Toys

Chapter 11

Our apartment building’s superfast express elevator whisked me up to the rooftop garage, and I jumped into my own car-a teardrop-shaped sports-pod just big enough to comfortably fit me and a passenger. Although the touch of a button would extend it rearward, enabling it to carry as many as four others.

As the hatch slid shut, the instrument panel lights blinked a message: “Ready when you are, Dr. Baker.”

“Toyz store, Baronville, max speed,” I said.

Usually, I operated the vehicle myself, but right now I needed a break, even-as it would have to be in this case-a very short one.

“Roger that, Dr. Baker,” replied the interactive pilot’s crisp voice.

Suddenly, the sports-pod shot straight upward, then forward, pressing me firmly back into the custom seats. These superlight pods were among the fastest models available, capable of doing zero to sixty in two seconds flat, maneuvering in the air like a hummingbird, and cruising comfortably at three hundred miles per hour, even on a surface road.

“Airspace clearance is set. Estimated flight time: four minutes and twenty-three seconds,” said a different voice, female and as familiar as an old friend. “Would you care for a drink? Entertainment of any kind? Sensory stimulation?”

This was Elle, the artificially intelligent attendant. I hadn’t named the pilot-our relationship was more businesslike-but Elle deserved a name.

“How about some Bach?” I said. “Please, Elle. That would be terrific. Just what I need.”

“If I might make a suggestion, the Brandenburg Number Six, Allegro, would just about fit our flight parameters.”

“Perfect.”

“Perhaps with a multisense track?” she said.

“Something light, yes.”

Elle didn’t have a full body, just a pair of slender robotic arms, but they functioned with a precise efficiency that could be spellbinding. She slipped the car’s mood helmet onto my head, and I relaxed with the classical music-another of the very good things that humans had given the world. How bizarre was that?

Actually, to be fair, humans were still making a few worthwhile contributions to the world. We Elites weren’t numerous enough to fill every role in our society, so we had to concentrate on managing the vital ones-government, medical, military, law enforcement, telecommunications, media. Consequently, well-trained and strictly supervised humans were still manning the orchestras, bands, and studio sessions that we required. Humans also had many necessary subservient roles, especially those involving cleaning and waste collection.

But I believed it was Elite technology that really took classical music to the next level-when the Brandenburg began, I wasn’t just listening, I was experiencing with all my senses…

… drifting along a pure, clear river, with the scent of lilacs in spring wafting through the air.

Trees along the banks thrust their strong trunks up from the earth, while their branches reach like slender, red-tipped fingers to caress the sky.

Rich, ripe fruit of all varieties hang within easy reach, and alluring nymphlike shapes frolic in the water around me, waving at me to come join them in their play…

The exquisite concerto ended with its last, very memorable drawn-out chord.

“We’re here, Dr. Baker,” Elle said in the quietest whisper. “Toyz store, Baronville.”

Damn. I could have used a little more Bach.