（外文电子版资料）Kevin J. Anderson - Music Played on the Strings of Time.pdf

Music Played on the Strings of Time Kevin J. Anderson A DF Books N.E.R.D’s Release Copyright ©1993 by Kevin J. Anderson First published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, January 1993 He arrived, hoping to find a new Lennon, or a Jimi Hendrix. Or an alternate universe where the Beatles had never broken up. As the air ceased shimmering around him, Jeremy staggered; with his head pounding, he sucked in a deep breath. His employers at Alternitech always made him empty his lungs before stepping through the portal. The company had strict rules limiting the amount of non-returnable mass shuttled across timelines, even down to the air molecules. Take nothing tangible; leave behind as little as possible. The air here smelled good, though; it tasted the same as in his own universe. He snatched a glance around himself, making sure that no one had seen him appear. It had rained recently, and the ground was still wet. Everything about this new reality appeared the same, but each timeline had its subtle differences. Jeremy Cardiff simply needed to find the useful ones. * * * * The Pacific Bell logo on the phone booth had the familiar design, but with a forest- green background color instead of bright blue. He had always found a phone booth in the same spot, no matter which alternate reality he visited. Some things must be immutable in the Grand Scheme. Jeremy reached into the pocket of his jacket and withdrew the ring of keys. One of them usually worked on the phones coin compartment, but he also had a screwdriver and a small pry bar. His girlfriend Holly had never approved of stealing, but Jeremy had no choice—in order to spend money in this universe, he had to get it from somewherehere , since he could leave none of his own behind. The third key worked, and the coin compartment popped open, spilling handfuls of quarters, n