Striking Back

By Aaron Pery

The parallel world travelers return to their country and timeline where they live on their own rather than surrounded by royal retainers. They go to Las Vegas, where they amass a huge fortune playing poker which they use to build a financial empire. Their hectic though satisfying world is shattered by terrorist attacks on the US and are asked by the President for help rid the country of its enemy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaron Pery
• Release date: Jul 21, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452387529

Aaron Pery

As most authors might claim, I was always been a natural storyteller and voracious book reader. Somehow, I also knew that some day I would sit down and write a book, which I did quite recently.When I finally sat in front of my computer monitor to do just that, the words literally came pouring out. Before very long, I had written many books in various genres.At first, my prolific writing was mainly for the pleasure and self-entertainment involved, until I discocered Smashwords and ebooks, and here I am, a published author with a long list of books to my credit. And many more to come.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Marty woke up with a start, then relaxed somewhat when she realized who she was and how she had ended up being where she was, though not where she was physically. She was startled by a chuckle and the voice that followed it, which sounded almost masculine but was not since it left no doubt that its owner was a female.

Kind of confusing, ain't it, waking up in this kind of place and being greeted by me instead of your beloved Nick?

She pulled up against the headboard and looked around. The room they were in was small and dingy, part of an efficiency apartment that contained everything except a bathroom in one space. And the speaker was truly a surprise as she was huge in every aspect, and a totally naked black woman who stood at the foot of the bed.

Marty responded with barely a thought. But you're still Nikki, aren't you?

Yes, I am at that.

Then all's well, isn't it, even if you're back to being Nicole? Heck, a real big Nikki but her nonetheless.

And you don't mind that we can no longer, actually ever, be lovers?

Does that mean that I came through as a woman as well?

Yup. Nicole dropped heavily into a chair and sighed. Kind of a smaller version of myself but definitely still a woman.

In other words me Jane, you Jane?

That's right--and not a Tarzan around. Do you mind?

Not as long as you're with me. How about you?

A bit, but the most important thing is being together. However, did you notice what a shitpot place we're in and what we look like?

Not much of either, so I better get out of bed and take a look. Oh, and piss as well.

Good. So close your eyes for a moment because I'll turn the lights on.

Marty felt the harsh light through her eyelids as Nicole guided her to where she was sure there was a full length mirror. Okay, Kiddo, open them and look at the new us.

She looked at the reflection of naked black women standing side by side in the mirror and burst into laughter. Jesus, Nikki, you look like a virtual Amazon.

Not so funny. Nicole responded in her rumbling voice. Hell, I'm just as tall and big as Nick used to be except I got huge tits and a wide-spread butt. Actually, now that I see myself clearly for the first time I kind of like what I see, especially my rusty long hair and cafe-au-lait skin.

That are both beautiful and exotic looking.

Which I love. And you, shrimpo, ain't too shabby looking either, even though your skin's almost white.

That a bigoted comment, you big galoot.

Nicole Chuckled. Not really, but I couldn't resist saying it. In fact, even though you aren't too small, you still give the impression of being beautifully petite and delicate.

Like I was next to you as a filly?

Probably so. Ah, those were crazy days, you know.

I sure do. Anyway, I better go to the bathroom unless you got to rush in.

No, I'd already used the toilet before you woke up so no problem, go ahead.

When she came out of the bathroom ten minutes later, Marty was wearing a robe and handed Nicole one as well. Here, put it on because it's a bit chilly. Neither robe is too clean looking or smelling, but I guess it'll have to do for now.

Well, I guess neither of our predecessors was overly spick and span in their personal habits, and the place sure reflects it.

That's for sure, and I shudder to think about what their underwear is like. Anyway, since you woke up before me, did you uncover anything about them yet, or where the hell are we?

In Los Angeles. No, actually in Inglewood not too far from the race track, which is about where we wanted to get to when we decided to change locations.

And we basically got what we wanted--two people without a royal or lofty pedigree that'll get us involved in global issues.

