"I stepped out of the case and made my way into the bathroom, where I showered. The mirror showed me a dark-haired, dark-eyed man as I shaved; about five-foot-eight, and of medium build. I finished putting myself in order and went back into the room, where I opened my suitcase and hunted out suitable garments.
"After I'd dressed I departed the room and found my way downstairs and into a Spanish-style lobby. From there, I saw a bar with tables at which people were eating. Which was what I was looking for - food. I was, as always on awakening, ravenous. But I stepped outside for a few moments first. There was a lot of adobe around me and what looked like a small park off to my left. There was a cathedral off to the right. I could investigate them later. The sun, which I'd come out to check, stood a little past midheaven. Since I didn't know which way was east or west, it could be a little before noon or a little after. Either way, lunchtime, with half a day ahead of me.
"I went back inside and made my way into the bar. I found myself a table and read the menu. A number of items, such as enchiladas, were unfamiliar to me. So I just decided to order everything on the menu and work my way through. I'd also stopped at a newsstand I'd noticed off the lobby and picked up copies of all the papers they had, as is my wont upon awakening, to find out what had happened in the world while I slept.
"I had a succession of interesting things wrapped in tortillas, to the accompaniment of refried beans and rice, and was sitting there reading and waiting for the desserts to start arriving when Rudo came in, clad in a white suit and natty sportshirt, camera over his shoulder. I was puzzled not at all as he strode on by me to order a Ramos Gin Fizz at the bar. You get used to being ignored by friends and acquaintances when you change your appearance every time you sleep.
"I caught his attention when he turned to sweep the room with his gaze. I raised my hand and nodded.
"'Ah! The eminent Dr. Rudo,' I said, faking a slight German accent.
"His eyes widened, then narrowed. He rose from his stool immediately and approached me, brow furrowed, drink still in his hand.
"'I don't believe I recall ...' he began.
"I rose and extended my hand.
"'Meyerhoff,' I said, since I sometimes like to put people on. 'Carl Meyerhoff. We met before the war. Was it Vienna or Zurich? You were doing work with that long sleep business. Fascinating stuff. You had your little problems, I recall. I trust everything is going satisfactorily for you these days?'
"Quickly, he looked over both shoulders as I seated myself again. How long could I keep this going? I wondered. Several minutes would be great. So long as he didn't switch to another language....
"He drew out the chair across from me and seated himself quickly.
"'Meyerhoff ...' he said then. 'I am trying to remember.... You are a medical man?'
"'Surgeon,' I replied, figuring that was far enough away from psychiatry that he wouldn't trip me up with some comment involving his specialty. 'I got out when things got bad,' I added cryptically.
"He nodded.
"'I was fortunate in that respect, also,' he said. 'So, you are practicing here in the southwest?'
"'California,' I said. 'I'm returning from a medical conference now. Just stopped here to do a little sightseeing. Yourself?'
"'I am practicing in New York,' he said. 'This is a holiday for me, also. Striking landscapes here for painting, and the light is so pure. We met at a conference - or some hospital perhaps?'
"I nodded.
"'I heard you speak once on this dauerschlaf therapy. I believe there was a small party that evening. We spoke for a time of some of the troubles....' I let it trail off, open to interpretation as to troubles with the therapy, with friends, associates, family, European politics. His reactions had me curious now, and I wanted to see what he'd say. And if he got very evasive that would be interesting, too.
"He sighed.
"'They looked at things differently in those days,' he said, 'where I came from. And the early work, of course, had to be experimental.'
"'Of course,' I said.
"'When did you leave?'
"'1944,' I replied. 'Spent some time in Argentina. Came here later under the Project Paper Clip dispensation.'
"He raised his drink and took a swallow.
"'Yes, I've heard of it,' he said. 'Governments can be gracious - when they want something.'
"He laughed. I joined him.
"'Fortunately, there was no need for me to employ such a route,' he went on. 'Some of the past died with the bombings and the records they destroyed, as I understand it.'
"He took another drink.
"'You are staying here at the hotel?' he asked.
"'Yes.'
"'We should have dinner together. Would you care to meet in the lobby - say, seven o'clock?'
"'That would be pleasant,' I replied.
"He began to rise, just as the waitress arrived with four desserts and my check. I picked up the check and glanced at it.
"'May I sign for this?' I asked her.
"'Sure' she answered. 'Be sure to put down your room number.'
"'That would be 208,' I said, accepting the pen she offered me.
"Rudo froze, looking back, studying my face.
"'Croyd ...?' he said.
"I smiled.
"His face went through an amazing variety of changes, finally settling into a scowl. Then he seated himself and leaned forward.
"'That - was - not - funny,' he told me. 'I - do - not - aprrreciate - such - monkeyshining.'
"'When you get a chance like this every time you wake up, you might as well play it for a few laughs,' I said.
"'I am not amused.'
"'Sorry,' I said, as I attacked the flan. 'Just wanted to brighten our day.'
"He succeeded in convincing me that he had no sense of humor. But after a few minutes he was mollified, watching me eat desserts.
"'I have located the office where we must obtain visitors passes,' he finally said, 'for our trip to Los Alamos. It is nearby. Our names should be on the list of expected visitors. Photographs will be required. We should stop by this afternoon and take care of that.'
"'Yes,' I said. 'How'd they get on the list?'
"'Our man in Los Alamos sent down word that we were coming to visit him.'
"'Handy,' I said. 'How long have we been in town?'
"'Here? This is our fifth day. I included instructions when I induced the dauerschlaf that you sleep for as short a time as possible. You were out for several days in my apartment and several more in transit.'
"I nodded as I gestured at the stack of newspapers.
" I'd noticed the date,' I said. 'How far is it to Los Alamos?'
"'It is about thirty-five or forty miles north of here,' he replied, 'in the mountains. I've obtained a car.'
"We strolled outside after lunch, and he steered me to the left. The area that had struck me as parklike proved to be the Plaza. We passed around it in a clockwise fashion, stopping to study the work displayed on blankets by Indian craftsmen under the portal of the Palace of the Governors. Lots of silver and turquoise and some pretty pots. I bought a bola Rudo didn't like and wore it.
"He led me then to a one-story building nearby, where we entered through a small doorway. We came into a little suite of rooms where a woman sat at a desk.
"'Hello,' he said. 'I am Ivan Karamazov and this is Croyd Crenson. We were told to come here to pick up our visitors' passes for Los Alamos.'
"'Let me check the list,' she said, and she opened a drawer and withdrew a clipboard holding a stack of papers. She hummed as she checked through these. Then, 'Yes,' she said, 'I have you here.'
"She passed us some forms to fill out and told us we'd need to have our pictures taken after that. She told us the passes would be ready later in the day, or we could pick them up in the morning, since we'd said we'd be driving up the next day. We thanked her and departed.
"We walked around for a couple of hours after that, then went for a drive. Rugged, bright country. Lots of little pine trees. Big mountains. Small town. Quiet. I kind of liked the place. Wouldn't have minded spending a few weeks there.