Fish Swim in the Lake

Part 3.1 | I said, the lady wants a hammock

"...no?" alphaDana said eventually. "Come on, Lola, you must know somebody. This is really important!"

"Know somebody? Of course I know somebody. I know a dozen people who could sweep you right up to the plug. But not tonight. I'm hardly dressed and I have to be there soon! Tony! Tony, bring me that HAMMOCK!"

"Can't you be fashionably late? Where do you have to be?"

"Vlad, you remember Vlad? Works for Customs and Excise? Tall, skinny, with that little scar from when Ticky knocked a voxbooth over on him?"

"Ticky?"

"Ticky Danvers! The physicist! He synthesized all that LSD-9 gas and nearly poisoned half the supermodels at Zocko's! They were trying to EAT each other and their bodysculpt was toxic if ingested! All their hair fell out! Remember Zocko? Remember?"

alphaDana did not remember Zocko, but said she did.

"He's having a party tonight, Vlad is, not Ticky, although Ticky could be, or Zocko, I don't know where they are I haven't seen them in weeks, but Vlad, Vlad's parties are wonderful, he has the best wine, the most interesting toys, the most fascinating people. I do hate to sound eager but it's not to be missed."

"Would there be anyone at this party that would be able to get me jacked in?" alphaDana said patiently.

"Not at the party, silly, nobody carries those things a-round with them!"

"I mean if I went with them to their office. Or their house, if you know someone who has one in a house."

"Do you mean if you had sex with them?"

"Lola, are you orbiting?" alphaDana snapped.

"Descending, descending... for once this new All That strain of pot is as good as they promised. What did you want, darling?"

"I want to go to Vlad's party with you so you can introduce me to someone that will get me access to a high speed dumper, a real-time editor, and an MT6 burner, without expecting me to have sex. Is there going to be anyone there that will have that?"

"I imagine there will... Are you dressed? Will you have time to get dressed? You can't wear those awful turtlenecks to a party, not if you're coming with me."

"Come on, Lola, how formal can this thing be if you're not done dressing yet?"

"Dear, knowing you, you'd better wear the best thing you've got. Don't you want them to take you seriously?"

"Be nice. Lend me something so I can make a good impression."

"Probably that would be best, since I'm not supposed to tell anyone where the party is. Come over immediately. I've put you in the security bank. I'm finished with Tony for the evening anyway... Oh, yes, Tony, I am!"

Posted by gtaylor at April 21, 2002 06:40 AM