"Of course it is," he snapped. "I mean you're getting another wall;
you'll have two. What about that? Two Full-walls--and nobody else
in the cell-block has one yet. The only question is--" he rubbed his
hands together, striding up and down the room, eyeing the walls--"which
wall is it to be? You can have it adjacent, or opposite. I went over
the whole thing with the Full-wall people today. By God, they're doing
a magnificent job of programming. You see, the two walls will be
synchronized. You're getting the same show on both--you're seeing it
from two angles, just as though you were right there in the middle of
it. Their whole program has been built on that principle."
"Harry, I'm not sure I want another wall--"
"Oh, nonsense. What is this, some kind of self-denial urge? Why not
have the best--if you can afford it. And by God, I can afford it. I'm
hitting my stride--"
* * * * *
"Harry, could I go with you some day--tomorrow? I'd like to see where
you work, meet your friends--"
"Flora, are you out of your mind? You've seen the commuter car; you
know how crowded it is. And what would you do when you got there? Just
stand around all day, blocking the aisle? Why don't you appreciate
the luxury of having your own place, a little privacy, and now two
Full-walls--"
"Then could I go somewhere else I could take a later car. I want to get
out in the open air, Harry. I ... haven't seen the sky for ... years,
it seems."
"But ..." Harry groped for words, staring at Flora. "Why would you want
to go up on the roof?"
"Not the roof; I want to get out of the city--just for a little while.
I'll be back home in time to dial your dinner...."
"Do you mean to tell me you want to spend all that money to wedge
yourself in a verticar and then transfer to a cross-town and travel
maybe seventy miles, packed in like a sardine, standing up all the way,
just so you can get out and stand in a wasteland and look back at the
walls? And then get back in another car--if you're lucky--and come back
again?"
"No--I don't know--I just want to get out, Harry. The roof. Could I go
to the roof?"
Harry came over to pat Flora awkwardly on the arm. "Now, take it easy,
Flora. You're a little tired and stale; I know. I get the same way
sometimes. But don't get the idea that you're missing anything by not
having to get into that rat-race. Heaven knows _I_ wish I could stay
home. And this new wall is going to make things different. You'll
see...."
* * * * *
The new Full-wall was installed adjacent to the first, with a joint
so beautifully fitted that only the finest line marked the junction.
As soon as she was alone with it, Flora switched it off. Now two
reflections stared back at her from behind what appeared to be two
intersecting planes of clear glass. She waved an arm. The two slave
figures aped her. She walked toward the mirrored corner. They advanced.
She stepped back; they retreated.
She went to the far corner of the room and studied the effect. It
wasn't as nice as before. Instead of a simple room, neatly bounded on
all four sides by solid walls, she seemed now to occupy a stage set off
by windows through which other, similar, stages were visible, endlessly
repeated. The old feeling of intimate companionship with her reflected
self was gone; the two mirror-women were strangers, silently watching
her. Defiantly, she stuck out her tongue. The two reflections grimaced
menacingly. With a small cry, Flora ran to the switch, turned the
screens on.
They were seldom off after that. Sometimes, when the hammering of
hooves became too wearing, or the shouting of comics too strident,
she would blank them out, and sit, back to the mirror walls, sipping
a cup of hot coflet, and waiting--but they were always on when Harry
arrived, sometimes glum, sometimes brisk and satisfied. He would settle
himself in his chair, waiting patiently enough for dinner, watching the
screens.
"They're all right," he would declare, nodding. "Look at that, Flora.
Look at the way that fellow whipped right across there. By golly,
you've got to hand it to the Full-wall people."
"Harry--where do they make the shows? The ones that show the beautiful
scenery, and trees and rolling hills, and mountains?"