Button in the Fabric of Time by William Wayne Dicksion

it,” I replied.
    Our keri entered a large open passageway. The
city was laid out grid fashion, and keri s moved through the
passageways, both vertically and horizontally. Shops, restaurants,
and places of entertainment lined this section of the city. I saw
no vehicles on the surface, and there were no streets or sidewalks.
Wide pathways decorated with plants and fountains meandered through
the city. People wandered the pathways, smiling and talking. Many
carried packages and looked as though they were shopping. Some
hurried, some strolled, but none looked tired or haggard. A few
children accompanied them, but there were no old people. The adults
all appeared to be in their mid-twenties. Women dressed in soft,
flowing garments of every color. Some dressed provocatively, others
conservatively. Men wore clothes less flowing but equally colorful
garments. It was obvious that they wore clothing as adornments.
They didn’t need to wear anything for comfort; the temperature was
perfect.
    “How do you maintain a comfortable
environment, with so many people in an enclosed area?” I asked.
    “All surfaces are cleaned daily,” Roc-2 said,
“and the air is continually circulating through purifying chambers
where humidity and temperature are carefully controlled.”
    “Oxygen levels are constantly monitored,”
Jan-3 added.
    Children were running and playing with no
apparent concern about getting lost.
    “How do the mothers keep track of their
children in such crowds?” I asked.
    Jan-3 smiled. “Each child wears a miniature
transmitter that emits a silent signal. The mothers carry receivers
that enable them to see and hear their children at all times.”
    “Aren’t they worried that harm will come to
them?”
    “Everyone watches out for children; no one
would harm a child,” Jan-3 continued. “After our security people
have cleared you, I’ll take you on a tour and show you how our
cities work.”
    “I’ll look forward to that.” I was quietly
evaluating what I saw. The city was clean and gleamed with glorious
colors. The people appeared to be healthy and happy; it seemed to
be a paradise in every way. This is too good to be true. There’s
a fly in the ointment somewhere . I could see that we were
approaching the other side of the city, and I was getting
hungry.
    “Could we stop at a restaurant?” I asked
Roc-2.
    “There are many restaurants,” Roc 2 replied,
“but you’ll have to go through the purification chambers before we
can allow you to mingle with the people. Your body and clothing
contain harmful microbes and viruses. Jan-3 and I will have to go
through the chamber also, since we’ve been in close contact with
you. The cleansing process isn’t unpleasant, and it doesn’t take
long. You’ll benefit because the cleansing will eliminate all of
the things that are preventing your body from replenishing itself
perfectly, and that will allow you to live long into the
future.”
    “Will I feel differently?”
    “At first, the only thing you’ll notice is
that you’ll feel invigorated, but after your body has rejuvenated
each cell, you’ll have more strength and stamina than you would
have believed possible,” Roc-2 pointed out. “The rest of our
journey is over the open ocean, and since Jan-3 is going to show
you the things you want to see, I recommend that we complete our
journey at maximum speed.”
    “I would like to experience maximum speed as
well,” I grinned.
     
    * * *
     
    After leaving the city, we ascended rapidly
and traveled over the ocean at an incredible speed. Floating cities
glowed like jewels on blue velvet. I could tell by the cloud
formations that we were entering the earth’s tropical region.
    In the distance, I saw a city much larger
that the rest.
    “Is that Alpha-1?” I asked.
    “Yes, that’s our capital city. It’s the
largest city on earth, and its home to more than a billion people.
Everything that the city needs we take from the air, the ocean, and
the earth