And we got what we asked for in no small measure.

What do you mean?

Well, you're officially Wilma Fields and I am Alicia Johnson, and our predecessors were hookers and cocaine addicts ever since they got together six years ago at age sixteen after both had left home.

My God, that's terrible.

Yes, but we got exactly what we asked for--two gorgeous young people and never mind that they're two females, who died seventy-two hours ago from an overdose of cocaine right here in this crappy little apartment.

I see.

Any family?

Wilma's parents were killed in a car accident when she was four so she was raised by a distant relative who threw her out of the house at seventeen after finding out that she was hooking to be able to buy herself a few measly clothes. Alicia came from a family of nine children and having one less mouth to feed made life a bit easier on everyone after she ran away from home so they didn't report her as a missing person.

My God, Nikki. I guess you and I were totally ignorant about this kind of miserable life that some people lead.

That's because we come from a middle class environment where such things just don't happen. Anyway, the kids quickly realized that their lot won't change for the better any time soon if they stayed in the little town near Atlanta where they came from, so they figured that they might make more money here.

Where they would have, except the cost of living here ate every penny they made working in coffee shops. Kind of a vicious circle, I guess, for such people.

Well, they also weren't overly bright so they didn't understand it ahead of time. So when they got here they stayed in a virtual flop house and started looking for jobs and got frustrated quickly because neither could find any job that paid better than minimum wage. Which they did and supplemented by hooking, which quickly got them into drugs.

Vicious cycle. Where they lovers since there's only one bed here?

No, because this place was the cheapest they could get so they didn't care about sleeping together. It was more of a temporary arrangement of convenience until things got better for either or both. But as simpleminded as both were, it was clear to them that because of their inability to find better jobs they were destined to end up permanently in prostitution.

Were they that stupid?

Yes, barely functional mentally. Still, I pity them for having had no future in a world such as we'd lived in, and earning a living in such a nauseating environment.

So the poor slobs literally committed suicide?

I doubt they knew the strength of the dose, which happens often to such kids and kills them eventually.

They sat silently for a while contemplating their last conversation until Alicia finally spoke. So we can just get back to these kids' world and simply join it without difficulty? Except, of course, find ourselves better employment.

Don't you like the idea of being butt-fucked and such for money?

Probably just as much as you like the idea of being a street walker.

Touché. Seriously though, I'd like us to get away from here and move to Vegas to start a new life, where no one will know us as what these girls were here.

Your idea of going there is a great one because we'll be able to fit there easily and without a problem, and do a bit of gambling to elevate our status from poor slobs to earning a decent living.

I think Vegas presents us with a lot of opportunities. And if we decide later that we would like to go someplace else we can just pick our butts and go wherever as long as it's to a warm place.

Agreed. When would you like to do that?

Depends what it'll take to go from here to there.

Actually, I'm just as anxious to start our new life right away.

Me, too, but that'll depend on how much cash we have and did they have a good enough car that'll get us to Vegas.

We'll have to delve into the remnants of their memories to determine that.

Wilma looked at the window. It looks like it's starting to get light out there so I'm sure we can find an open coffee shop at a walking distance if we discover that we don't have a car. But regardless, getting ready to walk out and sitting down to a decent breakfast will give us plenty of time to peruse the remnants of their memories and make internal inquiries.

Great idea, so let's first check the closet and the chest of drawers for clean stuff to wear.

To their surprise and delight they found that the girls had kept their clothes in an organized fashion, with Alicia's clothes on the right of the closet and her underwear in the dresser's top drawers. They grinned at each other when they sniffed everything and could not detect any body odors other than cheap deodorant and perfume.

Satisfied that they had enough to wear for the moment, both set aside clothes for their outing, after which Alicia went to the bathroom and Wilma followed her minutes later when she came out.

Well, Alicia said as she watched Wilma put on jeans and a tight sweater, which she thought were quite becoming on her. Two problems solved. We do have an old clunker that I have no idea if it'll take us anywhere but my memory tells me that it was drivable four days ago. Also, when I looked in my purse for keys I found that it had a hidden compartment that was stuffed with fifties and hundreds that she must've stashed for emergency.

