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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25ca78b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65378 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65378) diff --git a/old/65378-0.txt b/old/65378-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 47d0783..0000000 --- a/old/65378-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,829 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Reality Unlimited, by Robert Silverberg - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Reality Unlimited - -Author: Robert Silverberg - -Release Date: May 18, 2021 [eBook #65378] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REALITY UNLIMITED *** - - - - - REALITY UNLIMITED - - By Robert Silverberg - - It was to be the last word in theatre fun; - you experienced the action as if you were there. - The trouble was--the fun could become too real! - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - August 1957 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -It was going to be the show of the century--absolutely the tops. - -There was a line eight blocks long outside the theater--the theater -that had been specially built to contain _Ultrarama_. - -Paul Hendriks had been in line since early the morning before, and so -he was only a block or so from the still-unopened ticket-booth. His -wife had come by from time to time, bringing sandwiches and coffee. -Hendriks was determined to get a pair of tickets. - -He turned to the man next to him. "Got the time?" - -"Five to nine." - -"That's what I thought. That means the ticket-office opens in five -minutes." Hendriks rose on tiptoe and squinted ahead. "There must be -five hundred people ahead of us." - -"They say the theater holds five thousand." - -"I know. And that you get the same effect no matter where you sit. But -still, I'd like to be right down there in the front." - -The other man nodded. "That goes for all of us." - -Hendriks grinned. "You know, this is the first time I ever heard of an -opening performance being managed right. I mean, thrown open for public -sale instead of being reserved for bigwigs." - -"Damned public-spirited," the other agreed. - -Suddenly the line began to edge forward. - -"They're selling tickets!" - -"The booth is open!" - -About an hour later, Hendriks plunked down his twenty dollars before -the efficient-looking girl in the ticket-cage and was handed a bulky -envelope. - -"These my tickets?" - -"That's right, sir." - -A little puzzled, but happy, he turned away and dug in the envelope. -He pulled out, not the familiar pasteboards, but two costly-looking -sumptuous engraved invitations on thick stiff paper. They said: - - _You are invited_ - _To the first showing anywhere in the world._ - of - ULTRARAMA - the sensational new film process - realer than life! - Wednesday, April 25, 1973 - at 8:00 PM - -Clutching the invitations as if they were his leases on life, Hendriks -stepped into the quiktrans and moments later stepped out again just -outside the door. - -His wife was waiting for him with an expectant look on her face. - -"Did you get them?" - -"I sure did! Two engraved invitations, at ten bucks a throw." - -"They'd better be worth it," she said anxiously. - -"Didn't you see that line when you brought me breakfast? _Eight -blocks!_ Hundreds and hundreds of people all trying to get to see the -first performance." - -"That doesn't mean a thing," she said. "After all, no one's ever seen -the complete movie--" - -"It's not a movie," he corrected. - -"All right, the complete whatchamacallit. No one's ever seen the -complete thing--not even the people who made it. So how do you know -it's good?" - -"Believe me, honey, this is going to be the greatest ever!" - - * * * * * - -On Wednesday, April 25, 1973, at 7:30 in the evening, the Hendriks -stood in the midst of a vast crowd that thronged the open plaza before -the Ultrarama Theater. The theater itself was a towering edifice that -had been built just for this production; it was one of the world's most -impressive buildings. - -"All right, all right," a policeman shouted. "Ticket-holders come this -way. The rest of you stay back." - -They cleared a channel through the mob and the Hendriks, along with -several hundred other early arrivees, followed along to the door of the -vast theater. - -"What are all these people doing here?" Mrs. Hendriks asked. - -Her husband shrugged. "Maybe they plan on crashing the gate--or -possibly they think there may be some tickets