Tom and Alice
Tom and Alice lay on Alice's bed, clothed except for shoes, on their sides facing each other in a long, body to body embrace. Sometimes, this was how they talked, lying there in each other's arms. There was so much to talk about. There was so much to feel good about. They had saved Angela's bacon. The situation was difficult but, together, they had worked out the best deal for everyone involved. They were grateful that they had their combined strength to apply to difficulties. They did not add to each other, they multiplied.
"Alice, are you very upset about the idea of using drugs?"
"What do you mean, Tom?"
"You seemed to think there might be something basically wrong about playing with drugs sometimes."
"It's complicated for me, Tom. My dad's a cop and if I got caught..."
"I know that. Suppose you couldn't get caught. Suppose you were here in my room. Would you be willing to try an interesting drug?"
"What's an interesting drug? Not pot or coke or heroin or ecstasy?
"No. There was a guy - Alexander Sulgin - who made and tested a lot of drugs working directly for the FDA. They were all based on the compound tryptamine. He wrote a book, TIKHAL, Tryptamines I Have Known And Loved. Some of the compounds he developed had amazing effects on sex. People who can get them still use them to enhance sex."
"So, these are real, pharmaceutical drugs."
"Kind of. Drug companies don't make them. The only way to get them is to follow the instructions in TIKHAL. Sulgin tells you the reageants and reactions you would need to make one. Sometimes people do that and sell some of their product."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"You would think, but some people sell their products with evidence of extensive testing of the item and have been known to be pretty reliable in some circles. Short story, I have some 5MeO_DIPT, also called foxy methoxy or, are you ready. Five-meo-di-isopropyl tryptamine. I know it's good because I have take from the same batch twice. I also know that the experience is worth the downside."
"Which is..."