TICKET TO RIDE by Daniel Kuttner
I watched the few mourners respectfully slide my body into the chute. It gathered speed and bounced into the volcano, making ripples and a few sparks. Hovering safely above, I no longer felt the heat of this place nor the tension and excitement of my life as a low-ranking predator.
Time to move on.
I drew up and back until tugged by the Dimensional Attractor. I remembered to relax and let it do the work. A flash and I was back.
“Welcome home.” A feeling rather than auditory words. A shock, though a pleasant one, after a lifetime in a material body.
It took me a moment to accept the multiple senses of my native form. I adjusted my own glow downward.
My first thought emitted haltingly. “Th-thanks.”
If there were sound here, I’d have heard a laugh. “Relax, you’ll get control back shortly. Then, I want to hear all about your life in that fiery place.”
I rose and navigated the timeless ether, gathering more control. Yes. This was better than the heaviness of gravity, the burden of a body. Yet . . .
“Let’s bask in some neutrino bursts at galaxy’s edge.”
“Sure. That’ll give me some energy. I need it after that ride.”
Following my friend’s lead, we accelerated together ‘til we sensed the warm bursts. My thoughts focused. “So, do you have a ride in mind for yourself? You’ve heard enough of our stories to decide, right?”
“Actually, yes . . . This is close enough, don’t you think? I don’t want my mind wiped by those rays.”
“I’m good.”
“So, after two corporal lives, which do you prefer, our form or a body?”
“Don’t forget the other choices. I kind of liked having bark and leaves and a prehensile stamen.”
“Really?”
“Just kidding.”
“Oh. Haha.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s from my studies of my next destination, the ride they call Earth. It’s what the dominant life forms there do to appreciate humor.”
“Interesting. So . . . Earth. I was there three rides ago.”
“What did you think?”
“Scary. Everything is so . . . unpredictable. Lots of deception, too. But, very sensual, if you’re into that. They fear death, though they flirt with it daily.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It is that.”
“One thing I couldn’t find out is how you’re first inserted there. Rumor is it’s a process called birth.”
“There’s a reason it’s not recorded.”
“Really? Now I’m intrigued. How is it done?”
“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” The form tinged blue. “And conception, don’t even ask.”
