This Week's Story
Quantum Travel
The women with thin red hair piled on top of her head picked up the phone.
“Hello Quantum Travel, when you’re here you’re already there. This is Brenna may I help you?” She spoke quickly and her voice was nasal and high pitched.
The man on the line hesitated.
Brenna tapped her fingernail on the desk.
“Hello, sir, ma’am, may I help you?”
“Uh, yeah, I think so,” the man said.
“Okay, sir. Have you ever traveled in this manner before.”
“Uh no. I haven’t, does that make a difference?”
“No, I don’t think it should. But some people freak out their first time so we always have to ask. Now where do you want to go?”
The man hesitated again.
“Sir. Hello? Sir, where would you like to go sir?”
“Oh sorry. I thought, I mean, I guess I thought you would kind of help me with that.”
“Oh yes, well don’t worry, most people don’t know that they have a choice. Let’s see you can either choose a place and we will help you get there, or we can type your dna quantum-axis in on the computer and see where you turn up. Now most people prefer to find out where they already are and just meet themselves there. Some of the more adventurous ones try to choose a place. Either way you will have to come down and sign all the release forms and bring in your complete dna analysis and genome/mitochondrial history and a doctors note stating that you are in good health and strong enough for this type of travel. And, also sir, do you prefer corporeal or non-corporeal travel?”
The man coughed.
“I…uh… sorry, what?”
“Corporeal or non-corporeal?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Well, sir, in one form of travel you take your physical body with you and in the other your body is kept in one of our comfortable hotel rooms while just your consciousness travels.”
“Ah…What’s the price difference on that?”
“There isn’t a great difference. Non-corporeal requires that your body rests in one of our state-of-the-art hotel rooms. Corporeal travel carries slightly more risk and therefore we require the standard Interstitial Insurance Policy. We can provide that for you sir or you may choose your own provider if you wish. Do you have a preference?”
“Well no, I don’t think so.”
“We usually recoomend the non-corporeal travel for first time travelers. Although I’ve spoken with many seasoned travelers who prefer corporeal.”
“Maybe the first one then.”
“Excellent sir, I can begin the process for you right now. We’re having a two for one sale at the moment. Two can travel for the price of one. Of course we cannot and do not make any claim that you will arrive at the same place together, but if you have a friend or someone you know who wishes to try this…”
“Uh, no I don’t.”
“Okay so any questions?’
“Um, well, let’s see. So my body will be at the hotel and who will be taking care of it?”
“We have a state of the art facility here. We have 5 doctors on rotation and a full nurse’s staff round the clock. You will undergo a complete diagnostic prior to leaving and you have your choice of intravenous diets while you are gone. Some people have found this to be a very good way to lose weight. We have several different levels of accommodations. There is our suite, which is our basic level and comes with the base caloric intake. There are, let me look here… oh yes, 10 beds to a room on that level, and two full time nurses round the clock. The levels go up from there, suite, , basically allowing for less bodies per room and more leeway in terms of caloric intake and atmosphere control. Of course the rooms have to be kept rather cool but there is a small scope for variation on that point…Now at the top level there is the Presidential suite which is a private room with a window and a private round the clock nurse in an adjoining room. We only have one of those and let me see…ah yes that is booked until the 13th of September, but it will be free after that. Do you have our brochure which lists all this information?”
“Ah yeah. I’ve got it right here.” The man shuffled through the papers on the table in front of him.
“Okay, well, how about I book you for our suite, that would be level three. What are your dates?”
The man looked down at the glossy brochure on the table.
“Sir, how does August 15th sound...Sir?”
“Well, um, actually I was hoping you could tell me how it works?”
“How what works sir?”
“How the travel actually works.”
“Well I’m not really qualified to do that. We do have two full time physicists on staff that can give you a quick rundown as to the mechanics of the trip. I really can’t do that, since I’m just the receptionist. I could make an appointment for you to meet one of the physicists and you could ask them.”
“Yeah okay let’s do that.” He had er done anything like this before.
“Would you prefer morning or afternoon?”
“Oh mornings are fine.”
“I have next Thursday at 9.”
“y that will work for me.”
“Thank you sir, I have you down for a meeting with Dr. Williams at nine on Thursday the tenth. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Uh no I don’t think so.”
“Okay. Well, I thank you sir and Quantum travel thanks you and asks you to remember us whenever you h to exploit the mysteries of the universe.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
The line clicked. The phone rang again just as the receptionist took a sip of coffee. She shook her head, swallowed the coffee and smiled before she answered the phone.