Spaceland by Rudy Rucker Read Free Book Online Page A

suggested.
    â€œI can’t,” said Jena. “Not with your stupid fish-tank thing attached to the cable.”

    The 3Set. Momo had said that’s what had gotten her attention in the first place. “I’ll unhook it,” I said. “I’ll take it back to Ken com.”
    â€œOh great. And leave me alone on New Year’s Day?” Jena sighed and rubbed her temples.
    â€œYou can come, too,” I suggested. “We’ll drop off the 3Set and get brunch somewhere. There’s a good sports bar near Kencom. We could watch the Rose Bowl.”
    â€œI’m hungry right now,” said Jena. “Starving for food and for love.”
    â€œAw, Jena.” I hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. She felt warm and soft in my arms. “I’m not myself today. Something weird happened last night.”
    â€œAre you mad because I puked?” A penetrating look from her narrow, hazel eyes.
    â€œThat’s not it at all. The bar was fine. We had a good time. But last night, after you fell asleep I saw this, this—”
    â€œPorno site on the Web?” She shoved me away and glared at me, her eyes squeezing down to slits. “Are you doing that again? Is that why you’re giving me the cold shoulder? Just you and your little mousie and no real women needed?”
    â€œJesus, Jena, are you out of your mind? I saw an alien last night. That’s what happened. Momo from the fourth dimension. She augmented me and now I can see through walls. I have a third eye.”
    Jena regarded me for a minute, then shook her head. Input rejected. “What were you doing outside last night, anyway? Was it raining?”
    â€œMomo took me there. She carried me through the wall.”
    â€œDid she give you sex?” said Jena, beginning to be amused. She got a wallop out of science fiction. “That’s what aliens usually do. Gathering the seed of Planet Earth.”
    â€œShe augmented me,” I said. “Not up and down but some other
way. She made me grow a new eye on a stalk into the fourth dimension. And now I can see past walls. I have subtle vision.”
    â€œDid you watch me in the shower?” Jena cheeks were shading back up to their normal shade of pink.
    â€œYes. A little. And then I started looking at the cars on 85.”
    â€œTypical. I don’t know why I married you. Looking at cars. You should have been watching what I did at the end of my shower.” Jena walked past me to the kitchen counter and got some coffee.
    â€œYou think I’m kidding, but subtle vision is real,” I said, getting a coffee too. “I need your help with this, Jena.” I glanced over at the fridge. “I can see inside the freezer,” I told her. “There’s a pack of Lender’s raisin bagels right beside the door.”
    â€œWhoo-hoo,” said Jena. “I subtly see a can of orange juice in there, too. You want some?”
    â€œSure. Wait a minute while I think about how to convince you.”
    Jena opened the freezer, got out the juice, handed me the bagels. “Toast me one,” she said. “You think Spazz will be at Kencom?”
    â€œProbably. He’s there all the time.” I glanced over at Jena’s purse on the counter. A full image of it formed inside my mind. It was more like knowing than it was like seeing. Knowing exactly where everything was. “There’s two quarters and a penny inside your wallet’s change purse.”
    â€œI wonder if the ATMs will be working today,” said Jena, scooping the frozen juice into a pitcher.
    â€œLook in your wallet, Jena. See that I’m right.”
    â€œHow do I know you didn’t already look at it?” said Jena, turning playful. “Let’s try something harder.” She added water to the pitcher, mixed up the juice, drank off a glass of it, wiped her hands on a dishtowel. She walked over to the other end of the counter.