struggled for the right words. “Scientists believe there must be an infinite number of them. Some Otherwheres are very much like the world we know. Some are very hostile places, where human beings can’t even exist because the laws of physics are so different. Exploring Otherwheres has always been dangerous for just that reason. You don’t know where you’re going to end up, or if you’ll be able to get back.”
Jenny tapped a fingernail against her chin. “I wonder if anyone’s ever tried using Monsieur Poincaire’s hyperbolic geometry to mathematically map this infinity of universes,” she mused. “It seems perfectly suited to the job. And it might be kind of fun.”
Will emitted a low whistle, looking at her sidelong. “ Fun ?” He pulled down the bill of his tweed touring cap against the glare of her blinding intellect. “I’m beginning to think that math professor of yours was staring into your eyes out of pure confusion.”
Jenny snorted derisively. “It’s all just numbers, William.”
“Well, let’s get back to my Otherwhere Flume, which is what you asked me about. It all starts with finding an Otherwhere compatible with our own universe’s physical laws. Maybe Poincairian hyperbolic geometry could be applied to finding one, but that’s neither here nor there. Because over two hundred have already been found, as the result of decades of risky exploration. They’re called the Golden Dimensions. They’re uninhabited and mostly physically identical to our own universe.”
“Wait, there are some that are inhabited ?” Jenny’s eyes became big as plates. “By who?”
“I’m an engineer, not an anthropologist,” Will shrugged. “Anyway, over the years, bright industrialists have built power plants in these Otherwheres. Coal plants, steam—whatever unique generating resource is available. There’s one Otherwhere that’s filled with enormous waterfalls; they’ve put in hydroelectric turbines just like they have at Niagara Falls.”
Jenny was rapt.
“Anyway, all that power is transmitted from the Otherwhere into our world. That’s what an Otherwhere Conductor is. It’s the power of a whole coal plant, or hydroelectric plant, or steam plant, whooshing through an infinitesimal transdimensional portal into our own reality, where we can put it to whatever use we like.” He paused. “Hey, could you dig out some of that food? I’m starving.”
Jenny reached under the seat for the bag she’d packed, and from it, withdrew a whole apple pie. It was clearly a condemnation of the quality of pie to be found in San Francisco that Jenny expected to be able to break his Ma’am’s pie into neat wedges. But the flaky pastry crumbled in her hand, and she frowned at the pie filling on her dainty brown leather gloves.
“Great,” she muttered. “Now my gloves will smell like pie. Here.”
Resting one hand on the tiller, Will took the ragged hunk of pie in his other and quickly devoured it, licking the sweet sourness of apple and cinnamon from his fingers then wiping his hand clean on his trousers. Jenny eyed him with mild disdain as she used a corner of the laundry bag for a similar purpose.
“No wonder you want to go to Tesla Industries!” Jenny said as she tucked the bag away. “But what I don’t understand is why everything isn’t powered by Otherwhere Flumes, or Conductors, or whatever? This car runs beautifully! It’s quiet, and not at all dirty or smelly. And as long as there’s power coming from the Otherwhere, there’s nothing to stop us, isn’t that right?”
“Not a thing,” said Will, knowing that it wasn’t entirely the truth. But he liked the glow of Jenny’s admiration, and thus he had no immediate interest in explaining Old Randall Rudge.
Of course, Old Randall Rudge had to be explained eventually, but Will preferred to wait for that discussion until it became necessary.
They were passing through acres of almond orchards, the trees stretching out in neat rows
Jenny tapped a fingernail against her chin. “I wonder if anyone’s ever tried using Monsieur Poincaire’s hyperbolic geometry to mathematically map this infinity of universes,” she mused. “It seems perfectly suited to the job. And it might be kind of fun.”
Will emitted a low whistle, looking at her sidelong. “ Fun ?” He pulled down the bill of his tweed touring cap against the glare of her blinding intellect. “I’m beginning to think that math professor of yours was staring into your eyes out of pure confusion.”
Jenny snorted derisively. “It’s all just numbers, William.”
“Well, let’s get back to my Otherwhere Flume, which is what you asked me about. It all starts with finding an Otherwhere compatible with our own universe’s physical laws. Maybe Poincairian hyperbolic geometry could be applied to finding one, but that’s neither here nor there. Because over two hundred have already been found, as the result of decades of risky exploration. They’re called the Golden Dimensions. They’re uninhabited and mostly physically identical to our own universe.”
“Wait, there are some that are inhabited ?” Jenny’s eyes became big as plates. “By who?”
“I’m an engineer, not an anthropologist,” Will shrugged. “Anyway, over the years, bright industrialists have built power plants in these Otherwheres. Coal plants, steam—whatever unique generating resource is available. There’s one Otherwhere that’s filled with enormous waterfalls; they’ve put in hydroelectric turbines just like they have at Niagara Falls.”
Jenny was rapt.
“Anyway, all that power is transmitted from the Otherwhere into our world. That’s what an Otherwhere Conductor is. It’s the power of a whole coal plant, or hydroelectric plant, or steam plant, whooshing through an infinitesimal transdimensional portal into our own reality, where we can put it to whatever use we like.” He paused. “Hey, could you dig out some of that food? I’m starving.”
Jenny reached under the seat for the bag she’d packed, and from it, withdrew a whole apple pie. It was clearly a condemnation of the quality of pie to be found in San Francisco that Jenny expected to be able to break his Ma’am’s pie into neat wedges. But the flaky pastry crumbled in her hand, and she frowned at the pie filling on her dainty brown leather gloves.
“Great,” she muttered. “Now my gloves will smell like pie. Here.”
Resting one hand on the tiller, Will took the ragged hunk of pie in his other and quickly devoured it, licking the sweet sourness of apple and cinnamon from his fingers then wiping his hand clean on his trousers. Jenny eyed him with mild disdain as she used a corner of the laundry bag for a similar purpose.
“No wonder you want to go to Tesla Industries!” Jenny said as she tucked the bag away. “But what I don’t understand is why everything isn’t powered by Otherwhere Flumes, or Conductors, or whatever? This car runs beautifully! It’s quiet, and not at all dirty or smelly. And as long as there’s power coming from the Otherwhere, there’s nothing to stop us, isn’t that right?”
“Not a thing,” said Will, knowing that it wasn’t entirely the truth. But he liked the glow of Jenny’s admiration, and thus he had no immediate interest in explaining Old Randall Rudge.
Of course, Old Randall Rudge had to be explained eventually, but Will preferred to wait for that discussion until it became necessary.
They were passing through acres of almond orchards, the trees stretching out in neat rows
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