Descending Road - TRIN, MIN, AND TAU by Dana W. Paxson

TRIN, MIN, AND TAU

2407 CE

“Min. Whatya got?” Trin leaned over to see what Mina held in her cupped hands. He was fifteen years old, and she was fourteen. The night streetlights overhead made patches of light under the bridge’s steel trusses. Twenty meters above the two teenagers standing in the mud at the Don River’s edge, a few freight hovers roared through hordes of Toronto summer flies; windshield cleaner mixed with splattered insects drifted down in a coarse, scented rain.

“I got it from Ludko at the lab.” Mina poked at one of two vials in her hand; they clinked together. “He says it’s great stuff.”

“What does it do? Looks like wet C to me, nice and clean.” Trin took one of the vials, held it against the distant gleam of a far-off street lamp, tilted it. It glistened and moved like crystal-clear corn syrup. He squinted at it.

“No, no. This is time stuff.” Mina said the words slowly, with her voice lowered.

“Time stuff?” Trin wanted to laugh. Mina was so young and skinny, such a tomboy, trying to look important. He liked her a little, but she was always following him around. If it hadn’t been for that one time…

“It makes you go slow, and everything else fast. Ludko says don’t do more than a drop a day, or you’ll die.”

“Ludko says anything he wants to.” The stuff looked harmless. Trin started to twist the plug out of the vial, but Mina put her hand on his.

“Wait, Trin. He listens to the docs. This doctor, he says her name is Parker, she told him it’s a secret project. He waited until she was out of the lab for a minute, and he went in and read something about it. It’s time stuff. They call it tau.”

“The Greek letter for T, like T for time?”

“I guess so.”

“Did Ludko try it?”

“He wouldn’t tell me. He saw some guy asleep in the lab on a table, though.”

“Probably taking a nap. Come on. Let me open it.” Trin moved his hand out from under Mina‘s, then twisted the plug out of the vial. He sniffed it. Sweet, like flowers, but very faint. He held it up to his lips as if he wanted a drink, and looked at Mina.

“Don’t.” Mina backed away from Trin, then extended her hand. “Give it back, Trin.”

“Well, why’d you get me down here?” Trin held up the vial in one hand, the plug in the other. “What’d you want from me, for this?”

“I thought you’d be interested.” Mina looked shyly at Trin, and at that moment he realized from her large-eyed look that she only wanted him.

“I… I am interested,” he said, mulling over his insight. This must have been why she kept sticking near him.

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	TRIN, MIN, AND TAU 2407 CE “Min. Whatya got?” Trin leaned over to see what Mina held in her cupped hands. He was fifteen years old, and she was fourteen. The night streetlights overhead made patches of light under the bridge’s steel trusses. Twenty meters above the two teenagers standing in the mud at the Don River’s edge, a few freight hovers roared through hordes of Toronto summer flies; windshield cleaner mixed with splattered insects drifted down in a coarse, scented rain. “I got it from Ludko at the lab.” Mina poked at one of two vials in her hand; they clinked together. “He says it’s great stuff.” “What does it do? Looks like wet C to me, nice and clean.” Trin took one of the vials, held it against the distant gleam of a far-off street lamp, tilted it. It glistened and moved like crystal-clear corn syrup. He squinted at it. “No, no. This is time stuff.” Mina said the words slowly, with her voice lowered. “Time stuff?” Trin wanted to laugh. Mina was so young and skinny, such a tomboy, trying to look important. He liked her a little, but she was always following him around. If it hadn’t been for that one time… “It makes you go slow, and everything else fast. Ludko says don’t do more than a drop a day, or you’ll die.” “Ludko says anything he wants to.” The stuff looked harmless. Trin started to twist the plug out of the vial, but Mina put her hand on his. “Wait, Trin. He listens to the docs. This doctor, he says her name is Parker, she told him it’s a secret project. He waited until she was out of the lab for a minute, and he went in and read something about it. It’s time stuff. They call it tau.” “The Greek letter for T, like T for time?” “I guess so.” “Did Ludko try it?” “He wouldn’t tell me. He saw some guy asleep in the lab on a table, though.” “Probably taking a nap. Come on. Let me open it.” Trin moved his hand out from under Mina‘s, then twisted the plug out of the vial. He sniffed it. Sweet, like flowers, but very faint. He held it up to his lips as if he wanted a drink, and looked at Mina. “Don’t.” Mina backed away from Trin, then extended her hand. “Give it back, Trin.” “Well, why’d you get me down here?” Trin held up the vial in one hand, the plug in the other. “What’d you want from me, for this?” “I thought you’d be interested.” Mina looked shyly at Trin, and at that moment he realized from her large-eyed look that she only wanted him. “I… I am interested,” he said, mulling over his insight. This must have been why she kept sticking near him.