left. I tell you, we're -awfully lucky to be where we are right now." - -He extended the invitations to a tall, haughty-looking doorman in a -resplendent uniform. The doorman merely nodded and gestured them inside. - -"Don't they tear up the tickets?" - -"Not on opening night," Hendriks said. "They're letting us keep them as -souvenirs." - -They stepped inside and found themselves in a vast, almost boundless -vestibule carpeted with deep pile synthofoam of a lush purple color. -Vaulting arches of gleaming metal swept upward to the barely visible -ceiling. - -"If this is just the foyer," Paul Hendriks said, "imagine what it must -be inside!" - -His wife nudged him. "Look--isn't that shocking!" - -A girl of about seventeen was coming toward them, smiling cheerfully. -Hendriks blinked. She wore only two nearly-transparent strips of -shimmering cloth, one over her breasts and the other wrapped round her -hips. - -"Good evening," she said. "I'm your usher. May I show you to your -seats?" - -"They really put on a show here," Hendriks muttered. The girl glanced -at the invitations he was clutching and beckoned them to follow her. -She led the way, twitching her hips invitingly. - -A bright aluminoid door loomed before them. The girl touched a switch -and the door slid back, revealing the actual interior of the theater. - -Hendriks gasped. - -It was nearly the size of a football stadium. Where the playing field -should be were seats, elaborate plush pneumatic affairs. And ringing -the seats was the Screen. - -The Screen covered the entire walls, floor, ceiling. It hemmed the -audience in completely. As Hendriks took his seat, he felt totally -surrounded by it. - -They waited impatiently for the half hour to pass. The theater filled -up rapidly, with first-nighters in all their finery. - -"I'm glad we wore our formal clothes, dear." - -"Yes," Hendriks said, looking at the others. "This is quite an event. -Quite an event." - - * * * * * - -The theater was totally filled by 8 P. M. sharp; the corps of near-nude -usherettes performed their job swiftly and efficiently. - -And suddenly a voice said, "Welcome to ULTRARAMA." - -It was a cultured, soft female voice--and it came from so close to him -that he glanced in surprise at his wife. But she was looking at him. -She had heard the voice too. - -It continued: "You are about to witness the most spectacular form -of entertainment ever conceived by the mind of man. Twelve years of -concentrated work went into producing what you are about to see--and -no one but you will experience it. Each of you will be _taking part_; -each of you will, as the series of scenes we have assembled unfolds, -be caught up in the reality of ULTRARAMA--the _realer_-than-reality -Ultra-reality of ULTRARAMA. Shall we begin?" - -The lights in the theater dimmed--and the vast screen came to life. - -It was incredible. - -And they were in Africa. - -The huge plains of South Africa opened out before them. Hendriks -turned his head, looking around in astonishment. The audience seemed -to have disappeared. He was alone--alone in a world of yellowing grass -and strange thick trees, a flat world where death could strike at any -moment. - -In the distance he saw four grotesque shapes--giraffes, moving along -in their ungainly but yet tremendously rapid way, their long necks -projecting stiffly from their bodies. He repressed a chuckle. - -And then a low growl made him jump. He backed against a rough-barked -tree and felt sweat cascade down his body as a tawny shape sprang from -behind a twisted shrub, pounced on one of the giraffes, smashed the -fragile neck with a fierce swipe of a paw. - -The lioness. Sudden death springing from nowhere, a bright streak that -brought violence. Hendriks looked around uneasily. The giraffes had -fled; the lioness was dragging her kill into the underbrush. The warm -smell of death was in the air--that, and the buzzing of green-eyed -flies an inch long. Perched on a scrawny, almost leafless tree were -hooded ugly shapes. - -Vultures. _Are they waiting for me?