experience to recording, from the eyes and ears to direct connection with the brain. Information grew. History stopped fading away, but became part of the atmosphere. The imaginations of billions took on more power than had ever been known to man.
Today, fact and fiction beckon for attention from every corner, offering to the commoners of the twenty-second century knowledge that kings could once only dream to possess. It had been an irresistible temptation… the only place left to live, even after we’d forgotten what living was. Even as a voice within cried to get out of DR’s snare, accepting three free days was all I knew to do. The illusions and fantasies still worked well enough, I told myself.
When they had suddenly been rushed to their end, when they all went up in a brilliant flash of light, I found that I couldn’t ignore the hollowed-out shell I had become, and that I had no comfort to retreat to, as if illusions and fantasies had never worked at all.
Any time we need to forget the troubles of modern life, the parade calls out to us. We stand in the assurance that the parade will go on forever, existing to offer something new, stimulating the senses beyond the limits of yesterday.
In days, I would die the death that should’ve taken decades. In days, I would reach my limit: the barrier standing at the end of the road. That was the day that had no future. That was the day that I could only slow to a crawl and fall apart. That was the day I knew the barrier was real.
That was the day another foot reached over mine and floored the pedal.
- - - -- --- -- - - - - --- -- - - --- - -- - -- ---- --- - - --- -
“PaciTek.”
I watched myself getting farther from the ground. I accepted the warmth of the sunlight and the joy of observing the sprawling city landscape.
“You want happiness?” a woman’s voice asked.
“Yeah,”
Today, fact and fiction beckon for attention from every corner, offering to the commoners of the twenty-second century knowledge that kings could once only dream to possess. It had been an irresistible temptation… the only place left to live, even after we’d forgotten what living was. Even as a voice within cried to get out of DR’s snare, accepting three free days was all I knew to do. The illusions and fantasies still worked well enough, I told myself.
When they had suddenly been rushed to their end, when they all went up in a brilliant flash of light, I found that I couldn’t ignore the hollowed-out shell I had become, and that I had no comfort to retreat to, as if illusions and fantasies had never worked at all.
Any time we need to forget the troubles of modern life, the parade calls out to us. We stand in the assurance that the parade will go on forever, existing to offer something new, stimulating the senses beyond the limits of yesterday.
In days, I would die the death that should’ve taken decades. In days, I would reach my limit: the barrier standing at the end of the road. That was the day that had no future. That was the day that I could only slow to a crawl and fall apart. That was the day I knew the barrier was real.
That was the day another foot reached over mine and floored the pedal.
- - - -- --- -- - - - - --- -- - - --- - -- - -- ---- --- - - --- -
“PaciTek.”
I watched myself getting farther from the ground. I accepted the warmth of the sunlight and the joy of observing the sprawling city landscape.
“You want happiness?” a woman’s voice asked.
“Yeah,”