Metafire

Over dinner, Erisa told Jack about the FBI center that was looking for software types.

He thought about it and said, "You know, I've got a friend in the FBI in Houston."

"Call him." Erisa, in her pleasant manner, ordered.

"OK, I will." He felt like living again.

After dinner they finished the bottle of wine in each other's arms. Holding and thinking.

"Imagine." Jack caught her attention.

"Imagine what?"

"Imagine if we left the planet."

"You know, my boyfriend Pete, that died in Boston, that was the last thing we talked about. I remember. It was about how to get people off the planet. It was always my motto to get off the planet as fast as possible. Now we are doing it. And I didn't even notice. And it happened just like Pete said. Worry and survival drove it, because it was a way to survive. Competition with the Russians is keeping it going."