The Future

THE FUTURE

By C

PART I

CHAPTER 1

       It is spring, flowers are in full bloom, and the city is bathed in brilliant color. The year is 2240. Anne is bursting with excitement. Her mother has just picked her up from school after what had seemed by far to be the longest day of her life. The time had dragged by as though it was almost standing still, but school is finally over and she is actually on her way to the "ritual". The "ritual" is an event that all girls, throughout the entire world, perform upon reaching their eighteenth birthday. At the completion of this event a girl, in the eyes of society, is considered to be a woman, and eligible to enjoy all of the privileges that come with this esteem honor. Today is Anne's eighteenth birthday. For the past two years she had looked forward, with great longing, to this day finally reaching the magic age.

       Anne had not heard of the "ritual" until she reached sixteen. Before that time she had been aware that some type of ceremony was involved, but she had no idea as to what it consisted of. It was common practice in her society for the "ritual" to be explained to a girl on her sixteenth birthday, and Anne was no exception. The "ritual" was not intended to be any type of initiation required to reach womanhood. It had been carefully developed to enable a girl to overcome a sense of uneasiness that most girls began to experience in their mid-teens. Anne had begun to experience this type of uneasiness shortly after she was fifteen. It would come to her in moments of quite and often at night before going to sleep. The feeling did not have a great deal of effect on her overall happiness, but, since she could find no logical explanation for its presence, she could not help but be concerned. Like most girls, Anne had kept it to herself and said nothing about it to anyone.

       When the "ritual" was explained, Anne was both surprised and relieved to find out that her feeling of uneasiness was typical for all girls. The reason for its cause was carefully explained in detail along with why the "ritual" would completely eliminate it.

Just understanding the cause made it no longer a concern but her life did not return to normal. The more she thought about the

"ritual" the more intrigued she became. It was foremost in her thoughts and filled her with almost constant excitement and anticipation. Knowledge of the "ritual only served to increase her longing and impatience to reach eighteen.

       For the past several months Anne had received training in the tasks to be accomplished, and she was confident of being able to perform all that would be required. Her heart raced with excitement as she realizes that the time is finally almost upon her. Even now, in her lightheaded condition, it is hard to comprehend that after years and years of waiting she will soon become a woman.

*****

       We leave Anne for awhile and review a sequence of events that took place several days earlier. A space ship from a far distant future had traveled backward in time until it came to the year 1989. The people in the ship spent a few days observing the actions of some of the male inhabitants of Anne's very city as it existed 236 years previously. After careful observation they selected a young man named John as being their ideal candidate. The ship once again activated its time travel, moved backward to an early morning several days previously, and hovered over a pre-selected location.

       John rose early, took his normal shower, and, as he was drying off, made the usual approving appraisal of his naked twenty four year old body in the full length mirror. As always he liked what he saw. He was extremely proud of his excellent health, his fine physique, his good looks, his devilish smile, and, in what he considered to be an irresistible sex appeal. His final attention lingered with pride on what he considered to be his extremely generous endowment. There was no doubt in his mind that this prominent feature attributed a great deal to his having had more than his fair share of success with members of the opposite sex. John was extremely grateful that he had been blessed with the good fortune to be born male.

       John’s thoughts turned to the lovely young secretary that had started to work at his company several months before. She had received the usual attention from almost all of the eligible, as well as some of the not so eligible, men in the office. She had rejected all of their poorly disguised advances with cool politeness. John, with a certain amount of disdain, had watched them flock around her at every opportunity. He had quickly reorganized her unwillingness toward permissive sex and had used his usual, skillful, patient, non-pressure approach. Yesterday he had finally been successful in making a date for the following Saturday. He knew from experience that it would be necessary to act the perfect gentleman at first, but he had every confidence that, with patience, he would be successful in having this lovely creature share his bed. There was an excellent possibility she would prove to be one of his more memorable experiences. He knew from past encounters that women of her type were capable of suddenly exploding in a wild fury of uncontrollable passion once their virtuous shield had been breached.

       John's conscience did not bother him in his dealings with women. He did not resort to false pretenses and considered himself to be a skillful and unselfish lover. It was extremely rare that one of his sexual encounters did not result in the girl achieving multiple organisms and, at the conclusion, would lay back glowing with a dreamy look of total satisfaction. John deliberately kept most of his relationships short, but, unfortunately, a few women would almost immediately start talking of love. When this happened he would, as gently as possible, put an end to it, but, he knew that he was responsible for more than one broken heart. He felt this to be unfortunate, but he placed no blame upon himself. Women were so emotional and unpredictable that sometimes it could not be avoided regardless of how much he tried to refrain from showing encouragement. John felt that one day a very special woman would come along who would make him want to settle down, but, he had no desire for it to be anytime soon. He was having too much fun at the present playing an extremely enjoyable and plentiful field.

       With the pleasant thought of his latest potential conquest in mind John put on his jogging outfit, went outside, and started his usual morning run. He stopped as always in a small park for a short rest before starting back. Suddenly he was surrounded by what appeared to be a bright light and felt a strange tingling sensation. The next thing he knew he was standing in some type of futuristic looking control room and looking at three figures dressed in what appeared to be bulky space suites complete with helmets. He could not see their faces through the visors and could tell little about them except that they appeared to be human.

