Jack and the Beanstalk [SF YA]

CHAPTER FIVE - Part II & CHAPTER SIX - Jack Fell Down - Part I

At 1300 hours the call came to strap down until the "Orion" could depart the 'stalk and put the passenger quarters under the gravity simulating spin. As soon as the Earth had rotated out of sight I made my way back to my cabin. The simulated gravity nearly equaled that of the Earth and would gradually reduce to Lunar gravity by the end of the trip.

At one gee the autolav worked quite well and I managed to wash away some of the nervous sweat from my encounter with the lovely Ms. Jacobs.

At 13:42 I stood ready to go. Should I be early or fashionably late? It occurred to me that for all the wonderful education Mike had given me I knew next to nothing of matters dealing with women. The girls I'd run with in the Underground had been easy to talk to, but Ms. Valerie Jacobs belonged to a different class. I decided it best to be precisely on time and began to make my way to her cabin.

The ship appeared to be mostly deserted, which I credited to the lack of interest in space travel. Here and there a few rooms with the occupancy light on showed the maids which ones to clean.

As I approached her door I had a horrible urge to scream and run away. I think I will always believe that the most terrifying animal to the human male is the opposite sex of its own species.

I knocked and found all my fears confirmed. No answer. I hit the intercom button. "Ms. Jacobs?"

Her voice sang out of the speaker, "Tony, is that you? I'm in the 'lave. Come in and make yourself comfortable." Well, what else could I do? I entered, relieved to find that her cabin consisted of more than one room. The room I entered had carpet, several chairs--very comfortable--and a private terminal. On its screen a news article from a scientific journal discussed the possibilities of interstellar travel.

"Go ahead and get yourself something to drink," she called. "You're welcome to use the pad.

I glanced around and finally spotted a Hamilton Beach AutoMiniBar. My current state, practically drunk from being this close to her, needed no alcohol. I scrolled down the menu looking for something safe. A virgin cocktail sounded about my speed.

Thirty seconds later, heavily engrossed in the article on space travel, I had almost forgotten what lay behind that closed door. It slid aside to reveal the most flagrant display of female loveliness I had ever witnessed. Whatever she had done with makeup enhanced her beauty, but I could not tell where the enhancement had taken place. She wore a filmy gray wrap which gave the impression of nudity without actually betraying anything.

"So you're interested in space travel?" I blurted.

She seemed amused by my embarrassment but enough of a lady not to pursue it. "Yes, it is quite a hobby of mine."

"About that tour you wanted?"

"Business before pleasure? Where are your priorities? Let's start with the important things first. I want a drink mixed by human hands. Drinks need to have that slight imperfection, don't you think?"

I nodded agreement even though I had no real opinion on the matter. I knew I wasn't going to make it through this night unscathed, but would I enjoy the scathing?

CHAPTER SIX - Jack Fell Down

She motioned for me to get the door. I opened it for her and followed her out of the room that had quickly become comfortable compared to what lay ahead. I wondered if this was the way a condemned prisoner feels on his way to execution--fear, apprehension, ecstasy and relief. Though under nearly full gravity, I practically floated down the hall. In 48 hours I had gone from purgatory straight to heaven. As I escorted this beauty into the ballroom all eyes converged on us.

I whispered, "I think I'd like to keep a low profile."

"Oh, don't be stuffy. Tonight, I want to live and to hell with what everybody thinks."

I shrugged as she led the way to a table near the edge of the dance floor. The ballroom had been converted from a cargo hold, but there were no signs of it other than the funny feeling of deja vu that the hypno-disc caused. The ballroom compared to any groundside with one major difference, an improvement. The cargo hold had been placed halfway out from the axis. This gave it a relative gravity about half that of the outer deck. This allowed the patrons to perform feats of dexterity that they couldn't have performed on Earth with any amount of training.

In minutes we had bulbs of Glen Morangie Scotch, which I sucked on prudently as she squeezed hers dry.

"Shall we dance?"

"I'd rather talk."

"What about?"

"Uh..."

(At least earlier you were getting words out.)

--Shut up.

"Space travel?" I suggested.

"It's the one thing my ex-husband let me do alone. He was only in space once, on our honeymoon, and was never able to overcome the effects of weightlessness." A cloud flashed across her eyes.

"Your ex-husband?" I immediately regretted saying it, but I never know when to keep my mouth shut.

"Yes. It's a long story."

"Ms. Jacobs? Why is it I feel like I should know you?"

"Could you call me Valerie?" Her eyes flashed something I read as annoyance and apathetic acceptance. "That's a long story, too. Though it hasn't been as bad recently. I was the first person born on Mars."

"Oh, that Valerie Jacobs."

"Valerie Jean Hyde-Jones is my given name. My ex-husband, the honorable Mr. Murray Jacobs of parliament, married me for the publicity, although it took me several years to figure that out. Murray Marries Martian Maiden. I'm sure you saw the Tabs. It didn't happen like they said of course." She signaled the waiter for another pair of drinks. "I became quite a pragmatist; our marriage gave me many opportunities. It also gave me, after the initial interest faded, a better appreciation of anonymity."

The memories resurfaced. She'd been trotted out regularly, whenever the interest in space travel needed a boost.

"When Murray realized that he couldn't get me to espouse his thoughts on space exploration, he lost interest in me. If I'd been a good wife politically we'd still be married, but... Well, when someone else's affections interceded for his attention, I fought back by dating one of his campaign workers." She let slip an evil little grin. "Tit for tat, so to speak. Stupid, I know, but I snuck around behind his back till one of his aides told my little secret. I'm ashamed to say how much fun I had while it lasted. A little intrigue is good for the soul."

(I know what would be good for my soul--)

--Shut your trap, she's talking.

"He divorced me quietly, leaving me a small monthly sum and we parted ways. Unfortunately, my sweet suitor was also after a political connection, so when the ties unbound, he faded away."

What could I say? Condolences seemed inappropriate.

She said it for me. "I'm sorry." She shook off the hard line of her mouth and turned it to a smile. "Do you dance?"

"No."

"Good, when you finish your drink I'll teach you how."

Oh,no! I thought, but all that escaped from my mouth was,"Great." At least if I step on her feet in one half gee I shouldn't leave too many bruises.