On My Way to Paradise

On My Way to Paradise Read Free Page B

Book: On My Way to Paradise Read Free
Author: David Farland
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had to my money. I talked him down to a
reasonable fee, and then he granted access to the information. I
studied long into the night.
     
    In the morning Tamara gave the computer crystal back
to me, and I refilled the hormone pump on her arm, told her to eat
and drink as much as she could, and left "Doctor" Flaco to watch
her.
    I took her dirty bandage to Uppanishadi-Smith for a
blood analysis. Tamara’s blood had very low levels of leukocytes
and other antibodies, and this seemed very strange. With such a
severe injury, her antibody levels should have rocketed. However,
people raised in artificial atmospheres often have unresponsive
immune systems, so I did not worry so much. But with the high
humidity in Panamá and the resultant risk of infections, I thought
it necessary to buy a wide-spectrum antibody treatment. Then I went
back to my booth at the feria. The day was slow: I sold two lipid
and cholesterol flushes to old people and had one soccer player who
wanted to get his nerves myelinated so he could speed his reflexes.
His was an unworkable plan, and I told him how much better a nerve
bypass was, since silver wire conducts electrical impulses much
faster than a myelinated nerve, and recommended the doctor who had
bypassed my sympathetic and peripheral nervous systems for me. The
day was cool, so I walked home before sundown.
    When I got home a gray kitten with white feet was on
the roof and Flaco and Tamara were in the front yard throwing a red
plastic ball up to the kitten. It would hide on the other side of
the roof, and when Flaco threw the ball up it would clatter on the
roof’s red tiles, and the kitten would hear it and run over the
top, swiping and biting at the ball and chasing it till it rolled
off the roof. Then the kitten would hiss and raise the hairs on its
back as if surprised to see Flaco and Tamara, and would run back
over the rooftop to hide. Tamara enjoyed this as much as the kitten
did. She giggled when the kitten attacked the ball and acted very
excited, often putting her hand over her mouth. I suddenly desired
to kiss her; the thought of taking her in my arms and kissing her
seemed totally natural. I would have done it, yet I knew that it
was inappropriate. After thinking about it, I had a strange
realization: the beauty I had seen in Tamara when she showed terror
was in her when she laughed. The way emotions played over her face
gave her an unusually expressive quality that made her different
from the dead-eyed, emotionless refugiadas and merchant women I
often met. Flaco must have seen it too, for when he spoke with her
his voice took on a mellow, respectful tone.
    I watched Tamara for some time, looking for any signs
of the cramping the hormone injections can cause. She wobbled a
great deal and clung to Flaco for support, but it was good for her
to get the exercise. I remembered the antibody packet I’d bought,
so I had her sit on the front porch while I injected the antibodies
into her catheter.
    "I have been thinking," I said when I was done, "that
I would like to sell that crystal. Would you happen to have a
receipt for it?"
    Tamara looked up at me in surprise, and then burst
out laughing until tears formed in her eyes. Flaco started laughing
too. I felt very foolish for asking about a receipt, but now I knew
for sure she was a thief. Tamara struggled up and went into the
house to rest.
    I sat on the porch next to Flaco. He wrapped his arm
around me. "Ah, Angelo, I like you. Promise me you’ll never
change."
    I sighed, and wondered what to do. It would be wrong
to sell stolen property, no matter how much I would make from it.
Once again I wished that I had not taken Tamara into my care, and I
wondered if I should send her to the hospital, let the police
arrest her if she was a criminal. "How is she doing?" I asked.
    "She slept much in the morning," Flaco said, "and I
made sure she ate a good lunch. After that she spent much time in
your bedroom, hooked up to your dream console. She

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