Apprentice Lost in Parallel. Kevin Colbran

darn not Ultimo Technical College Mechanical concourse.

      Instead, an open corridor with an open fronted office facing the lift door; visible behind a desk was a window with grassy paddock dotted with buildings.

      Stepping out to explore, a woman looked up a few yards away, greeting me with, "Good afternoon Steve, here to see Senior? I will just buzz him to let him know.”

      Noting my confusion, she added, "Oh a newbie, Senior has fun explaining each time. Hi, I’m Anne Strothers."

      The door adjacent swung open and a man I now recognised as a 'self' in his fifties dressed in a smart work uniform of blue shirt and darker trousers. With a welcoming smile, he invited me into his office, this being a similar size to Anne’s with what I now recognised as computer stations against one wall with a bookshelf on the other wall. Arrayed in the middle were lounge chairs giving a homely appearance.

      He then asked, "Did Silvertoe send you through or just random buttons?"

      I replied, "Random I suppose, I have met Silvertoe but was diverted by another wearing a devil head; and then became lost when sent into the wrong lift."

      "That happens too often, have promised myself next time I will have to have words with Misto and sort him out, the problem arises because Silvo modelled his Androids on us.” Steve Senior explained.

      “Misto doesn't check first, therefore as long as you do as he says, without question, he thinks you are an Android ready for dispatch,” Senior elaborated, and then he asked, ”Did you have a hair net on?" I nodded, "You would have received the order directly then." I nodded again, so Senior continued.

      "Right, well since you here, you have cut out the middle man so to speak, Silvo would have sent you here as I am the plus thirty Mentor. This role means I give you some training before letting you loose on the gateways."

      "Sounds good, except that it has been a long day and I am just about tired out," I responded.

      Senior nodded then continued, "Since you have seen Silvertoe and now have a net. I presume that he set up your double to fill in for you?" noting my nod, "That makes life simpler, it would take some time to organise. Too much time and you would be a missing person quick as a wink."

      "Hell of a hullabaloo with Kev from world 435, he had the Tech College and the family in a real tizzy before it was sorted out. I think his parents grounded him for weeks and it was several months before he didn't have to check in every five minutes,” Senior added.

      “Couldn't tell the real story, so everyone thought he had lost the plot. Still doesn't take much for that to happen, as we already are deemed weird." Grinning at what must be a private joke.

      Seeing my raised eyebrow, He said, "Well when you get to my age if you can't laugh at yourself; you are just taking yourself too seriously. Though I don't suppose that I was overly fond of being the butt of the joke when I was your age either."

      "Now back to business, what time do you think it is?" Giving stomach time as near tea, "Well it is close enough to lunch to me," Touching a button, "Anne, stepping out for a bite, back in an hour."

      "Okay, Senior. Will hold your calls," Anne answered.

      Instead of going out into the foyer he opened an ordinary door inside the office, stepped through and invited me to follow while it should have opened into Anne’s it opened into a largish cupboard empty except for another door with a keyboard alongside. Closing the door behind me, entering a number on the keyboard and pressing his thumb on a flat square.

      Twisty-slide sensation opened the door and ushered me into a kitchen with a rural outlook.

      Senior commented, “Just one of the perks being the boss, Eh?”

      Opening a refrigerator, Senior said, "Now to make some sandwiches, ham and salad sound good?"

      After knocking back a couple of sandwiches, glancing at the clock, He announced, “I suppose we have enough time for a Cook's tour of this area."

      So we trooped outside and pointed at a bicycle, he mounted another, and then waved me to follow. Heading down a relatively smooth track which headed towards a grey beehive building, passing what looked like massive long-legged wombats browsing amongst shrubs.

      Following my gaze; He explained, "That’s an experiment turning Diprotodont into beef cattle; with drought tolerance and reproduction rates similar to the kangaroos, the production possibilities are quite good. With no local predator or diseases, they are multiplying quite well."

      "Diprotodont means two forward teeth which refer to a marsupial related to the wombat. These died out in our world between 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, when a change of weather together with the people who we identify as aboriginals who may have eaten the remainder. Kieth located these animals in the world where the people migration with their firestick activity didn't happen."

      Bringing the bike to a halt, he whistled and called, “Bill, here boy.”

      The larger Diprotodont ambled over, looking expectant as Senior dug into a bag on the bike, giving an apple to him.

      “They are somewhat smarter and less belligerent than cattle; Bill settled down very quickly and now is the family head of this group.

      They move around in family groups of a male, one to three females and their offspring below the age of about four years. Young bucks and does older than this drift off into their respective bachelor and spinster groups until they are ready to mate and form their families. Several families form a loose herd which roam in the general area.” Having finished delivering this lecture, we remounted and pedaled on.

      Carrying onto the base of the building, we parked the bikes in a rack and entered the building first walking down a tunnel and then using a lift to arrive at a high observation compartment. The doughnut-shaped room overlooked a spiral labyrinth filling the majority of the floor space. Interspersed around the room were several control stations monitored by people dressed much the same as Senior. These people waved as Senior came in and then returned to their screens.

      On several outer lanes, trucks and semi-trailers appeared out of what looked like curtains, rumbling forward for about 50 yards around the curve before disappearing through another. Cars came and went over shorter lengths.

      "What's that?" I enquired.

      "They are city bypasses; vehicles go through larger gateways which work on the same principle as the lift-ways. They form part of the technology that my company is introducing, more of which I will explain tomorrow when you are not jet lagged or does time out of whack, sound more informative."

      I had to agree that it felt very late, despite the sun still being overhead.

      He continued. "Well, we will settle you down for the night and pick up the pace over the next couple of days as you catch up with the clock."

      The pair had a slow ride back to the house, and I was shown around the facilities and assigned a bedroom. "You will find pyjamas and clothes for tomorrow in the drawers and cupboard; they will fit because this is where I accommodate other selves."

      Then Senior added, "I'm off back to work. If you wake up early, there's the bookshelf, help yourself." After seeing that I had settled, Senior departed through the gateway.

      I dragged myself to the bathroom; then hit the bed already asleep.

      It seemed no time at all before sunlight streamed through the front windows. Up and dressed, had just started on breakfast as Senior walked in.

      "Up I see, not by much, definitely slept the clock around, probably be some more time before you are in sync. I might as well have some brekkie," Senior chatted away as he loaded breakfast on a plate and then started to make it disappear.

      "Thought I would arrive early and start briefing you on the setup at the company.

      Now for me, it started just after I left the Army and bought an electronics repair shop. Then I received a letter from a trust fund, saying that they wanted to arrange an interview."

      The story