_ - -This was _too_ real. This was _unbearably_ real. - -A herd of gazelles came bounding out of the background, relieving some -of the tension. The lovely creatures seemed to float along, touching -the ground only at occasional intervals. Behind them marched the -dull-gray bulks of a herd of elephants, shambling with a ponderous gait. - -This was Africa. This was the real thing, Hendriks told himself. It -wasn't a show. Through some magic the ULTRARAMA people had actually -sent him here. - -He moved away, investigating. A sluggish black stream wound through the -jungle; curious, Hendriks walked toward it. Dark logs lay strewn almost -at random in the shallow muddy water at the sides of the stream. But -as he watched, one of the logs yawned, showing a double row of deadly -teeth, and slid sleepily off into deeper waters. - -Crocodiles. Death threatened everywhere in the jungle. - -Monkeys chittered overhead; bright-plumaged birds flapped from tree to -tree. Hendriks felt the heat, his nostrils drew in the smell. This was -real. He wondered if it would ever end, if he would ever return to his -neat little city apartment and to his wife and children. - -He glanced away from the stream, looked up at the sun blazing in the -bright blue sky. And abruptly black death came roaring at him from a -tree. - -Hendriks had just a moment to recognize it. A leopard, black, sleek, -moving with the easy grace of a machine designed for killing. He -toppled backward under the impetus of the beast's furious attack, -smelled the soft musky smell of the killer. - -Then claws reached for his throat. Hot barbs of red pain shot through -him. He screamed out, fought, tried to hold the snapping jaws away. - -"No! No! It isn't real! Get away from me!" - -And in that instant Africa vanished. - - * * * * * - -"THE SECOND ILLUSION," that soft voice next to his ear said. - -He was again alone, in an unfamiliar room. A lady's boudoir, he saw. -A satin-covered spread lay over a wide, inviting bed; dressing-tables -were laden with perfumes and cosmetics. - -Behind him the door opened. A woman entered. - -He had never seen her before. She was tall, dressed only in a filmy -negligee that barely concealed her long sleek legs, her firm breasts. -She was all he had ever wanted in a woman; she awakened desires that -had been dead in him for twenty years. - -"Hello," she said. Her voice was throbbingly throaty. "I've waited a -long time for you, Paul Hendriks." - -_How did she know my name? How_-- - -Then he stopped asking questions. She had glided close to him, stood -there, bosom gently rising and falling, looking into his eyes. She was -nearly as tall as he. He smelled her enticing perfume. - -"Come," she said, taking his hand. She led him toward a chaise lounge. - -He frowned. "But my wife ..." he murmured, feeling like seventeen -different kinds of idiot as he said the words. - -"Your wife is happy where she is. Come to me, Paul." - -She drew him down beside her.... - -What seemed like hours went by. Suddenly he felt a rough hand grab him, -awakening him. - -A stranger stood there, fully dressed, menace glinting in his eyes. -"Who is this man, Louise?" he demanded. - -Wide-eyed shock was evident on the woman's face. "But--I didn't expect -you until--" - -"Of course not." Hendriks watched in horror as the newcomer drew a gun -from his pocket. He lifted it; the barrel seemed to point directly at -Hendriks' eyes. The finger began to tighten on the trigger-- - - * * * * * - -"THE THIRD ILLUSION," said a soft voice. - -And he was holding a billowing net and a strange three-pronged weapon. -The sound of a roaring multitude reached his ears. He blinked, -orientating himself to the new illusion, and saw that he was in an -immense stadium. Curiously-garbed people were staring down at him. - -_My God_, he thought. _The Coliseum!_ - -And even as the thought of recognition burst upon him, he saw -his opponent advancing over the bloody sand. It was a swarthy, -broad-shouldered man in a leather tunic, wielding a thick, short sword. - -Swordsman against netman. It was deadly, deadly. - -Hendriks knew enough history to be aware of what was expected of -him. He had to ensnare the swordsman in the net and kill him with -the trident before that fierce sword could pierce his heart. It was -anything but an equal contest, but with proper agility-- - -The sword flashed on high. Desperately Hendriks parried it with the -hilt of his trident and whirled the net through the air. The swordsman -laughed and leaped back. - -Hendriks advanced, looking for an opening. The roars of the crowd were -deafening. He swung the net tentatively, readying himself for the cast. -Tired muscles throbbed in his arms and thighs. - -The swordsman retreated deftly, smiling. He looked confident. Hendriks -began the cast. - -Suddenly the sword flashed again. It was a lightning-fast attack. -Hendriks managed to get the trident up to protect himself; the -impact sent pain coursing up his arm, and, numbed, he dropped the -three-pronged weapon. Laughing jovially, his opponent kicked the -trident far across the stadium and advanced with the sword. - -Hendriks knew what he had to do. He dropped to his knees before the -advancing swordsman and gestured toward the audience. - -The swordsman nodded. He lifted the sword, held it over Hendriks' head, -and looked up at the grand dais. Hendriks looked up as well. - -The thumbs were down. Emphatically so. - -The sword began to descend-- - - * * * * * - -"THE FOURTH ILLUSION," said the voice. - -He was racing madly down the Indianapolis Speedway, bobbing along at -nearly 150 miles an hour in a flimsy-looking little racing auto. Blurs -whizzed by on all sides. - -Ahead of him he saw a car suddenly swerve into the embankment and burst -into a mass of flames. With desperate urgency he yanked on the wheel, -tried to avoid the pileup-- - -And failed. He felt his car going end over end into the air, and shut -his eyes, waiting for the explosion that would follow. - -"THE FIFTH ILLUSION," the voice said. - -He was in a prehistoric jungle; strange stumpy trees were all around, -lush vegetation. A slow-moving beast of immense size was thundering -away from him, its tiny head close to the ground snapping up vegetation -without cease. Overhead a leather-winged flying reptile moved through -the air in jerky swoops. - -There was sudden thunder behind him. He turned. - -Through a haze of giant mosquitoes he saw a mountain of a beast -advancing toward him, tiny forepaws clutching the air, vast head -opening to reveal foot-long teeth. - -He started to run, but even as he did so he knew it was fruitless. -In the steamy jungle sweat poured down him like summer rain. The hot -breath of the tyrannosaur was only feet behind him. - -Hendriks turned, looked up. The mighty jaws were opening; the -knife-like teeth beckoned. - -"No!" he screamed "No!" - -Suddenly all went blank. - - * * * * * - -He sat in numbed silence for an instant, realizing he was back in the -theater. - -The voice in his ear said, "There will be a brief intermission before -proceeding with the remaining half of the program. Please remain in -your seats to avoid confusion. Thank you." - -Hendriks shook his head wearily; he was dizzy, utterly exhausted. His -stiff white shirt had lost all its starch. He was bathed in sweat. -His hands shook. His fingernails, he noticed, had been chewed to the -quick. He felt as if he had been to hell and back. - -He finally mustered enough strength to look over at his wife. She was -sitting back in her plush chair, utterly beaten. He glanced around the -theater. The other first-nighters were sitting in attitudes ranging -from glassy-eyed exhaustion to complete nervous breakdown. - -"The second part of the program will begin in three minutes," the -pleasant voice said. - -"Oh, no it won't!" Hendriks muttered out loud. His voice sounded like a -harsh croak in his ears. He seized his wife by the hand; she felt cold, -clammy. - -"Let's go, Dot. Let's get out of here." - -She came to life and nodded in silent agreement. Weakly they tottered -down the vast aisle, past the pretty near-nude usherettes, through the -huge vestibule, out into the coolness of the night air and the relative -peace of the city. - -There were still some people gathered outside. - -"How is it? Real nice?" - -"Is it over?" - -"Hey, you leavin' so soon?" - -Hendriks ignored them. He hailed a jetcab, helped his wife in, -staggered in himself. He gave the driver his address. - -"You comin' from the Ultrarama show?" the driver asked. - -Hendriks nodded. - -"Swell thing, ain't it? It's supposed to be _real_, and I mean real!" - -"It sure is," Hendriks agreed. He leaned back and tried to relax. His -nerves were still quivering like overtaut harp strings. - -"It's quite a thing," he said. "But not for me. I'm going home. I'm -going to take a nice calming shower, a sedative, and get in bed. Then -I'm going to read a nice quiet book. How about you, Dot?" - -She nodded. "_That's_ real enough for me," she said. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REALITY UNLIMITED *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Reality Unlimited</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Robert Silverberg</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 18, 2021 [eBook #65378]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REALITY UNLIMITED ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>REALITY UNLIMITED</h1> - -<h2>By Robert Silverberg</h2> - -<p>It was to be the last word in theatre fun;<br /> -you experienced the action as if you were there.