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k to the door, and I opened it.
He was standing there, just as I'd known he would be,
smiling that charming smile under his old and hungry eyes.
And I said, "Come in."
END
Copyright J. Woodcock 1991
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The holosuite program was not what it was before. There was no
jasmine, no rolling hills or soft breezes, only black sky studded
with stars, and presenting a huge and awe-inspiring ringed planet to
the observer. It was in crescent phase, its rings edge-on, like a
tightly drawn iridescent bow with an arrow of silver. Julian looked
down at his feet; the rock under them was also iridescent, and each
thing, himself included, cast two complementary shadows, one from the
distant cold sun and one from the shining jewel overhead, far
brighter than the star that illuminated it.
Ten feet before him was another bubbling hot pool, a must, he
realized when he again awoke stiff and sore, after any less
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