Authors: S D Taylor
“How do you like the room? Has it set you to pondering yet?” Doug tossed his small backpack on the shelf at the foot of the large bed.
“I am pondering what this place has to offer the weary traveler in the way of food and drink. Do they drink alcohol here?”
“The other day Jelk told me there is a type of beer brewed in Selenton that is quite popular. Not real strong by our standards but it is well-liked here. Apparently there isn’t any wine produced in Transarctica. They import some from other countries but it is apparently pretty expensive.”
“What are we going to do from now until dinner time? I am starving.” Erin reached over and took Doug’s hand. She tried the telepathy again. “Can you hear me?” Erin thought.
“Yes. But we shouldn’t overuse this. I don’t want them finding out what we are up to.” Doug thoughts rapidly infused into Erin’s consciousness. “We can, ah, ‘talk’ later. Was there something bothering you?”
Erin could think of many things that were bothering her, but there was only one worth bringing up now. “What are we doing here? We are supposed to meet someone, right? So why the charade as the happy vacation couple with our single friend and her kids and dog?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t know she was going to be here. So we are both surprised. But I suspected the person we were meeting could be her or Jelk. Who else would have been able to win our trust. And even now, we need to keep our eyes open since things may not be what they seem.”
Erin wanted to scream “Really!” but she settled for thinking quietly “Ok, so we play our parts and see what happens. Now say something to me out loud.” Erin dropped her grip on his hand. She felt that Doug knew more than he was telling her, but she didn’t want to push it right now. She wondered what Dara had shared with him.
“Let’s grab a quick bite and then go to the beach. We have several hours until dinner and we might as well take advantage of the nice day.” Doug had moved to the window and was looking out over the beach that was directly below their window, down a small slope. The waves gently rolled onto the beach in a continuous cycle that Doug had always found relaxing. “There are worse things to do than sit at the beach and watch the day go by.”
Erin pulled out a drawer from the wall and found two large, fluffy beach towels. The both had the stylized Ponder question mark logo. “Doug, catch.” She tossed him the towel. “What are we going to do for swimsuits?”
There was a square pad on the wall and Doug held his thumb against it for a second. A voice that seemed to come from the ceiling said, “May I be of assistance?”
“Yes, please. We need two swimsuits. Can you provide them?”
“Of course. I have your registry number. Could you have the other person put their thumb against the pad?”
Doug nodded and Erin complied. “Very good. They will be delivered in a few minutes. Do you have a color preference?”
Doug looked at Erin who shrugged. “Let’s go with something blue.”
“And what style do you prefer?”
Doug looked puzzled. “What are my choices?”
“We offer full coverage modest, standard, athletic, inviting and barely there styles.”
Doug laughed so hard at the look on Erin’s face that it took him a moment to reply.
“Is everything ok sir?”
“Things are fine. We are just deciding on a style.”
Erin could tell she needed to intercede. “Both of us would like the athletic style. One male and one female. Thanks.”
“Very good. They will be delivered shortly. Ponder that.”
Erin turned to Doug and mouthed the words “Ponder that” with a quizzical look on her face.
“It must be their standard way to end a call here at the Ponder resort. Sort of catchy, don’t you think?”
“I’m pondering.”
The suits were delivered by a smiling attendant. They were indeed blue and fit perfectly. Erin felt a little self-conscious running around in the one piece, skin tight suit but she decided that she had to go with the flow. But Doug looked pretty strange in his suit. It featured no top but full length legs. It was like half a wetsuit. If he had not been in such good shape, the outfit would have looked ridiculous. As it was, he put on a t-shirt and all was well.
“The shirt completed the ensemble. Nice touch.” Erin smiled at the ridiculousness of this current situation.
“I don’t have to worry about what I look like. They are all going to be looking at you.”
Erin felt herself blush at this compliment, feeling strange about this version of Doug noticing how she looked in a swimsuit. It was as if he was a combination of the man she loved and her dad, which was a hard enough concept to think about, let alone having to share a hotel room with the person.
Erin stood in front of the floor to ceiling mirror and assessed her outfit. The suit looked like it had been spray painted on but it was just a standard racing style suit similar to what people wore three hundred years earlier. She decided she looked pretty good for someone her age and the baseball cap did something to enhance her appearance. At least that’s what the Red Sox fan in her decided. She wondered if they still had baseball in this world.
“Come on, Darling. You look fabulous. And the day isn’t getting any younger.” Doug was already well down the hallway, following the signs to the beach access.
Erin grabbed her towel and ran after him. But not before briefly pondering if she needed some sun block.
Chapter 37
The beaches in Lopfa had been carefully prepared with imported sand so they looked more like Hawaiian beaches than the rocky coast of what had formerly been called Alaska. The temperate summer climate with warm summer days had changed the character of the place and the entrepreneurial human spirit was still evident in this strange future world. Lopfa had blossomed into a legitimate tourist destination with excellent accommodations, good food and predictable weather that guaranteed mostly rain-free beach days during the summer and fall months.
Erin wasn't sure why Doug wanted to go to the beach, but she assumed it was to further sell the cover story about their vacation. The feeling she was being watched and monitored constantly was beginning to wear on her. She hesitated before saying anything to anyone, especially Doug because it was all too easy to forget the difference between the thought communication and the verbal communication. She felt like hiding in the room and trying more telepathic communication, but for now she decided to go with the flow until they settled in and checked out their surroundings.
Doug waited for her at the end of the boardwalk that extended fifty yards towards the sea from the hotel exit door to where the sand started. "Doesn't look like they will be surfing today."