<br /> -The trouble was—the fun could become too real!</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -August 1957<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>It was going to be the show of the century—absolutely the tops.</p> - -<p>There was a line eight blocks long outside the theater—the theater -that had been specially built to contain <i>Ultrarama</i>.</p> - -<p>Paul Hendriks had been in line since early the morning before, and so -he was only a block or so from the still-unopened ticket-booth. His -wife had come by from time to time, bringing sandwiches and coffee. -Hendriks was determined to get a pair of tickets.</p> - -<p>He turned to the man next to him. "Got the time?"</p> - -<p>"Five to nine."</p> - -<p>"That's what I thought. That means the ticket-office opens in five -minutes." Hendriks rose on tiptoe and squinted ahead. "There must be -five hundred people ahead of us."</p> - -<p>"They say the theater holds five thousand."</p> - -<p>"I know. And that you get the same effect no matter where you sit. But -still, I'd like to be right down there in the front."</p> - -<p>The other man nodded. "That goes for all of us."</p> - -<p>Hendriks grinned. "You know, this is the first time I ever heard of an -opening performance being managed right. I mean, thrown open for public -sale instead of being reserved for bigwigs."</p> - -<p>"Damned public-spirited," the other agreed.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the line began to edge forward.</p> - -<p>"They're selling tickets!"</p> - -<p>"The booth is open!"</p> - -<p>About an hour later, Hendriks plunked down his twenty dollars before -the efficient-looking girl in the ticket-cage and was handed a bulky -envelope.</p> - -<p>"These my tickets?"</p> - -<p>"That's right, sir."</p> - -<p>A little puzzled, but happy, he turned away and dug in the envelope. -He pulled out, not the familiar pasteboards, but two costly-looking -sumptuous engraved invitations on thick stiff paper. They said:</p> - -<p class="ph1"><i>You are invited</i><br /> -<i>To the first showing anywhere in the world.</i><br /> -of<br /> -ULTRARAMA<br /> -the sensational new film process<br /> -realer than life!<br /> -Wednesday, April 25, 1973<br /> -at 8:00 PM</p> - -<p>Clutching the invitations as if they were his leases on life, Hendriks -stepped into the quiktrans and moments later stepped out again just -outside the door.</p> - -<p>His wife was waiting for him with an expectant look on her face.</p> - -<p>"Did you get them?"</p> - -<p>"I sure did! Two engraved invitations, at ten bucks a throw."</p> - -<p>"They'd better be worth it," she said anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Didn't you see that line when you brought me breakfast? <i>Eight -blocks!</i> Hundreds and hundreds of people all trying to get to see the -first performance."</p> - -<p>"That doesn't mean a thing," she said. "After all, no one's ever seen -the complete movie—"</p> - -<p>"It's not a movie," he corrected.</p> - -<p>"All right, the complete whatchamacallit. No one's ever seen the -complete thing—not even the people who made it. So how do you know -it's good?"</p> - -<p>"Believe me, honey, this is going to be the greatest ever!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>On Wednesday, April 25, 1973, at 7:30 in the evening, the Hendriks -stood in the midst of a vast crowd that thronged the open plaza before -the Ultrarama Theater. The theater itself was a towering edifice that -had been built just for this production; it was one of the world's most -impressive buildings.</p> - -<p>"All right, all right," a policeman shouted. "Ticket-holders come this -way. The rest of you stay back."</p> - -<p>They cleared a channel through the mob and the Hendriks, along with -several hundred other early arrivees, followed along to the door of the -vast theater.</p> - -<p>"What are all these people doing here?" Mrs. Hendriks asked.</p> - -<p>Her husband shrugged. "Maybe they plan on crashing the gate—or -possibly they think there may be some tickets left. I tell you, we're -awfully lucky to be where we are right now."</p> - -<p>He extended the invitations to a tall, haughty-looking doorman in a -resplendent uniform. The doorman merely nodded and gestured them inside.</p> - -<p>"Don't they tear up the tickets?"</p> - -<p>"Not on opening night," Hendriks said. "They're letting us keep them as -souvenirs."