Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick by Philip K. Dick Read Free Book Online Page A

here,” Jennings said grimly. “Where can we go?”
    Kelly hesitated. “We can go up to my apartment. No one's there.”
    They went up in the elevator. Kelly unlocked the door, pressing the code key against it. The door swung open and they went inside, the heater and lights coming on automatically at her step. She closed the door and took off her coat.
    “I won't stay long,” Jennings said.
    “That's all right. I'll fix you a drink.” She went into the kitchen. Jennings sat down on the couch, looking around at the neat little apartment. Presently the girl came back. She sat down beside him and Jennings took his drink. Scotch and water, cold.
    “Thanks.”
    Kelly smiled. “Not at all.” The two of them sat silently for a time. “Well?” she said at last. “What's this all about? Why are the Police looking for you?”
    “They want to find out about Rethrick Construction. I'm only a pawn in this. They think I know something because I worked two years at Rethrick's Plant.”
    “But you don't!”
    “I can't prove that.”
    Kelly reached out, touching Jennings's head, just above the ear. “Feel there. That spot.”
    Jennings reached up. Above his ear, under the hair, was a tiny hard spot. “What is it?”
    “They burned through the skull there. Cut a tiny wedge from the brain. All your memories of the two years. They located them and burned them out. The SP couldn't possibly make you remember. It's gone. You don't have it.”
    “By the time they realize that there won't be much left of me.”
    Kelly said nothing.
    “You can see the spot I'm in. It would be better for me if I did remember. Then I could tell them and they'd—”
    “And destroy Rethrick!”
    Jennings shrugged. “Why not? Rethrick means nothing to me. I don't even know what they're doing. And why are the Police so interested? From the very start, all the secrecy, cleaning my mind—”
    “There's reason. Good reason.”
    “Do you know why?”
    “No.” Kelly shook her head. “But I'm sure there's a reason. If the SP are interested, there's reason.” She set down her drink, turning toward him. “I hate the Police. We all do, every one of us. They're after us all the time. I don't know anything about Rethrick. If I did my life wouldn't be safe. There's not much standing between Rethrick and them. A few laws, a handful of laws. Nothing more.”
    “I have the feeling Rethrick is a great deal more than just another construction company the SP wants to control.”
    “I suppose it is. I really don't know. I'm just a receptionist. I've never been to the Plant. I don't even know where it is.”
    “But you wouldn't want anything to happen to it.”
    “Of course not! They're fighting the Police. Anyone that's fighting the Police is on our side.”
    “Really? I've heard that kind of logic before. Anyone fighting communism was automatically good, a few decades ago. Well, time will tell. As far as I'm concerned I'm an individual caught between two ruthless forces. Government and business. The Government has men and wealth. Rethrick Construction has its technocracy. What they've done with it, I don't know. I did, a few weeks ago. All I have now is a faint glimmer, a few references. A theory.”
    Kelly glanced at him. “A theory?”
    “And my pocketful of trinkets. Seven. Three or four now. I've used some. They're the basis of my theory. If Rethrick is doing what I think it's doing, I can understand the SP's interest. As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to share their interest.”
    “What is Rethrick doing?”
    “It's developed a time scoop.”
    “What?”
    “A time scoop. It's been theoretically possible for several years. But it's illegal to experiment with time scoops and mirrors. It's a felony, and if you're caught, all your equipment and data becomes the property of the Government.” Jennings smiled crookedly. “No wonder the Government's interested. If they can catch Rethrick with the goods—”
    “A time scoop. It's hard to