are the cause of the interference, I should be able to pick it up on my Locater.”
    Alesia spotted a room with a narrow entranceway she hadn’t noticed before. “Come on, Gil. Let’s look down here.” She tugged her hand free of his and bolted down the