With those pale eyes and that funereal expression, TT-86’s cosmetologist looked very much like a female Lurch, from an unknown branch of the Addams Family Tree.
”How are you this morning?” Paula asked as Malcolm shook her hand.
Even Paula’s voice was soft and creepy.
Margo realized how intensely she was staring when both Malcolm and Paula turned and stared back.
”I — uh — “
To Margo’s astonishment, Paula started laughing. The sight was so disturbing, Margo actually had trouble getting to her feet. She tripped over her own shoe and stumbled.
”Malcolm,” Paula Booker winked, “let’s show this young lady my photographs, shall we?”
Margo followed uneasily as Paula Booker escorted them into a private office. One wall was covered literally covered-with photos of one of the most beautiful women Margo had ever seen. Ash-blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, fine bone structure above hollowed cheeks
”My God! It’s you!” Margo blurted.
Paula laughed again. “Aren’t I a great walking advertisement?”
”You…” Mar go stared from the photos to the apparition before her and back again. “You did that to yourself?”
Paula’s grin was a terrifying vision. “Indeed I did. Every morning I put on the finishing touches with makeup.”
”But you could’ve been a movie star! A world-famous model!”
”Oh, I was. A model, that is. It was dead boring,” Paula’s eyes twinkled. “This is much more fun. And I get to do such interesting plastic surgery, too. I have a medical degree just for that. Somebody Caucasian wants to go to Edo, I doctor them a little and presto, they’re virtually indistinguishable from a native-born Japanese. I can alter skin tone, hair color, whatever’s required.”