Read Online The VMR Theory (v1.1) by Robert Frezza - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robert Frezza
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Man-Woman Relationships, Interplanetary voyages, Space and Time
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are t’ inking.”
I was thinking that if I managed to get out of this in one piece, Catarina was going to tease me about it unmercifully for months. Or years. Or longer. “Ah, how did a nice girl like you get mixed up in a racket like this?”
“Oh, but I’m a very naughty girl. It is kind of fun, really. Males have such dirty minds! Poor little vampire, would you like to take me home wit’ you?”
To tell the truth, I was beginning to feel a little sorry for her. “Well, if you ever want to get out of here, we have a spare bunk down in Stores.”
Something about my reaction surprised her. Her eyes slitted. “You just want me to read minds for you!”
“Uh, no.” Unfortunately, I seem to have acquired a good dose of religion from Catarina, which manifests itself at inopportune moments. “Your technique is a little, ah, indecorous, and besides, most of the folks we dicker with have enough trouble not gyping themselves. Can you cook?”
“T’en you just want me for my body!”
I was beginning to figure out why mind-reading never caught on with human beings. It’s extremely difficult to carry on intersexual communications if you have to stick to the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Well, no. There’s my partner Catarina to consider. One weird relationship I can deal with, but two would be pushing it.”
“But you would still risk yourself to help me escape?”
“Well, yeah, I suppose, but you know, I’m beginning to think that this stuff about rescuing damsels in distress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I was also seeing two of her and beginning to fade in and out of the conversation as my glands began pumping things into my system to deal with my allergic reaction to the stupid rope.
The last thing I heard her say was, “Poor little vamp.”
I woke up in a double bed. Catarina was sitting at the far end. “Are you alive yet?”
I looked around the room, which had chartreuse wallpaper. “If this is heaven, I want my money back.”
“Ah, you are awakened, Mr. MacKay.” A little Oriental guy in a white coat was standing next to Catarina with his hands folded. “I am Dr. Ye, the embassy primary care physician. After conferring, Miss Lindquist and I have decided to have you fixed.”
I blinked my eyes rapidly a few times. “Excuse me, but I thought that was something people did to unruly house pets.”
“I meant restored to health.” Ye turned on his heel and left.
I asked Catarina, “Why are you here, and where is here anyway?”
“The Spe’cial Secret Police have seized our ship. We’re in the embassy. Your friend, Supreme Agent Wipo, shipped you here after I convinced him that you’d probably croak without better medical attention than he could provide.” She gestured toward the little refrigerator in the corner. “He left a bottle of the local vin ordinaire to show that there’s no hard feelings on his part, but you’re out on loan, so to speak. The ambassador has promised to return you to Macdonald custody as soon as you’re well enough to travel.”
“I suddenly feel very, very sick. It may be months.” She coughed delicately. “Gwen has been in here three times to see you.”
“Nothing like a miraculous recovery. Suddenly, I feel great.” I ran my fingers over the welts on my arms. “What was the good doctor in a snit about?”
“You’ll be up and about in another day, which touches on a problem he alluded to. Technically, you’re not on the government payroll, and he isn’t authorized to accept your health insurance.”
“I ought to call Lydia and make her cough up enough funny money to cover it.” I reflected for a second or two. “Of course, that might also be hazardous to my health.”
“Bunkie and I worked out a deal. To ask a very intimate question, how do you feel about donating your body to science after you’re finished using it?”
“Nothing like having a doctor who won’t get paid off if I get well.”
“Oh, nothing that
I was thinking that if I managed to get out of this in one piece, Catarina was going to tease me about it unmercifully for months. Or years. Or longer. “Ah, how did a nice girl like you get mixed up in a racket like this?”
“Oh, but I’m a very naughty girl. It is kind of fun, really. Males have such dirty minds! Poor little vampire, would you like to take me home wit’ you?”
To tell the truth, I was beginning to feel a little sorry for her. “Well, if you ever want to get out of here, we have a spare bunk down in Stores.”
Something about my reaction surprised her. Her eyes slitted. “You just want me to read minds for you!”
“Uh, no.” Unfortunately, I seem to have acquired a good dose of religion from Catarina, which manifests itself at inopportune moments. “Your technique is a little, ah, indecorous, and besides, most of the folks we dicker with have enough trouble not gyping themselves. Can you cook?”
“T’en you just want me for my body!”
I was beginning to figure out why mind-reading never caught on with human beings. It’s extremely difficult to carry on intersexual communications if you have to stick to the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Well, no. There’s my partner Catarina to consider. One weird relationship I can deal with, but two would be pushing it.”
“But you would still risk yourself to help me escape?”
“Well, yeah, I suppose, but you know, I’m beginning to think that this stuff about rescuing damsels in distress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I was also seeing two of her and beginning to fade in and out of the conversation as my glands began pumping things into my system to deal with my allergic reaction to the stupid rope.
The last thing I heard her say was, “Poor little vamp.”
I woke up in a double bed. Catarina was sitting at the far end. “Are you alive yet?”
I looked around the room, which had chartreuse wallpaper. “If this is heaven, I want my money back.”
“Ah, you are awakened, Mr. MacKay.” A little Oriental guy in a white coat was standing next to Catarina with his hands folded. “I am Dr. Ye, the embassy primary care physician. After conferring, Miss Lindquist and I have decided to have you fixed.”
I blinked my eyes rapidly a few times. “Excuse me, but I thought that was something people did to unruly house pets.”
“I meant restored to health.” Ye turned on his heel and left.
I asked Catarina, “Why are you here, and where is here anyway?”
“The Spe’cial Secret Police have seized our ship. We’re in the embassy. Your friend, Supreme Agent Wipo, shipped you here after I convinced him that you’d probably croak without better medical attention than he could provide.” She gestured toward the little refrigerator in the corner. “He left a bottle of the local vin ordinaire to show that there’s no hard feelings on his part, but you’re out on loan, so to speak. The ambassador has promised to return you to Macdonald custody as soon as you’re well enough to travel.”
“I suddenly feel very, very sick. It may be months.” She coughed delicately. “Gwen has been in here three times to see you.”
“Nothing like a miraculous recovery. Suddenly, I feel great.” I ran my fingers over the welts on my arms. “What was the good doctor in a snit about?”
“You’ll be up and about in another day, which touches on a problem he alluded to. Technically, you’re not on the government payroll, and he isn’t authorized to accept your health insurance.”
“I ought to call Lydia and make her cough up enough funny money to cover it.” I reflected for a second or two. “Of course, that might also be hazardous to my health.”
“Bunkie and I worked out a deal. To ask a very intimate question, how do you feel about donating your body to science after you’re finished using it?”
“Nothing like having a doctor who won’t get paid off if I get well.”
“Oh, nothing that
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