Same with mine, which I just remembered that Wilma had done the same and I should have about a grand in there.

And thank goodness for that because I just couldn't brush my teeth or use her comb and brush for my hair. So now that we'd discovered their stash we can stop at a drug store and get a few things to improve our quality of life.

By all means, let's do a bit of shopping after breakfast. Actually, I'd also like to buy some cheap underwear to use for a while because putting on old Willi's bra and panty kind of gave me the willies even though they're quite clean.

I felt the same way so I fully agree--and tube socks, deodorants, and maybe even some perfume and soaps that we liked before.

Excellent. So let's go test our car and see how good it is. Wilma gave her the keys. Then you drive, being the one with mechanical aptitude around here.

I guess I'd earned the title as a boat mechanic, didn't I?

No question about it.

Chapter 2

Their car was a beat up old Toyota but according to Alicia after driving it all the way to Santa Monica to the big deli across from the shopping center, it operated to near perfection. I'd even say that it should get us to Vegas without a hitch.

That's good because it'll be of great help if we can use it to get there.

I've been wondering about that, Willi, Alicia said thoughtfully as they got out of the car. And came to the conclusion that we don't need a car to get to anyplace we're familiar with because of how I got to retrieve the big diamonds from Alexander's safe in the Kremlin.

Gosh, you're right about that. So what we need a car for is for running around in a place where there are too many people around. So we can wish ourselves to get to the Vegas airport parking lot, let's say, and take a cab from there. Or into a toilet booth at any hotel we're familiar with. That's really great.

I thought you'd appreciate the fact.

When they reached the deli they were greeted warmly by the host and Alicia was rattled by it and wondered aloud if he knew them for who they were.

I doubt that he does because of his physical reaction, particularly since he kept looking at your awesome breastwork and magnificent butt, which gave him an instant and quite a visible hardon.

Alicia burst into delightful giggles. I guess that's something new for me having been a flat-chested woman all my life, and then turned into a man. And I'd add to it the fact that you got quite a look from him as well, and the guys we passed on the way to the table so you must also be just as impressive looking. In fact, I'd say you were responsible for his reaction quite a lot more because of the way you look.

How do I look?

You move so sinuously that it's quite sensually arousing--like a real cat, I mean a big one, Willi. Heck, maybe I'll call you cat between us.

Like in Catherine the Great, whose signet ring is the only item I took with me? She held her hand up and showed it to Alicia. I just couldn't resist keeping it.

It's gorgeous. I'm glad you had the presence of mind to bring it.

Me, too. Anyway, let's order because I'm starving.

They ate a huge breakfast silently as each contemplated the latest change in their life and its possible implications. Then, relaxing over a final cup of coffee, Alicia asked Wilma of her opinion of what they should do next, and she grinned in response.

Well, here we are, two gorgeous young women totally on our own and without any of the encumbrances or burdens that normal people are stuck with, so we should take full advantage of our circumstances.

Very true, which was why we gave up a position that would've turned us into leaders of one of the possibly top countries in the world.

Yeah, and serve a multitude of people to whose beck and call we'd be stuck with for life rather than live as independent people. Don't take me wrong on it because they were real nice and I loved most of them, but I'm glad that we'd literally escaped from them. Still, here we are black women in a still bigoted world and to boot we're two penniless ex-whores who live in a dump that I'm sure serves many by-the-hour type girls like they were.

I hope that being black and a female again doesn't bother you too much.

No to race because I'm sure I can take care of that easily any time I'll run into it, and being this woman that I'd turned into without a physical obligation to you sounds like an interesting and a highly titillating concept.

Wilma chuckled. And you'd like to sow a few wild oats? Actually, I'm kind of looking forward to it myself. Anyway, about us being destitute, that's a situation I can easily remedy, and quickly before we make our next move.

How will you do that?

There are a few ways to do it which I'll explain to you in a moment, but the main goal I want us to accomplish is still my original idea I had about becoming two filthy rich people.

I like the idea very much. But how? By activating your old Wall Street scheme?

Nah, I decided that doing such a thing might easily expose us to the Feds. What I thought would be a much better route to get us to reach our goal is for us to become poker pros which, even though it'll bring us to the public eye, won't cause us any problems.

Because it's quite legitimate and people make millions of dollars at it? Is that why you were anxious for us to go to Vegas once I'd mentioned it?

Exactly, where we can create a quick financial nest egg as the first phase of becoming big business moguls.

Sounds highly exciting, but we still need to have enough cash for a startup.

We sure do, which shouldn't be a problem once I find out exactly where we are--I mean what world and time period we'd landed ourselves in this time.

Hmm. And if this is our own old world you got some unused funds left over from your many old undercover stashes that you used to manage to pay off CIA operatives while you were active?

Wilma patted her hand affectionately. And you called me a schemer, you big conniver.

I had a good teacher, and even more so is the fact that you had transferred your essence into my mind and thereby influenced it to think a lot like you do. So if we're back in our own time period as we'd instructed our minds to bring us back to, then we're in luck because according to the front pages of the newspapers we saw on the way over here today's date is two days after our original demise.

Yes, I'd noticed it as well and saw that all were reporting that the terrible storm is finally over, but when I looked closer at the date the month and the day were correct but not the year.

I didn't look that close. So what year is it that we'd ended up in?

1991. The strange thing, though, is that everything else in the headlines seems to fit in our own time.

D'you think we ended up in another parallel world?

I'm sure of it--kind of a jumbled world, though, because other papers reported the capture and execution on the spot of Sadam Hussein in Iraq.

Again, I didn't look too closely beyond the storm news because I was so happy thinking that we'd gotten to where we wanted to be. So events are the same as in our time but not exactly?

So it seems, Ali.

Then if this time goes alongside of our old reality, I'd assume that no one has had any time yet to go through our old things. Oh, maybe the stuff in the hotel is gone but certainly not in our condo in DC, so we can transport ourselves over there and retrieve anything we might need. But that won't take care of our financial needs because we didn't have any cash there, unless you'd kept a bunch of it in the safe that had built in the living room wall.

Of course, but it doesn't amount to that much. What I'll need, though, is to recover my notebook computer that I had updated quite recently that was almost identical to the one I'd built in Miami.

Which contains a lot of information about the secret funds that you'd used in the past and the codes that you used to transfer money in and out of?

You got it. But that's not all because if we're in the right reality, I'd stashed a substantial cache of money in a bank safe where I had a bunch of credit cards under a variety of bogus but legitimately set up names, with at least four of them being females.

Gosh, Willi, where did all that come from?

If you'll recall, I was heavily involved in dispensing monies as payments for covert operations for the past ten years.

I do, but I didn't know there was that much of it.

Naturally. I used to run a large number of disbursement accounts that were opened with large amounts of cash, for which I'd received special permits from the CIA, DEA, and Treasury so that the banks I used won't have to report these deposits to anyone.

Fascinating. And all these accounts are still in existence?

They sure are, but no one will ever find them because there's no record of them anywhere because they're flagged as 'top-secret—do not inform anyone of activities'. So I figure that I can use them safely without anyone's knowledge.

But that's stealing, Willi. Oh, never mind because I'm sure that you would come up with a some twisted rationale to doing such a thing.

Damn right I did. If we're going to accomplish what we're planning on doing then we'll be paying the government millions of dollars in taxes, which will cover any amount of money that I'll use out of the dead accounts.

I knew you'd come up with a plausible concept to justify it because you're even crookeder than I'd ever thought you were. Still, how were the charges to these credit cards paid?

The charges were presented to and paid by the banks they were involved with directly, without ever coming to me.

How many such accounts did you have, and what are their current balances?

Thirty in all, and I estimate that their total current balances should be around two-hundred grand.

That's a lot of money. And how much cash did you keep in the home safe?

About half that much.

So that's three-hundred thousand total. Is there any more money floating around that you might have access to?

Yes, another about a hundred grand in the bank safe where I'd kept more secret cash and the credit cards I told you about. But that's about it.

Pretty nice little kitty for us to start a new life for ourselves. Okay, so what's next?

First thing I'd like us to do is shop for some personal stuff to replace what we got, but nice things rather than drugstore items because my skin's getting a bit itchy with the stuff I'm now wearing.

Me, too, even though there's no real reason for it.

I guess it's more of a mental attitude that real.

Then you'd like to buy underwear for both of us like you did in Miami--sexy bras and tiny panties, which will cost us a mint and will deplete the little money that we found to virtually nothing?

Yes, exactly. But before we do that I'd like to make a run to our old condo just to make sure that we don't end up poorer than we are because we need to verify which timeline we're in. Besides, we also need to know if Las Vegas exists here and that big poker tournaments are being run here as well.

Good idea. So should we return to the apartment, from where you can do it safely?

That's what I thought.

So let's go home, such as it is.

Chapter 3

The apartment was even more run-down looking in full daylight than it did before but both steeled themselves against paying attention to it. A moment later, Wilma stood in its midst and closed her eyes, concentrating on their familiar old place and vanished almost instantly.

Alicia waited for her without even sitting down, and was relieved when Wilma was back fifteen minutes later, holding a computer bag with its side pockets bulging as though they were stuffed to capacity.

Well, my dear, everything is as we had hoped it would be. Wilma said, grinning. And we're in a similar place and time when the Shermans have been absent for three days by now, with everything remaining intact. I know that since I verified it by firing the computer and it seems like nothing's too different.

Gosh, I'm glad about that. And you got the money, too?

Yes, all in fifties and hundreds so we're in excellent shape. And I just had a thought, seeing as you're literally covered with goose bumps, that maybe we should register in a nice hotel not too far from the shopping center in Santa Monica.

I appreciate it. But we should put on respectable looking clothes or else no one in a decent hotel will rent a room to two black women without a credit card who look like what they used to be.

You mean hookers? Yes, I guess you're right about that. So lets look in the closet and select us each a plain looking dress and a pair of high heels so we'll look like a pair of tourists rather than whores.

And we'll need to carry at least one piece of luggage with us, you know.

Makes sense. So let's take the large gym bag and fill it up with all the official documents that we can find and sort through them later on.

We should because I find that the idea of returning here is quite unpleasant.

They were barely out of the apartment door when they were stopped by a heavy woman who blocked their way and smirked at them. You trying to sneak by me again, bitches? Well, I got news for you that if your two-week overdue rent ain't paid today you might as well not come back because I'll have the locks changed and sell all your shitty crap to cover the rent.

Rather than react angrily, Wilma put on a submissive look. Please don't do that to us because we got no place else to go. Just give us until evening 'cause we'll have some money by then to pay you.

It that why you're dressed like this, because you got a couple of paying customers to bail your black asses out of trouble?

Yes, we do and we'll pay you the moment we come back, enough to cover the rent.

Okay, I'll wait until tonight but this time only. You hear?

Yes, Ma'am. We sure will.

The moment they drove away Alicia burst into laughter. That was quite an act you put on there, Willi.

I kind of liked doing it. And I'm glad we put the computer case in the bag so we didn't look like we're moving out.

That's how I saw it. In any case, we are now out of the shit place for good, which pleases me immensely. So where are we going?

There's a newer looking Best Western motel on Santa Monica Boulevard not too far from the ocean so I figured it'll be clean and modern.

Sounds good if we can get in without a credit card.

Oh, I'm pretty sure they will unless they're fully booked, which I doubt it'll be after the big storm. Besides, at this point they're probably starved for business.

Let's hope so.

True to Wilma's expectations, the clerk at the lobby of the clean looking motel only gave her a quick searching look when she told him that they'll pay with cash.

No credit card for either of you?

Well, we sure have them but we can't get into our apartment because it's totally flooded after the storm. Or get anything else for that matter because the place literally stinks from the water. I hope you didn't suffer from it here.

Yeah, but only the garage which was pumped completely dry yesterday. So what kind of room would you like?

None smoking with two queen beds on a high floor that has comfortable table and chairs where I can work on my computer because I have quite a backlog because of the storm. Got anything like that?

Yeas, kind of a semi suite with what you want. But it'll cost you a bit more than a regular room--$139.

How about a AAA discount?

Got your card on you?

Son of a gun's with my credit cards, I'm afraid.

I see. Okay, let's make it one-twenty. How long will you stay?

One night for sure, and maybe two.

Then I need to paid in advance. $132, including the tax, and no charge for the parking.

Sure. And I'll let you know in the morning if we'll stay the extra night.

I'll appreciate it. Oh, by the way, we serve a continental breakfast at no charge.

Great.

Five minutes later they entered the room and were pleasantly surprised to find it very clean, comfortable, and with a large desk and chairs. Perfect, Wilma said when she came out of the bathroom. So the first thing I'd like to do is go shopping so I can get rid of everything I'm wearing.

Same here. And the great thing about the room is that they have a safe where I hid both computer and money. So give me a minute to pee and then we'll go.

They spent the next two hours shopping for enough nice clothes and underwear to last them for a few days, and made sure that the clerk saw them carrying the packages upstairs. The first thing they did was to remove all the tags and put their new things in the drawers, then each took a very hot shower to scrub whatever remnants of the old apartment had stuck to them.

Gosh, it sure felt good to brush my teeth and wash my hair just now. Alicia said as he dried her hair with a towel and was about to use the hair drier when she saw Wilma walk naked to the shower and stopped when she saw her derrière. Did you know that you got a big tattoo on your right bun, of a highly colorful cobra that when you move looks like it was about to strike?"

No, of course not. Wilma went to the mirror and looked at her backside. Gee, it really is beautiful, and I like it so I won't do anything to obliterate it when I do some adjustments to my body later on. And thanks for telling me.

What are you going to fix? You sure aren't as hairy as you used to be before.

Oh, I guess styling my hair and makeup, and strengthening all my muscles including my pectoral ones.

All of which I intend to do as well later on, in addition to ridding myself of all my of body hair, which I have lots of all over.

Good for you.

Once they came out of the bathroom wearing only their underwear, Wilma Alicia sat at the desk and turned on her computer while Alicia dumped all the documents that they brought with them on the table and began sorting through them. It felt good to Wilma to be working on her old computer and she soon became so involved in what she was doing that she lost track of the time. The only thing she said was to ask Alicia if she liked her predecessor's name.

Yes, actually I do because it seems to fit my personality. How about yours, will you keep it?

I intend to.

Why d'you ask?

Because I need to manipulate our records a bit. I'll tell you why when I'm done.

Alicia looked at her two hours later when Wilma pushed herself away from the desk after turning the computer off. Ready to discuss what you did and the results of my sorting through the documents?

Not yet because I'm kind of hungry so I'd like to have dinner and we'll talk while we eat.

I like that. How about the Chinese restaurant across the street, which I saw you eyeing on the way in?

You got it. So let's put on jeans and blouses and go down. Oh, and let's take the bags with all the stuff that we wore coming in and drop it in the dumpster in the garage.

Good idea. And also all the papers we don't need, which I tore up so they can't be traced to us.

Even better.

Twenty minutes later they were seated at a nice booth in the restaurant across the street. So what were you so busy doing, Willi? Alicia asked after they ordered their food.

First tell me what you found in that pile of papers.

It was mostly junk that I threw out. The important papers were two birth and high school graduation certificates, which I can't understand how they'd managed to do that. I also found a bunch of W-2 earning slips from many restaurants that amounted to less than three grand a year for both of them , and two checkbooks with literally no money in them.

Which is no longer the case because I'd transferred fifty-thousand dollars to each from one of the accounts that I have. In any case, my first job was to look through all the local municipal and police systems to verify that neither of our predecessors had a criminal or arrest records. It was lucky that they'd managed to avoid any such things because then I would've had to change our names, which would've been a pain in the neck.

So that's why you asked me about keeping my name? Makes sense. So that's about all that I did except that when I saw you so involved with what you were doing I went to the bathroom and did all the improvements to my body that I'd planned on, and loved the results because I'd had a lot of stuff that I got rid of, like moles and such, and of course all my pesky body hairs. So what else did you do?

Checked all the Las Vegas hotel offerings and they're similar to those in our time period, and most were advertising poker rooms and the Rio Hotel announced the World Poker Series that's about to start in thirty days.

Then we're in luck, I guess about our plan.

Yes. So I looked for a private mail house in Las Vegas near the Strip and opened a box with them since they use a safe-like dial rather than a key, and paid for it by electronic transfer from my account.

What for?

Because I decided that we shouldn't use my bogus credit cards, so I penetrated a few of the card companies computers and ordered us each a few limitless cards based on our account balances, which will be sent to the mail box. Then I entered Nevada's Department of Vehicles and ordered each of us a local drivers license. All of which was quite simple to do.

How come?

Because all I needed to do in both cases was to utilize their system as though I worked at these places and was entering information and instructions from their own forms.

That's why I never trusted computers, you know, for fear of people with your capabilities. So when will the stuff get there?

By tomorrow or the next day, because I set everything to be sent out tonight. Okay, then I set us both with an electronic college degrees to look like we'd graduated a year ago, you in business administration and myself in history, which should also arrive in our mail box pretty quickly. And that's about it.

Which is a lot. So when d'you want us to go over there?

I thought it would be best if we drove over the day after tomorrow so that by then all our stuff will have arrived and we'll be able to use it, particularly to make hotel reservations and maybe even rent a better looking car.

I like that.

Once back in their hotel room, Wilma picked up the attaché case they had bought and closed her eyes, imagining the the bank vault where Martin had kept the cash and credit cards that she had told Alicia about. She grinned when she was bank and handed her a black velvet jewelry box.

I thought you'd appreciate having these back since they're all of great sentimental value to both of us, and none can be traced back to the Shermans.

Alicia opened the case and her eyes sparkled with delight when she looked at the gold and diamond jewelry, each of them given to Nicole by Martin on each of their anniversaries over the years. Gosh, Willi, I really appreciate having these back. But now that you're this gender I want us to share everything here.

Which I'd love to, Ali. Not just because they're so beautiful but because each and every one of them is of great sentimental value.

I'm pleased that you think that way. Did you get everything else that you wanted?

Yes, of course. It was a bit eerie to find myself in the empty vault, and stranger yet when I reached into the safety box by inserting my hand into it through the steel shell that protested it. Wilma opened the briefcase and added the money from their home safe to it.

They spent the next twenty-four hours in utter relaxation while getting used to their new physical reality while both ran historical materials on the computer to learn more about their new world. They discovered that everything was quite similar to the old one, except that all the events they were familiar with were literally compressed into shorter periods after the end of the Vietnam war.

Chapter 4

Which hotel would you like us to stay at, Willi? Alicia asked as they approached Las Vegas early in the morning of the next day.

How about the new San Antonio Hotel which I'm sure you'll love.

I read about it being a great place.

Great, so let's reserve a suite there for a couple of weeks once we get a hold of our credit cards.

I like that, but it's going to be extremely expensive.

So what? We're two filthy rich broads so we might as well enjoy it. Not only that, but before we register we should stop at a classy women's store they're supposed to have there and buy ourselves glorious wardrobes that'll fit our new status in life.

Fantastic, Willi, so we better go check the mail box for everything that you'd ordered.

We also need to buy two prepaid cellphones so we can make the reservation, and then we should each open an account in a centrally located bank.

What for? We both already have one.

Because we shouldn't mix our old money with the gambling winnings, which are going to grow quite fast.

I see but don't understand the exact reason for the separation so I'll just follow your advise.

Good.

Everything that Alicia ordered had arrived in the mail box, so once inserting the credit cards and Nevada drivers licenses in their pocket books, they drove to the telephone company store and purchased two cellphones which were activated on the spot. From there the went to a nearby Bank of America and open two accounts for three-thousand dollars each."

Why that specific amount, Willi?

Because banks have to report any cash deposit over a certain amount, and since I have no idea how much it is in this reality I figured three grand must be below the requirement.

They do that to track and catch drug dealers?

That's right. Anyway, before we can use the credit cards we need to call their issuing company to activate them.

And now that we have a phone that should be simple, so I'll do one of mine right away. Once she did, Alicia called information to get the reservation number for the San Antonio, then dialed it. After talking to the reservation agent for a moment, she turned to Wilma and smiled. It's set up, Willi, for a two week stay in a great suite with a terrific rate for the extended stay.

Wilma suggested that they stop for lunch afterwards. How about in a Jewish deli nearby that I read serves great food?

Sure. Sounds like something I'd love to eat.

The host took them to a nice booth and brought the coffee a moment later. Are you new to this area? He asked in a thick Jewish accent while pouring.

Just here for a while. Alicia answered. Anything special that you'd like to recommend?

We make an excellent deli omelets with lots of delicious kosher meats. No pork products, though.

That's good because we don't eat the stuff anyway. Wilma said with a smile.

I see, then how about two of them?

Sounds terrific. So you're from Israel? Wilma asked in fluent Hebrew, which surprised both the owner and Alicia.

He smiled delightfully. Yes, and you must be too, the way you speak the language.

First generation here but my parents always spoke it at home.

And the other lady?

Same, we're cousins. Alicia answered in Hebrew as well.

That's great, and whenever you come in my wife, who's the cook, will make something special that'll taste like your own mom cooked it.

We'll have to take you up on it.

No more talking now, let me go order your food.

I didn't know we spoke the language. Alicia said as soon as he left.

Neither did I until a moment ago but apparently we do just like in the other worlds where we spoke Russian and Greek, our racial memories kicked in the moment the word kosher came up.

Of course. But what about our skin color, won't he wonder about that?

Not at all, considering that Israel has a large number of Jews of Yemenite extraction.

Yeah, of course.

Lunch, just as George had promised, was most delicious and he beamed when they told him how much they enjoyed it. More coffee?

Absolutely, which is quite delicious as well and goes well with an after lunch smoke.

Thanks, coming right up.

Okay, Willi, what should we do now? Alicia asked when they got back in their car.

Get rid of this crappy little car and replace it with something more suitable for young and well-to-do broads.

Such as?

How about a Corvette?

Wow, that'll really be great. A red convertible?

Red's okay, but I don't think a convertible is such a good thing to have in Vegas. But let's go take a look and see what we can find.

Where?

I got a couple of addresses off the internet before we left LA.

Always prepared, aren't you?

You bet.

A few minutes later they reached a street where, apparently, most car dealerships in town were located. Wilma drove slowly for a while until she found a large Chevrolet lot and turned into the car rental side of it, which surprised Alicia but she remained silent as they walked to the office.

When she asked the rental clerk about the least expensive car he had available, he did not seem to mind it and smiled. That'll be a Ford Pinto, which we have right now at a special for nine-ninety nine per day, with fifty cents more for insurance.

Pinto? That's a powerless little crappy car. We're looking for something with a bit more power and zip because we'll need to take it for at least a month since we just moved here and never realized that public transportation in Vegas isn't like it is at home.

I see. And where's home, if I might ask?

Sure, we're from Minneapolis.

And you'd like to get a big powerful convertible to enjoy our sun once it'll finally come out, which will probably be in two weeks?

"You got it, and I hope that you're right about the