“Well, just a few more impressions before we go back for a technical session. I’m still not sure I really believe this. I have to remind myself that the lake we’re driving past is probably less than a yard across, and those aren’t really mountains on the other side.
“In front, we’re approaching what I can only think of as some kind of primordial jungle—the kind you imagine pterodactyls flying over, and dinosaurs crashing around in. It’s not anything like trees as we know them, but gigantic, curving trunks all twisting together, and huge, leathery plates of leaves, much higher up above than you ever see trees. The light is peculiar too, in that . . . Oh, my God, there is a dinosaur! It’s even bigger than the trees, staring down over them at us like a Tyrannosaurus.” Amy called down the command menu again and hovered a finger warily near exit. “It’s got a flat, pointed head and enormous black eyes made up of thousands of lenses. I think it’s a praying mantis. . . .”
Kevin watched from the back of the auditorium as Corfe gave his talk, “Introduction to DNC,” accompanied by slides, charts, and demonstrations. It seemed to be going over well, with a lively flow of questions from the audience. Ohira was sitting to one side, decked out formally in a black suit with bow tie for the occasion.
“So can we take it that this technology has a clean bill of health now?” somebody asked from the front. “Weren’t there some scares going around about, oh, six months or so ago? Something about it being able to mess people up in the head?”
Corfe nodded knowingly. “That’s all been put to bed now. It was exposed as a malicious campaign initiated by hostile commercial interests that stood to lose in a big way. You see, the MICROCOSM venture—we still call it ‘Bug Park’ among ourselves here—is really just a side line. The big-money applications are in science and industry.”
“So there’s no truth in those allegations?”
Corfe smiled faintly and shook his head. “Not a scrap. It was all investigated officially. They all went away.”
A modest auditorium the size of a local movie theater was all that was needed—another could always be added next door if the demand called for it. The couplers were luxurious compared to the ones Kevin was used to; it was the electronics that constituted the biggest capital outlay. The park itself was a square twenty feet on a side out back. That could always be enlarged, and more variety added as needed, too.
Somebody tapped him on his elbow. He turned to find Avril there. She motioned with her head at the doors behind, leading through to the lobby area. Kevin nodded and followed her out.
Taki was outside, among the staff attending to final chores, and contractors cleaning up and making last-day finishing touches to the decor. Janna was with him, holding a phone. “What’s the plan for the girls this evening?” Taki asked Kevin. “Are they staying in town or going back to Tacoma? Janna’s folks need to know.” Neurodyne was hosting a dinner in town for the guests that night.
Kevin was surprised that Taki should even ask. “Coming with us, of course. They’re part of the firm now.” Avril and Janna had made their debut as tour bus drivers too that morning, and seemed to have enjoyed it. Unofficially, they were becoming quite proficient small-game hunters also.
Taki looked at Kevin while Janna relayed the information into the phone. “A guy in the group that I was with just now wanted to know if we’d thought of starting a flying school—teaching people to fly planes, using mecs. It sounded like a great idea. What do you think?”
Kevin shrugged. “Why not? Put it on the list.” New suggestions were pouring in all the time. “Where did he hear about that, anyway?” Kevin asked.
“I think your dad mentioned it when they were talking over the phone,” Taki answered.
“Why just planes?” Avril put in. “Why not let people have a try at the flymecs?”
“I don’t thing they’re ready for going public with yet,” Taki said.