Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction May 1954. Extensiveresearch did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication wasrenewed.
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Julie
By RICHARD WILSON
Illustrated by VIDMER
The side-shuffle is no dance step. It's the choice between making time... and doing time!
ou can't go shooting offto that dimension for peanuts.I don't want to giveyou the impression that peanutsare in short supply here, or thatour economy is in the fix of havingto import them sidewise.What I'm trying to convey isthat, if you're one of the rareones functionally equipped to dothe side-shuffle, you ought to bewell paid for it—in any coin.
That's what I told Krasnow.And he wasn't after peanuts."I'll do it," I said, "if you'll makeit worth my while."
"I'd hardly expect you to doit for nothing," he replied reproachfully."How much do youwant?"
I told him. The amount shookhim up, but only briefly.
"Okay," he said grudgingly. "Isuppose I'll have to give it to you.But the stuff had better be good."
"Oh, it is," I assured him."And you don't have to be afraid,because I couldn't possibly skipwith the loot. I'll have to travelnaked. I can't get there with somuch as a sandal on one foot or afilling in a single tooth. Fortunately,my teeth are perfect."
Sweat poured off Krasnow'sflorid face as he worked the combinationof his office safe. His fatjowls quivered unhappily aroundhis cigar while he counted out thebills. Ten per cent was cash in advance,and the rest went into abank account in my name. I paidoff a batch of bills, then strippedand did my off-to-Buffalo.
onest" John Krasnow wasa crooked District Attorneywho wanted to be Governor andthen President. He had the Machine,but he didn't have thePeople. And, because he neededthe People, he needed me. I hadbeen to this other dimension—theone on the farthest branch of thetime-tree—and I could give himwhat he wanted.
Krasnow found out about itafter I was hauled up in frontof him on a check-kiting charge.I'd had something of a reputationbefore I got into difficultiesand, in trying to live up to thereputation, I had done some plainand fancy financing. Nothing thatfifteen to twenty grand wouldn'thave fixed—but while I scroungedaround, trying to get cash, Ikited a few checks. They pyramidedme right into the D.A.'soffice, where Krasnow was properlysympathetic.
"How," he asked, "could a manof your standing in the scientificworld stoop so low?" It developedinto quite a lecture and, evencoming from Krasnow, it mademe feel pretty low.
So I began explaining. I toldhim where I was born, and whereI went to school, and where Ihad taken my sabbaticals—includingthis other dimension.And Krasnow believed me. Ican't account for it, except possiblybecause he knew he was acrook and knew I wasn't one—exactly.Anyway, he believed me,and we made the deal and I didthe side-shuffle, as agreed.
The journey to that other dimensio