</p> - -<p>They stepped inside and found themselves in a vast, almost boundless -vestibule carpeted with deep pile synthofoam of a lush purple color. -Vaulting arches of gleaming metal swept upward to the barely visible -ceiling.</p> - -<p>"If this is just the foyer," Paul Hendriks said, "imagine what it must -be inside!"</p> - -<p>His wife nudged him. "Look—isn't that shocking!"</p> - -<p>A girl of about seventeen was coming toward them, smiling cheerfully. -Hendriks blinked. She wore only two nearly-transparent strips of -shimmering cloth, one over her breasts and the other wrapped round her -hips.</p> - -<p>"Good evening," she said. "I'm your usher. May I show you to your -seats?"</p> - -<p>"They really put on a show here," Hendriks muttered. The girl glanced -at the invitations he was clutching and beckoned them to follow her. -She led the way, twitching her hips invitingly.</p> - -<p>A bright aluminoid door loomed before them. The girl touched a switch -and the door slid back, revealing the actual interior of the theater.</p> - -<p>Hendriks gasped.</p> - -<p>It was nearly the size of a football stadium. Where the playing field -should be were seats, elaborate plush pneumatic affairs. And ringing -the seats was the Screen.</p> - -<p>The Screen covered the entire walls, floor, ceiling. It hemmed the -audience in completely. As Hendriks took his seat, he felt totally -surrounded by it.</p> - -<p>They waited impatiently for the half hour to pass. The theater filled -up rapidly, with first-nighters in all their finery.</p> - -<p>"I'm glad we wore our formal clothes, dear."</p> - -<p>"Yes," Hendriks said, looking at the others. "This is quite an event. -Quite an event."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The theater was totally filled by 8 P. M. sharp; the corps of near-nude -usherettes performed their job swiftly and efficiently.</p> - -<p>And suddenly a voice said, "Welcome to ULTRARAMA."</p> - -<p>It was a cultured, soft female voice—and it came from so close to him -that he glanced in surprise at his wife. But she was looking at him. -She had heard the voice too.</p> - -<p>It continued: "You are about to witness the most spectacular form -of entertainment ever conceived by the mind of man. Twelve years of -concentrated work went into producing what you are about to see—and -no one but you will experience it. Each of you will be <i>taking part</i>; -each of you will, as the series of scenes we have assembled unfolds, -be caught up in the reality of ULTRARAMA—the <i>realer</i>-than-reality -Ultra-reality of ULTRARAMA. Shall we begin?"</p> - -<p>The lights in the theater dimmed—and the vast screen came to life.</p> - -<p>It was incredible.</p> - -<p>And they were in Africa.</p> - -<p>The huge plains of South Africa opened out before them. Hendriks -turned his head, looking around in astonishment. The audience seemed -to have disappeared. He was alone—alone in a world of yellowing grass -and strange thick trees, a flat world where death could strike at any -moment.</p> - -<p>In the distance he saw four grotesque shapes—giraffes, moving along -in their ungainly but yet tremendously rapid way, their long necks -projecting stiffly from their bodies. He repressed a chuckle.</p> - -<p>And then a low growl made him jump. He backed against a rough-barked -tree and felt sweat cascade down his body as a tawny shape sprang from -behind a twisted shrub, pounced on one of the giraffes, smashed the -fragile neck with a fierce swipe of a paw.</p> - -<p>The lioness. Sudden death springing from nowhere, a bright streak that -brought violence. Hendriks looked around uneasily. The giraffes had -fled; the lioness was dragging her kill into the underbrush. The warm -smell of death was in the air—that, and the buzzing of green-eyed -flies an inch long. Perched on a scrawny, almost leafless tree were -hooded ugly shapes.</p> - -<p>Vultures. <i>Are they waiting for me?</i></p> - -<p>This was <i>too</i> real. This was <i>unbearably</i> real.</p> - -<p>A herd of gazelles came bounding out of the background, relieving some -of the tension. The lovely creatures seemed to float along, touching -the ground only at occasional intervals. Behind them marched the -dull-gray bulks of a herd of elephants, shambling with a ponderous gait.</p> - -<p>This was Africa. This was the real thing, Hendriks told himself. It -wasn't a show. Through some magic the ULTRARAMA people had actually -sent him here.