CHAPTER 39––––––––
The following evening, Ping walked into Mara’s shop with a newspaper tucked under his arm. He browsed the shelves waiting for her to finish for the day. Mara put the final touches on a vintage Polaroid camera, flipped up the bar holding the flash, pointed it at Ping and pressed a button. She retrieved a photograph from a slot in the camera’s base and waved it in the air while it developed. After a couple minutes, she handed him the picture.
“Now that’s grease-monkey magic. No metaphysics required.” She folded up the hinged device and placed it on a shelf behind the counter.
Ping took the picture and smiled. “I used to have one of these. Why would someone want an old Polaroid with all the digital options available? Can you even buy the film cartridges for these nowaday
