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Stories from the Verse
Multiverser: The Thirteenth Story
Chapter 19: Beam 202
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Brown 370
“I challenge you to a duel to the death. If you lose, you must leave, and take that--that--” His eyes darted sideways toward Bob, but did not rest on Bob. And despite his high temper, his eyes did not lock on Beam’s eyes, but more on his hair on his scalp. “--abomination with you. It cannot exist.”
Beam eyed his challenger carefully, and decided that despite the hilarity of the situation the man was completely serious.
“It’s alright, everyone. Stand down. I’ve got this. I’ve been honorably challenged to a duel by an honorable man, and we should treat him honorably.” Scanning the man’s desk he for the first time noticed a nameplate. It said William Shatner. Well, I suppose either this man was named for a famous actor from the past, or it was just a coincidence, he thought. Anyway, it was a place to start.
“Bill,” he said, “--can I call you Bill?” Continuing without awaiting a response, he handed his rifle to Bob and set his duffel on the floor, then casually drew his claymore.
“What’s that?” Bill asked.
“Where I come from, this is a sword. It’s not a very dangerous sword--it’s not sharp, really. Anyway, Bill, before I accept your challenge, you’ve said that if I lose I’ll leave and take my friend Bob with me. I think that’s terribly prejudicial of you, judging the poor man by his apparent deformities, but then not everyone can be as open and accepting of others as we are. My question, though, is, what if I win?”
“You won’t win.”
Beam smiled. “Well, maybe you’re right. But it would be awkward if you were mistaken, if I did win, and we hadn’t agreed about what you have to do in that case.”
This seemed to confuse Bill, but he managed to stammer out, “Wha--what d-do you wa-want?”
He glanced at his companions, and then back to Bill. “We’d like to be shown the way out of here?”
“But you just came in here; go back the way you came.”
“No, we want to know how to get outside.”
“You mean D-41.”
“No, I mean outside. Blue skies by day, stars by night. Out. Side.”
Beam thought it would definitely relieve his frustrations to give this man a good thrashing. Autistic or not, he was definitely becoming annoying. But the look of horror on Bill’s face--he apparently was good at this. Call central casting.
“No!” Bill nearly shouted. “No one goes outside! It is not allowed!”
“Ah, but you know how to get there, yes?” Bill reluctantly nodded. “Then in what you think is the very unlikely event that I win our duel to the death, as you call it, although I’m thinking you haven’t considered what those words really mean, you will lead us outside. Agreed?”
The autistic man hesitated, then nodded his head somewhat more enthusiastically than Beam thought normal, but it definitely indicated agreement.
“Now, how shall we start this? Shall I come around to your side of the counter, or will you come to mine, or do you want to start with the counter between us?
As to the old stories that have long been here:
