Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously--and any resemblance to actual persons, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental. License Notes: This efiction is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This efiction may not be re-sold or given to others. If you would like to share, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this efiction and it was not purchased for your use, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for helping the e-reading community to grow! The Author Note: This story was first published in HelixSF, edited by William Sanders. It's not typical of my work in either length or subject matter, but is one of those ideas that struck hard way back when--I can still remember the moment!--so all in all I was doubly glad to find a home for it. This is a slightly different version--I do love to fiddle!--but only with regard to a bit of buff and polish.
