“You forgot your ticket,” the conductor said, handing Karl a beautiful 3x5 hologram of the constellations. “And you will be getting off at…?” He paused.

“I’ll be going as far as Arcturus in Bootes today,” (although the visit to Arcturus was actually scheduled for tomorrow). “On the way back I’d like to stop at the Pleiades.”

“Very good,” said the conductor. “That will be twelve fifty.”

Karl peeled off the twelve fifty from a small packet of bills he withdrew from his pocket.

“You’re in room 601,” said the man. “Down the corridor and on your right.”

Taking note of the room on his right from where he stood, Karl glanced at the compartments at the end of the long car and quickly estimated how far he would have to go before reaching 601. The finish on the door had a strange iridescent shimmer which defied focusing on any part of it. The digits themselves seemed to come and go. A big wall clock over the portal read a few minutes before 8 o’clock.