Xone Of Contention Read Online Free Page A

with pictures was gone.
    He exited the Mesh, and then the GigaGrid. He had some talking to do, to several people.
    First, Pia. She was every bit as understanding as usual. “Have you been doing drugs?”
    “No,” he said patiently. “This is a Mesh interface. And maybe a chance for us to get into Xanth for a visit. The way Dug and Kim do.”
    “Just because they're crazy enough to believe in fantasy is no reason we have to,” she retorted. “How could you fall for such a line of crap?”
    “Pia, please. I thought it would be good for our relationship. To have a break. A vacation in a magic land. Maybe we could mend fences, or something.”
    “As if you even care!” she said witheringly.
    “I do care. I—I'm sorry that things are going wrong.”
    “Maybe they're going right. Did you ever think of that?”
    “Going right?” he asked blankly.
    “Maybe it was a mistake, us getting married. Maybe now we're finally catching on. Maybe we're getting ready to set things right.”
    “I don't understand.” But he feared he did.
    She softened. “Ed, some marriages aren't meant to be. I think we should consider divorce.”
    He was stunned. She had said the D word. He had thought she was going to recommend counseling. “I—I don't want that.”
    “But maybe it's best. To recognize the situation, and take appropriate action. There should be less pain that way.”
    She was serious. She must have considered this pretty carefully, and that knocked his world for a loop. But what could he do?
    He decided to go for double or nothing. “How about this: let's make a deal. You give this fantasy visit an honest try. and if it doesn't work, then I'll—I'll not oppose a divorce. If that's what you want.”
    She eyed him appraisingly. “You won't fight it?”
    “I won't fight it Though I don't want it. I'd rather make love than war, anytime. But I'll go along with it. If that's the way you feel.”
    She nodded. “Deal.” She extended her hand.
    “Deal,” he agreed, shaking her hand.
    Edsel called Dug immediately. Dug and Kim lived within a mile, and the two couples often visited each other socially as well as for business reasons.
    Kim answered the phone. “Yes?” she inquired politely. She had a nice voice.
    “Edsel. We—could we come over? Now? There's something we need to discuss.”
    “Of course. I'll tell Dug.” Her tone indicated that she realized that this was not routine.
    Edsel wheeled out the Lemon, and Pia climbed on behind him, putting her arms around his waist. He had always liked riding with her. feeling her thighs against his hips, her bosom against his back. Her body wasn't quite as good as it had been, but still appealed to him. He wondered how he had changed to turn her off, or whether she just had a short romantic attention span.
    He started the machine, and the engine came alive It skipped a little, then settled down. He still hadn't fixed the problem, but it was marginal rather than serious, so far. He guided the Lemon out into traffic. Two things he loved: the motorcycle and his wife. Now the one was weakening, and so was the other. But the game wasn't over; maybe he could save both.
    “You should have dumped this junk long ago.” Pia muttered. “For a decent car.”
    “But I thought you liked my bike.” he protested.
    “Times change.”
    Painful truth. Her feeling had changed, for the motorcycle and for the man. If only he knew why!
    Actually, he feared he did know why: because Pia was as shallow as she was lovely, perhaps incapable of a meaningful long-term relationship. She had always used her looks to get by, and never developed a serious unselfish commitment to anything. Yet he remained smitten. What he truly wanted was perhaps not even theoretically achievable: the looks of Pia as she had been at age sixteen, and the character of Kim. Or at least Pia's present appearance, and an uplifting long term goal. Something she truly believed in that didn't directly benefit herself.
    They pulled