walkabout

Got up about four and had a futuristic shower, and then went down to find some coffee and write.  It wasn't that simple.

Walked for blocks and didn't find anything, so I went into the big train station.  It was open but there are machines and armed guards; you can't get into the main concourse without a ticket to feed to the machine.  So back down to the street and walk in the other direction.

I found a brightly lit diner, full of primary colors and blinking lights.  Sat down at a counter and eventually a guy came over.  I asked for a cup of coffee and he got sort of angry and crossed his arms and pointed at the menu.  The menu did have a cup of coffee, for 100 yen, but I suppose he wanted me to buy a meal.  So I walked on.

The third time I passed a Seven-Eleven, I went in.  Bought a package of iced coffee and went back to the hotel.  Hey!  A place on the main floor is called CafeRestaurant 24!  But in spite of the name, a sign says it doesn't open till six.

There are a few little chairs in the lobby, so I sat in one and unleashed my Mac Air.  Some uniformed people have regarded me with suspicion, but I think they're just bellboys, and if someone questions me, I'll whip out my room key.  Take that, Tojo!

And so back to the steamy 1950's Venus of Gardner Dozois's anthology.



. . . so at 6:00 "CafeRestaurant" opened and I went in and had a six-dollar cup of coffee and wrote three small but steamy pages of Venus.  Good to use the fountain pen again.  Then I checked my room key and went upstairs.

Wrong wing.  My key didn't work, but at least no alarms went off.  Went to another wing and my floor didn't exist.  Found a nice little girl concierge who traced a crooked line on a map, which led to nowhere.  Actually, I could have gone through the bowling alley, but it wasn't open yet.

Finally I went outside and walked around until I recognized the entrance we had used, coming from the train station.  Then I was able to find my way to 7W (in the G part of East Wing), hold my mouth right, go through the unmarked (in English) doors, and take an elevator from 7W to 5-2541.

I expected a rabbit with a top hat and a pocket watch, but in fact my key did work.  Gay was still asleep, having missed all the excitement.  Now maybe if my stomach growls loudly enough, she'll wake up – and we can go out and get raw fish guts with soy-sauce wine for breakfast.

(About that part, I'm kidding.  For thirty bucks you can get bacon and eggs.)

Joe