</p> - -<p>He moved away, investigating. A sluggish black stream wound through the -jungle; curious, Hendriks walked toward it. Dark logs lay strewn almost -at random in the shallow muddy water at the sides of the stream. But -as he watched, one of the logs yawned, showing a double row of deadly -teeth, and slid sleepily off into deeper waters.</p> - -<p>Crocodiles. Death threatened everywhere in the jungle.</p> - -<p>Monkeys chittered overhead; bright-plumaged birds flapped from tree to -tree. Hendriks felt the heat, his nostrils drew in the smell. This was -real. He wondered if it would ever end, if he would ever return to his -neat little city apartment and to his wife and children.</p> - -<p>He glanced away from the stream, looked up at the sun blazing in the -bright blue sky. And abruptly black death came roaring at him from a -tree.</p> - -<p>Hendriks had just a moment to recognize it. A leopard, black, sleek, -moving with the easy grace of a machine designed for killing. He -toppled backward under the impetus of the beast's furious attack, -smelled the soft musky smell of the killer.</p> - -<p>Then claws reached for his throat. Hot barbs of red pain shot through -him. He screamed out, fought, tried to hold the snapping jaws away.</p> - -<p>"No! No! It isn't real! Get away from me!"</p> - -<p>And in that instant Africa vanished.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"THE SECOND ILLUSION," that soft voice next to his ear said.</p> - -<p>He was again alone, in an unfamiliar room. A lady's boudoir, he saw. -A satin-covered spread lay over a wide, inviting bed; dressing-tables -were laden with perfumes and cosmetics.</p> - -<p>Behind him the door opened. A woman entered.</p> - -<p>He had never seen her before. She was tall, dressed only in a filmy -negligee that barely concealed her long sleek legs, her firm breasts. -She was all he had ever wanted in a woman; she awakened desires that -had been dead in him for twenty years.</p> - -<p>"Hello," she said. Her voice was throbbingly throaty. "I've waited a -long time for you, Paul Hendriks."</p> - -<p><i>How did she know my name? How</i>—</p> - -<p>Then he stopped asking questions. She had glided close to him, stood -there, bosom gently rising and falling, looking into his eyes. She was -nearly as tall as he. He smelled her enticing perfume.</p> - -<p>"Come," she said, taking his hand. She led him toward a chaise lounge.</p> - -<p>He frowned. "But my wife ..." he murmured, feeling like seventeen -different kinds of idiot as he said the words.</p> - -<p>"Your wife is happy where she is. Come to me, Paul."</p> - -<p>She drew him down beside her....</p> - -<p>What seemed like hours went by. Suddenly he felt a rough hand grab him, -awakening him.</p> - -<p>A stranger stood there, fully dressed, menace glinting in his eyes. -"Who is this man, Louise?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>Wide-eyed shock was evident on the woman's face. "But—I didn't expect -you until—"</p> - -<p>"Of course not." Hendriks watched in horror as the newcomer drew a gun -from his pocket. He lifted it; the barrel seemed to point directly at -Hendriks' eyes. The finger began to tighten on the trigger—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"THE THIRD ILLUSION," said a soft voice.</p> - -<p>And he was holding a billowing net and a strange three-pronged weapon. -The sound of a roaring multitude reached his ears. He blinked, -orientating himself to the new illusion, and saw that he was in an -immense stadium. Curiously-garbed people were staring down at him.</p> - -<p><i>My God</i>, he thought. <i>The Coliseum!</i></p> - -<p>And even as the thought of recognition burst upon him, he saw -his opponent advancing over the bloody sand. It was a swarthy, -broad-shouldered man in a leather tunic, wielding a thick, short sword.</p> - -<p>Swordsman against netman. It was deadly, deadly.</p> - -<p>Hendriks knew enough history to be aware of what was expected of -him. He had to ensnare the swordsman in the net and kill him with -the trident before that fierce sword could pierce his heart. It was -anything but an equal contest, but with proper agility—</p> - -<p>The sword flashed on high. Desperately Hendriks parried it with the -hilt of his trident and whirled the net through the air. The swordsman -laughed and leaped back.</p> - -<p>Hendriks advanced, looking for an opening. The roars of the crowd were -deafening. He swung the net tentatively, readying himself for the cast. -Tired muscles throbbed in his arms and thighs.</p> - -<p>The swordsman retreated deftly, smiling. He looked confident. Hendriks -began the cast.