ref: ab0d37120321cc50a82ae3a3467904c55eadaaaa
dir: /troff/0102.ms/
.LP .ce .ps 16 .CW FLAT EYES .R .ps 10 .br .ce .ps 10 .B 1 .P .PP .ps 10 .DC 4 March 1942 .PP .ps 10 Reduce visor contrast and the room fades back into view. What was the old woman saying? Distraction from subliterature. .PP .ps 10 "Take that stupid thing off," she says, sounding annoyed. .PP .ps 10 Can't understand the objection. My face looks fine. .PP .ps 10 "Hey, it's the '40s, babe." Kick at a loose piece of carpet. .PP .ps 10 "Help me with these boxes," she says. .PP .ps 10 "I have homework, due tomorrow. Then, sleep." .PP .ps 10 Not impressed. .PP .ps 10 "So, start reading." .ce .ps 10 .B 2 .P .PP .ps 10 Deep in the Basement, my stomach hurts. .PP .ps 10 Old woman doesn't understand me. Hasn't, really, since I came down here. Doesn't have eyes to see. .PP .ps 10 Offered my visor, but she's made it clear she isn't interested. .PP .ps 10 Humidity in the Basement is a problem. Worried about the electronics. Somehow, her equipment keeps functioning. .PP .ps 10 Old woman has taken on several children. At least, we don't believe they are hers. Always underfoot. Hard to keep them from snooping around in my belongings. .PP .ps 10 Lean back in my chair and examine the latest paperwork. .ce .ps 10 .B 3 .P .PP .ps 10 "Claims desk." .PP .ps 10 Answer the phone in the usual manner. Script hovers insistently several subjective feet in front of my face. By now its contents have been committed to memory. Strictly speaking, the script is no longer necessary. .PP .ps 10 Old woman insists upon coaching me. Sharpening my diction, teaching me to handle the problem customers. "Your voice," she says, "You sound like a girl." What's that supposed to mean? .PP .ps 10 "BRIGHT!" Shouting into the phone. Next new customer. .PP .ps 10 "What? Who are you? You sound like a girl." .PP .ps 10 .I "Et tu, .R everyone?" Under my breath, but maybe louder than I think. .PP .ps 10 Customer hangs up. .ce .ps 10 .B 4 .P .PP .ps 10 After my shift I try some writing. Old woman will want to follow my progress. I stick to the basics: date, time, location, role call of the principals\(ema tally of events. .PP .ps 10 Her reaction is predictably flat. .PP .ps 10 Well, we already knew what she would say. Back to the training software. .PP .ps 10 Note the response. .PP .ps 10 A year of this and there'll be enough to conclude my report. .ce .ps 10 .B 5 .P .PP .ps 10 No reason to return to the apartment upstairs. Furniture was never delivered. Besides, everything I own fits into my shoulder bag. .PP .ps 10 Closet floor has nearly healed over. .PP .ps 10 Old woman doesn't like me talking about home. .PP .ps 10 Sit down on my bed and page through the day's results. Callers from around the world, all former residents of the Basement. Why they have the number. .PP .ps 10 More names than I had expected. .PP .ps 10 Several, I recognize. .ce .ps 10 .B 6 .P .PP .ps 10 "Get out, flat eyes." She stands below the ceiling and points, gesturing upwards at the cheap, gypsum tiles. "You're not wanted here." .PP .ps 10 Drop my leaf into my bag and carefully make my bed. Glare in her direction. .PP .ps 10 Old woman crosses my name off of her list. .PP .ps 10 Not good. Hasn't been enough time to gather the information we need. What I came for. .PP .ps 10 Being asked to leave, anyway. .PP .ps 10 Shrug and climb into the ceiling.