The Unconventional Macy Gray

~5~ Portal Nabber

Sore, I went back to Paddy's Pub where I found Cynthia regaling all the customers with her version of All Hands Down, a catchy country song that had become popular awhile back. She had a spectacular voice. Low, throaty but could hit the high notes with ease.

Amid cheers, she wended her way toward me. "Why didn't you ever tell me you could sing?"

"Just some dream I had that didn't pan out. My parents thought it more practical for me to get an education then sing in dive bars. Sorry, I guess I should have told you."

"It's okay. We all have secrets we don't share."

"Ooh. Do tell. I want to hear some of yours."

"You already know everything about me." A white lie but a necessary one. After all, the Cynthia of this time line was not the Cynthia of my time line. I had forgotten that for a moment. Never again. 

"Spoilsport. I don't know. I think you've got some juicy secrets bubbling around in your brain. No matter. I'll suss them out eventually." She clinked her beer bottle with mine. "What do I always say?"

"Anticipation is half the fun," we chorused. Cynthia told me that the first day we met. Aside from the change in Government, she hadn't changed a bit. Have to give the matter some more thought.

"So, what happened with the old man?"

"He left," I answered vaguely.

"Good. Now, where were we? Oh yes, scoping out guys."

I set down the beer. "Listen, I'd love to stay but I better get home. I'm dead tired."

"Aww. Do you have tea at your place?"

"Just bought some."

"I'll come with you. The place is dead anyway."

"You had quite a few guys admiring your singing."

"Eh. I'm not in the mood anymore."

"All right. Let's go."

Back in my apartment, I set about making us both tea. "Chamomile okay?"

"Sure." Cynthia lounged on the couch, shoes off. She wriggled her red painted toenails an affectation she tried to get me to adopt. I never wore sandals so I thought the point moot.

I handed her a cup and sat down in my chair. I sipped some of my tea, lost in thought. I had to find a way to stop Celia from turning on that portal. 

"All right, spill it. What's going on with you?"

"Celia needs to be stopped. She doesn't know the consequences of her actions will affect the entire planet."

"Let me guess. You do."

"Yeah. I do."

"Sounds serious. Tell me."

 "I don't know how much you'll believe but I have to talk to someone about this so please suspend any comments until I'm finished."

"Sure. No problem."

I paused for another sip. "I really don't know where to begin."

"From the beginning I suppose."

"Yes. But what beginning?"

"I don't know. It's your research."

I sighed.  "All right," I said, setting down the cup. "When I was little I used to have these vivid dreams of a world called Alluvia. It was straight out of fantasy novels with magicians and magic."

"And what does that have to do with Celia's portal?"

"I'm getting to that. The dreams felt so real that I believed they were real. Or at least I wanted to think so. When the dreams lasted into adulthood, I was determined to find out if Alluvia was indeed real and not tricked out of my imagination. I know it's an odd thing for a theoretical physicist to pursue but really how it is any different that trying to prove String Theory exists or multiverses?"