Bondage award
A second advantage of ultrasonic music was that its frequencies were so high they left no resonating residues in solid structures, and consequently there was no need to call in the sound-sweep. After an audible performance of most symphonic music, walls and furniture throbbed for days with disintegrating residues that made the air seem leaden and tumid, an entire room virtually uninhabitable. There on the revolving metal racks were the familiar rows of glossy little books, every one of which, judging from the covers, seemed to be about an abnormally well-developed girl. Turning the rack slowly I saw books by William Faulkner, Bernard Glemser, Agatha Christie, and Charles Einstein, which Id read and liked. Then, down near the bottom of the rack my eye was caught by the words, By Mark Twain. The cover showed an old side-wheeler steamboat, and the title was South From Cairo. A reprint fitted out with a new title, I thought, feeling annoyed; and I picked up the book to see just which of Mark Twain’s it really was. I’ve read every book he wrote- Huckleberry Finn at least a dozen times since I discovered it when I was eleven years old. Just the same we find his quarters, after dark, to be comfortable and free of embarrassment. You wouldnt think a dedicated man of his age would be so vigorous, but I find out he spends his weekends at the recreation centre hitting a ball with his hand. The ball bounces back off a wall and he hits it and hits it. Though hes given that up now because we're together on weekends, "You're more than an old bachelor like me deserves," he tells me. Did—uh—did Mary know that she was your only Contact? I said. Staring up at him from the paper were the words: Mangon, hold on to your dive breaks. Im really on reheat this morning. He twirled the ultrasonic trumpet he was playing, a tangle of stops and valves from which half a dozen leads trailed off across the cushions to a cathode tube and tone generator at the other end of the sofa. "Im lost, Papa," Heinie cried. "I cant hear Mama any more." The bushy-whiskered innkeeper sighed.I wish I wasnt. Night like this, whiskey’s a man’s best friend. This man’s, anyhow. "When the war ended, I just left in a daze. They thought they didnt really need me at that time. There was something in the back of my mind— I dont know what it was — made me come here, with my passport, my safe conducts, my letters of introduction ... When I saw what I had done to you all — what could I do? I tried to kill myself and failed — maybe I wasn't trying hard enough. Then I tried to live with you, simply because I couldn't think of anything else to do. A stronger person might have thought of practical ways to help — but I'd spent four years in an atmosphere of blood and hysteria, calling on the psychic part of me and ignoring the rest. I was unfit for life. I just tried to forget everything that had ever happened to me." Sabina ran the pink tip of her tongue over her lips, a mannerism that never failed to spark Quincannons imagination. What about the money Dupree extorted from Titus Wrixton? she asked. “Did she have that in her possession as well?” END NIGH, theDaily News said in its biggest, thickest headline type. Before pursuing this to p. 3, where the story was, Grey turned to the center fold minus one, to see what the editorial said. Typically colloquial, it was headedSO LONG, EVERYBODY,” and went on: Cos Cosmopolitan There was nothing much for them to do except to wait.They went into a large room and waited. Thank you, Bill, and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The latest casualty reports—and these are confirmed figures. Let me repeat—these are confirmed figures. For the Russian team: twenty-two dead, and eight incapacitated wounded. For the American team: seventeen dead, and only six incapacitated wounded. "Lets give it a booster shot," Willy McGilly said. Hey… hey… oh, hey… ! Her shoulders were bowed. She looked as if she had no inner resources left. "Im sorry. Its my fault. I should have left you alone. If I'd never made you run away with me you'd be safe now." Chico just looked at him..
