The Infinite Matrix | Michael Swanwick & Francisco Goya | The Sleep Of

Reason 49

02.06.03

the sleep of reason

by Michael Swanwick

with illustrations by

Francisco JosÉ de Goya y Lucientes

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Digital image © copyright

Davison Art Center,

Wesleyan University

DAC permission required

for any other use.

49. [Plate 36]

The Rookie

"It's awful windy," Mystique said. Mystique was new to life on the

street, and had no idea how cold it could get.

"Work with it," Elena advised. "Bend over and let it paste your flimsy

dress against your butt. Men are suckers for that. They love to think

they've seen more than you wanted to show them."

Elena had given up her brothel in order to work solo again, but she was

always glad to give a rookie some friendly advice.

"What about my little problem?" Mystique asked.

"Be up-front about it! You've got your period, so he can't stick it

there. But you can do certain other things. With your hands. Or your

mouth. Or even your you-know-what. But that'll cost them extra. You're a

lady and you've never done that before. You wouldn't do that now, only

you desperately need the money. Got that?"

"Oh, yes."

"If you can cry a little while you're doing it, that'll speed things up.

Because it really gets men hot. The more innocent you can seem, the

better."

"I'm going for a good-little-girl-gone-bad thing here, then?"

"Exactly."

"So I shouldn't mention that I'm pre-op?"

Elena smiled. "Not until you've got the money in your pocket and the deed

is done. You can show them your penis afterwards if you want. The look on

their faces is always good for a giggle."

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This is the 49th of 80 stories by Michael Swanwick written to accompany

Francisco Goya's Los Caprichos. For a listing of the most recently

available stories, go to The Sleep of Reason.

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