Erin looked towards the small gentle waves that were lapping up on the shore. "I doubt they ever surf here unless there is a storm or a tsunami. I think this is a sound that doesn't get too much wave action. Where can we get something to eat? I can’t wait until dinner and we are slightly past my lunch time.”
“There is a sandwich bar at the end of the boardwalk. Let’s get something.”
They sat at one of the tables on the side of the boardwalk and looked out over the sound. A number of people were paddling around in kayaks or pedal boats and as she ate the avocado, cheese and tomato sandwich, Erin almost forgot where she was. The scene looked like any other beach resort from her time and there was no obvious high tech evidence of the future world. As long as she didn’t look back at the hotel building.
Doug had long ago finished his sandwich and was ready to go as Erin finished hers. "They have kayaks for rent. Care for a paddle?"
Erin stared out at the placid water of the sound and the mountains that rose sharply on the opposite shore many miles away. This was a beautiful setting. She still felt like a prisoner, but there wasn’t much point in continuing to complain. "Sure. Let's give it a try. As long as the killer whales aren't hungry."
Doug feigned concern at her comment then smiled as they walked towards the small pier at the southern end of the beach where a dozen kayaks tied up. Several intrepid souls had already paddled well out into the sound and they appeared to be part of an arranged tour. Doug walked quickly ahead to a small building by the pier that was the size of a guard shack and served as the rental office. He was chatting with the attendant as Erin walked up. "The hotel's kayak tour departed about thirty minutes ago, but they rent them by the hour to experienced paddlers."
Erin smiled. "I think my life raft experience qualifies me, don't you? And you must have plenty of experience by now in the paddling arts."
"Absolutely. I took the Viking Marine Institute course called ’Paddle like your life depends on it.’"
"Is Arny still teaching that one?"
Doug nodded. "And still telling those same stale jokes in Old Norse."
The attendant look puzzled, but didn't say anything. If there was such an institute he hadn't heard it. But no matter. The hotel told the staff to limit social interaction with the guests. Especially foreigners like the older man who was well beyond the mandatory termination age.
Doug turned and held up two fingers. "We will be needing two kayaks, please. For two hours."
"Very good sir. Put your hand here, please."
Doug put his hand on the pad, but the attendant immediately frowned. "It shows that you already have a kayak checked out. Room 712? Cameron?"
"My room is 436. But the name is correct. There must be a mix-up in your database."
The attendant laughed. "It is clear you are not from Transarctica or you would realize that we never have mix-ups in our databases. Our identity systems are DNA coded to be totally foolproof. So unless you have an exact duplicate of yourself staying in room 712, I think you will need to speak to the front desk before I can rent you a kayak."
Erin and Doug both felt their hearts stop for a second when he made the comment about exact duplicate. Could it possibly be that another Doug was here? Was it the Doug from Erin's time? They exchanged quick glances but successfully fought the urge to say anything.
"Can I rent one then? One that will hold two people?" Erin stepped forward and put her palm on the pad.
"Let me see. Yes. Erin O'Neill. No problem with your record. I guess there is only one of you staying with us. What a shame." The attendant didn’t get the big laugh he was hoping for from the old guy’s attractive daughter, but Erin smiled and nodded. At least she didn’t give him a dirty look. He wondered how long she was staying, but resisted the urge to ask her out. It probably saved his life.
Doug winked at her and she fought to hold back a laugh. The attendant handed her two paddles and two life vests. "Number 42. It is the red one on the end."
Erin smiled at the hopeful young man who seemed to like her swimsuit. "Thanks. See you in a couple of hours." He looked her in the eye finally as she said that and added, “Thanks. Ponder that.”
As they walked to the kayak, Doug leaned over and said quietly, “He was pondering you pretty well. In fact, I’ll bet he is still pondering the view of you walking away.”
“Unless you want to ponder what medical treatment is needed for paddle damage, I suggest we ponder a different line of discussion.” She tossed one of the paddles and one of the vests to Doug and walked quickly to number 42. "Have you ever done this?"
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. I used to spend my summer breaks paddling canoes around the lakes in Utah and Wyoming. So I probably have the paddling and balance thing covered. Never been in a kayak before though. In two person canoes it really helps if the two people can work together and avoid tipping the thing over."
Erin nodded. "I would have figured out that last part on my own. But thanks for sharing." She waited for him to steady the kayak and she carefully lowered herself into the rear seat opening. Doug untied the rope and then carefully got into the front seat while holding onto the pier for balance.
Erin leaned forward and put her hand gently on his neck to establish the thoughtlink. "Could he be here?" She could feel her heart beating faster but she wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or from fear for his safety.
“I don't know. Let's paddle out there and see if there is anyone in a kayak that looks like him. I wouldn't put anything past Dara and Jelk. The only problem is going to be figuring out why he would be here? And what we do next? If Dara is behind this, she must have a plan in mind. We just need to find out what it is."
Erin took her hand away and they started to paddle in slow, rhythmic strokes towards the middle of the sound where there were many kayakers. She would have time to ponder the possibility that her Doug might be in Lopfa. Did he come to save her? Did he know she was here? She was working through the various possibilities when she saw a single kayak sitting in place about a half mile across the sound. Doug noticed it too. "Let's head over there and check out the view."
Erin smiled. "My thoughts exactly."
Erin had never done much kayaking and the effort was generating some complaints from the muscles in her arms, especially the back of the arm where the pulling motion came from. Doug was stronger and she was trying to use her adrenalin to keep up his pace. Hopefully they would have enough energy to get back to shore when the time came.