Mindbridge by Joe Haldeman Read Free Book Online Page B

infarction or massive cerebrovascular incident. Autopsy, however, denies the possibility of either.
    28 August 2051
    Contents:
    Autopsy report
    Appendix I: Subject’s medical history
    Appendix II: Raw laboratory data
    Appendix III: Bioengineering Section report
    Appendix IV: Pre-translation physical & interview
    Appendix V: Autopsy visuals
    Appendix VI: Specialist’s report: cerebrovascular
    Appendix VII: Specialist’s report: cardiac
    Appendix VIII: Preliminary report: The Groombridge “Bridge”
     
    Copies of original data crystals available on request.
     
17 - Schedule
     
    EXPERIMENT SCHEDULE: Groombridge “Bridge.”
    Hours          Team               Purpose            Equipment
    25 Aug
    03:05          (translation)      -
    03:05-10:00    Senior Survey      General investing.ad lib
    10:00-17:00    Bio Group,         Meta/catabolic     Mod. Stokes
                Willard            meas.             chamber
    17:00-24:00    Bio Group,         Reaction toad lib
                  Jameson            stimuli
    26 Aug  
    00:00-14:00    Math Comm,         ESP (stat)         Rhine deck
                  Chandler
    14:00-15:00    PR Group           Public relations   ad lib
    15:00-22:00    Bio Group,         Exp. w/modified
                  Van der            terrestrialbreathers,
                  Wallsanimals      animals           ad lib
    22:00-24:00    Lefavre,           Personal           cot
                  Wachal             (ESP, psych)
    27 Aug   00:00-14:00Math         ESP (stat)         Rhine deck
                  Comm, Fong
    14:00-17:00    Riley et al        Press Conference   -
    17:00-24:00    Bio Group,         Change in          Mod. Stokes
                  Willard            metabolic          chamber
                  rate wrt stress
                  increment
    EXPERIMENTS 28 AUG-31 AUG TO BE DETERMINED BY RESULTS OF THE PRECEDING WORK.
    1 Sept   19:00-20:49Bio Group,   Dissection   Surg instr.,
                  Willard      cameras
    20:49    -      (translation: “slingshot”)
     
     

18 – CHAPTER SIX: PRELUDE
     
    A preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance . . . an independent piece of moderate length, sometimes used as an introduction to a fugue...
    SETTING: The finest restaurant in Colorado Springs, Saturday evening, 26 August 2051. JACQUE LEFAVRE has invited CAROL WACHAL to dinner. Candlelight, heavy velvet, music by a neoElizabethan octet. The waiter has taken the dishes away; JACQUE orders from the wine steward a bottle of Château d’Yquem 2039.
    CAROL
    Teasing:
    Am I really worth that much?
    JACQUE
    A little defensive:
    It’s an occasion.
    CAROL
    Won’t be much of an occasion if we drink too much. Alcohol is a depressant.
    JACQUE
    Good wine never hurt that. . . facility.
    CAROL
    Are you always so formal?
    JACQUE
    Me? I’m not so-
    CAROL
    Yes you are. You’ve been treating me like a cousin you haven’t seen in a long time. Not like-
    JACQUE
    Well, hell. Maybe I’m a little nervous. It’s not your usual first date.
    CAROL
    That’s true. Loosen up, though. It’s not as if we’ll be on a stage in front of-
    JACQUE
    Yeah.
    I’m glad you stepped in when old Chandler wanted us to-
    CAROL
    Shrugs.
    There are limits.
    JACQUE
    I suspect you weren’t quite as outraged as you acted, though.
    CAROL
    Don’t pry, now. You’ll have your chance later.
    JACQUE
    Laughs.
    I suppose. Here comes our man.
    The wine steward serves the bottle with appropriate ceremony. They toast and drink.
    CAROL Good.   Are you used to this kind of living?
    JACQUE
    Was once. Not since I was a