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ifteen minutes to spare。
Someone tugged on his pant leg and then whispered into his shoes。 It was Shirley。
〃Aren't you going to check the cave？〃
Kyle waited long enough for Shirley to think he had not heard her； then he crawled forward and slowly bent into the opening。 He lowered his head until his eyes cleared the edge。 Everything was upside down。 He jerked his head back up and mentally inverted the scene。 All the people were where they were supposed to be。
With one minute to go he inched over the opening and。 arched over the hole with his hands on one side and his legs on the other。 All he had to do now was drop his legs into the cave； hang briefly by his hands； and then drop noiselessly into the cave。
The lights went out on schedule and Kyle dropped。 As he swung down into the darkness the rock in his hands crumbled。 His swinging legs continued upward as he fell； bringing his head and shoulders down。 He hit the cave floor with a loud thump。 Pieces of crumbled rocks avalanched down on him。 A large chunk smacked him in the face； bloodying the bridge of his nose。
The hostages were screaming and crying and the gunman was yelling for everyone to 〃stay put〃 and 〃keep quiet。〃 Kyle rolled to his knees and started to get up and then he realized he'd lost all sense of direction。 One way was the back of the cave wall。 Two directions led to safety and one to the gunman。 Each second he hesitated seemed like an eternity； the flashlights would be on soon。 He flinched when a thump sounded next to him and a hand touched his side； moving up until it gripped his arm。 He was pulled up and directed forward into the inky blackness。
Suddenly a light filled the room； and he felt himself being tripped and pushed to the ground。 Someone landed on top of him。 More tiny spotlights filled the cavern。 The gunman yelled until quiet was restored； and as he was yelling Kyle lifted his head and looked carefully around。 He was on his stomach behind the stalagmites。 He twisted his head around and could barely make out Shirley's face inches from his。 In disbelief she shook her head and started dabbing off the blood from the bridge of his nose。 Kyle felt like an idiot and began wishing he was back on a country road aiming his radar gun at girls on horses。 Shirley finished with his nose and then kissed it。 Kyle hoped it was too dark for Shirley to see his face turning red。
TIME QUILT
9。 MARIEL WEATHERBY
One novel feature of spacetime predicted by Einstein's equations is called a wormhole。 These holes in spacetime connect one region of space with another distant region； and one time with another distant time。 To travel through one would be to travel through time。 One wonders in the vast universe； if there might be other spacetime phenomena that would permit such travel。
…Robert Yee； The Einstein Revolution
Somewhere over the Atlantic the laws of time and space were suddenly rewritten； and the resulting effect began to spread east and west。 Land suddenly appeared in the ocean…not dropped； but layed down gently on a watery foundation that could not support it； and soon； like ancient Atlantis； those lands were lost beneath the waves。 In the skies flocks of seagulls in flight disappeared； as did the military and civilian aircraft in the affected regions。 Tourist； pilot； exchange student； airman； and junketing congressman were all treated equally and ruthlessly。 The air itself was instantly changed； the replacing air either noiselessly filling the void； or； if air pressure differences were too great； violently expanding。 Titanic booms were as mon as soft whooshing。
As the effect reached the East Coast it continued on land。 Streets； cars； homes； office buildings t and fast…food restaurants were replaced with forest； grassland； ice； lakes； and ocean。 With the artifacts of mankind went the people who constructed and inhabited them。 Men； women； children； rich and poor； teacher and student； Muslim； Christian； Jew； and atheist； all whisked away together。
The effect was systematic； but not thorough。 As the effect washed across the planet's surface； it rippledt leaving some regions untouched。 People； awakened by thunderous booms； looked to see neighborhoods sundered； their houses intact； the other side of the street impossibly changed。 Inhabitants of other large regions slept through the night； untouched； unknowning； only to wake to confusion。
New York City
TIME QUILT： SATURDAY； 8：35 P。M。 EST
Mariel rocked by her open window； her hands crocheting while her mind listened to the sounds of the autumn evening。 She didn't get to hear the sounds very often anymore。 Summer used to be the best time； but now everyone had air conditioners； and if Mariel opened her window she heard only the hum of electric motors。 When she first came to live in her apartment all the neighbors would open their windows in the summer； and Mariel would sit and listen to families arguing； or the sound of radios or hi…fis。 There were the sounds of people talking too； and sometimes Mariel could make out a sentence or two and follow the arguments。 She never joined in； of course…that would be invading her neighbors' privacy； but she couldn't stop herself from forming opinions。 Behind it all was the backdrop of the sounds of New York City； traffic； honking horns； and occasional police sirens。
Mariel could hear the Ibarras having an argument two floors above her。 Some of the argument was in Spanish； so she couldn't follow it well。 But the rhythm was familiar to her； she had listened to so many arguments in her chair by the window。 She didn't have to understand the words to know the argument was about one of three things： money； family； or the kids。 Those were the topics when she moved in back in 1955； and it had been those three topics ever since。
Mariel could also hear the sound of a stereo from the MacGregor's apartment below her。 From the sound of rap； she knew their son was playing it。 It also meant his parents weren't home yet； because they always made him wear earphones when he played rap。 Mariel also knew he would be on the phone to his girlfriend at the same time。 Sometimes he talked and laughed loud enough for Mariel to hear； and it would embarrass her。 She was often embarrassed by the way boys talked to girls today。 But still she always listened。 It was better than the madeup stuff on the afternoon talk shows。
The air was cool； but Mariel didn't want to close the window。 So instead she went to the kitchen and put the teakettle on and then got a blanket for her lap。 Mariel returned to her chair； picked up her crocheting； and listened to the argument again。
It was winding down now。 The Ibarras never stayed mad at each other for long； not like the Venuccis； who used to live next to her。 How many years ago？ Twenty at least； she decided。 Now； the Venuccis knew how to have a fight。 They yelled。and screamed at each other； sometimes for hours。 Sometimes Mrs。 Venucci would throw things and Mariel could hear glass shattering or things banging。 When they first moved in Mariel had feared they would hurt each other； but when she saw them in the hallway the next day they never had cuts or bruises。 One day Mariel stopped Mrs。 Venucci and told her she worried about her。 Mrs。 Venucci smiled and assured Mariel she was not in any danger。 〃Sure；〃 she had said； 〃we fight hard； but we make up harder。〃 Mariel knew that was true。 The Venuccis raised seven children in that apartment。 The Ibarras must be the same way； Mariel believed。 They had five kids。
The teakettle called to her from the kitchen。 Then with her cup and saucer she returned to the window。 The Ibarras had moved on to making up； and there were no voices now。 A few minutes later the rap music suddenly died； and Mariel listened to Cathy McGregor scolding her son and telling him to do his homework。 Then Mariel was left alone with the sounds of the city。
She looked down into the courtyard below。 It used to be filled with little garden plots； some with flowers； some with vegetables。 It was mostly paved now； and ugly garbage Dumpsters sat here and there。 The only garden left was Mariel's。 She only grew flowers now。 She used to grow vegetables till people began stealing them。 She wouldn'