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the sword flashed again. It was a lightning-fast attack. -Hendriks managed to get the trident up to protect himself; the -impact sent pain coursing up his arm, and, numbed, he dropped the -three-pronged weapon. Laughing jovially, his opponent kicked the -trident far across the stadium and advanced with the sword.</p> - -<p>Hendriks knew what he had to do. He dropped to his knees before the -advancing swordsman and gestured toward the audience.</p> - -<p>The swordsman nodded. He lifted the sword, held it over Hendriks' head, -and looked up at the grand dais. Hendriks looked up as well.</p> - -<p>The thumbs were down. Emphatically so.</p> - -<p>The sword began to descend—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"THE FOURTH ILLUSION," said the voice.</p> - -<p>He was racing madly down the Indianapolis Speedway, bobbing along at -nearly 150 miles an hour in a flimsy-looking little racing auto. Blurs -whizzed by on all sides.</p> - -<p>Ahead of him he saw a car suddenly swerve into the embankment and burst -into a mass of flames. With desperate urgency he yanked on the wheel, -tried to avoid the pileup—</p> - -<p>And failed. He felt his car going end over end into the air, and shut -his eyes, waiting for the explosion that would follow.</p> - -<p>"THE FIFTH ILLUSION," the voice said.</p> - -<p>He was in a prehistoric jungle; strange stumpy trees were all around, -lush vegetation. A slow-moving beast of immense size was thundering -away from him, its tiny head close to the ground snapping up vegetation -without cease. Overhead a leather-winged flying reptile moved through -the air in jerky swoops.</p> - -<p>There was sudden thunder behind him. He turned.</p> - -<p>Through a haze of giant mosquitoes he saw a mountain of a beast -advancing toward him, tiny forepaws clutching the air, vast head -opening to reveal foot-long teeth.</p> - -<p>He started to run, but even as he did so he knew it was fruitless. -In the steamy jungle sweat poured down him like summer rain. The hot -breath of the tyrannosaur was only feet behind him.</p> - -<p>Hendriks turned, looked up. The mighty jaws were opening; the -knife-like teeth beckoned.</p> - -<p>"No!" he screamed "No!"</p> - -<p>Suddenly all went blank.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He sat in numbed silence for an instant, realizing he was back in the -theater.</p> - -<p>The voice in his ear said, "There will be a brief intermission before -proceeding with the remaining half of the program. Please remain in -your seats to avoid confusion. Thank you."</p> - -<p>Hendriks shook his head wearily; he was dizzy, utterly exhausted. His -stiff white shirt had lost all its starch. He was bathed in sweat. -His hands shook. His fingernails, he noticed, had been chewed to the -quick. He felt as if he had been to hell and back.</p> - -<p>He finally mustered enough strength to look over at his wife. She was -sitting back in her plush chair, utterly beaten. He glanced around the -theater. The other first-nighters were sitting in attitudes ranging -from glassy-eyed exhaustion to complete nervous breakdown.</p> - -<p>"The second part of the program will begin in three minutes," the -pleasant voice said.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no it won't!" Hendriks muttered out loud. His voice sounded like a -harsh croak in his ears. He seized his wife by the hand; she felt cold, -clammy.</p> - -<p>"Let's go, Dot. Let's get out of here."</p> - -<p>She came to life and nodded in silent agreement. Weakly they tottered -down the vast aisle, past the pretty near-nude usherettes, through the -huge vestibule, out into the coolness of the night air and the relative -peace of the city.</p> - -<p>There were still some people gathered outside.</p> - -<p>"How is it? Real nice?"</p> - -<p>"Is it over?"</p> - -<p>"Hey, you leavin' so soon?"</p> - -<p>Hendriks ignored them. He hailed a jetcab, helped his wife in, -staggered in himself. He gave the driver his address.</p> - -<p>"You comin' from the Ultrarama show?" the driver asked.</p> - -<p>Hendriks nodded.</p> - -<p>"Swell thing, ain't it? It's supposed to be <i>real</i>, and I mean real!"</p> - -<p>"It sure is," Hendriks agreed. He leaned back and tried to relax. His -nerves were still quivering like overtaut harp strings.</p> - -<p>"It's quite a thing," he said. "But not for me. I'm going home. I'm -going to take a nice calming shower, a sedative, and get in bed. Then -I'm going to read a nice quiet book. 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