       They spoke to him in English but their voices came through speakers in the helmets which made them mechanical sounding. They apologized for having to inconvenience him but explained that he had been randomly selected to assist them in an extremely important mission that they were conducting. They told him that even as they spoke they were traveling forward in time and would shortly reach a date that was over two hundred years in the future. His part in the mission was to be placed back into his own city at this future date. He was instructed that his only requirement would be to observe the population and to get his own impressions as to the type of society that existed. It was imperative that he should keep from being observed during this operation, and, for this reason, he would be fitted with a cloaking device that would make him invisible. In this manner he would be able to move about freely without fear of being seen. He was told that after his observations were completed he would be returned to the ship and make a report on what he had seen, what his impressions were, and on any conclusions that he might have arrived at. Afterward he would be returned to his own time, suffering no harm, and would be generously compensated for any inconvenience that might be caused.

       John was told that there were two things that he was strictly forbidden to do. First, regardless of the circumstances, he must do nothing to interfere with anything he saw taking place. Second, he must make no attempt to gain any knowledge of historical events that had transpired between his time and the one he was entering. He must not visit any museums, libraries, newspaper archives, or any other place in which he might obtain this type of information. To do so would give him advance knowledge of upcoming events that would enable him to accurately predict the future once he returned to his own era. This knowledge would not only provide him with a tremendous personal advantage but could conceivably change the course of history. They could not allow this, and if it should happen they would have no alternative but to subject him to an extremely painful treatment that would erase from his memory all recent events. The procedure that would be used was new and not completely reliable. There was a danger that his entire memory could be permanently erased. He was cautioned that all of his activities would be closely monitored and that they would be aware if he failed to follow their instructions

       It was again emphasized to John that they had no desire to harm him in the least and that he would be completely safe as long as he followed directions. Their restrictions were not intended in any way to try and keep him from speculating and trying to draw his own conclusions as to causes for anything that he might observe. He was, in fact, strongly encouraged to make every effort to do this and add them to his report. Any conclusions that he could ascertain on his own, even thought they lacked factual validity, could prove to be extremely beneficial to their mission. John was convinced that they were sincere, and he could understand their concerns for not allowing anything to happen that might result in history being altered. This could lead to untold ramifications for future events. The prospect of actually visiting the future intrigued him to no end, and he found himself looking forward to the adventure with a great deal of enthusiasm.

       John was fitted with the cloaking device that consisted of a lightweight metal container, shaped like a small knapsack, which was strapped to his back along with four metal bands that were attached to his wrists and ankles. Soon he was told that they had arrived at the future time and he was instructed to stand in the center of one of a circle on a raised platform. He did so and was again surrounded by a bright light and once again felt the strange tingling sensation. The next thing he knew he was standing in the same small park. It had changed very little and as, before, it was early in the morning. It was as though nothing had happened. He held out his arms and if it had not been for the metal bands on his wrist he might have thought that the whole episode had been nothing but a dream. They had told him that he would be able to see himself but that he would be completely invisible to anyone else. Regardless of the tremendous technological advances of these people he found this hard to believe, and it would have to be proven to him before his doubts would be eliminated.

       The park is in walking distance of the downtown area, or at least where John knew the downtown area used to be, and he starts off in that direction. He makes his way along a side street and is struck by the impression that things have changed very little. He wonders if some mistake has not been made. The houses are different but their style is very similar to that of his own time. The vehicles, parked along the street, also appear to be much the same. It is nothing like the futuristic setting that he had expected to find. "For some reason people certainly haven't advanced very much in over two hundred years" he thinks, "things are just like they were". He has no way of knowing how mistaken he is.

       Regardless of John's impression, the world had undergone an immense change. Tremendous advances have been made in science and technology. New sources of fuels and energy have been developed to the degree that pollution no longer exists. Advances in medicine had reached the point that the words "terminal illness" have no meaning. There have also been remarkable changes made in the ability of every country in the world to live together in complete harmony and peace. The present populations had no firsthand knowledge of war or violence. Small units of highly skilled armed forces still exist but their function is not to protect countries from each other. They are maintained to provide protection from one remaining potential threat common to all nations, and they had been so successful that it had become exceedingly rare for their services to be called upon. Crime in any form had ceased to exist and police forces were no longer needed. There is no such thing as homeless people or poverty. The leaders of all nations have only the welfare of their citizens at heart and all political policies are established with this one thought in mind. John would be hard pressed to find a single citizen that was not happy and contented with the way things were. In all there had been numerous changes made since the year 1989, but, the most profound change, by far, is in the very way of life itself. It will not take John long to discover that the society that now exists in his city is vastly different from any that the world he knew had ever known.

       John continues down the sidewalk and sees a door open and swing outward in one of the houses ahead. A figure comes out and starts toward him giving him a look at his first member of this future society. There is no doubt that likes what he sees. This member is entirely girl, and she comes swinging along, taking long strides, dressed in a pink skirt and sweater that do nothing to conceal her perfectly proportioned figure. Nearly six feet with long brown hair bobbing to her jaunty stride and glowing with health. She walks past briskly with a finger hooked in the strap of a purse slung over her shoulder. On her lovely face is a tantalizing smile, perhaps of a memory, or anticipation, or maybe appreciation of the day and the refreshing feeling of being lovely and young. John feels a mixture of contented satisfaction at having been fortunate enough to chance upon such a lovely, refreshing, creature and a feels a twinge of envy toward the unknown lucky man that might well be responsible for that telltale smile. John watches her retreating form, with those intriguing motions so natural to women. She turns a corner, and John reluctantly watches her pass from view. It suddenly dawns upon on him that she had passed within several feet of him without showing any reaction whatsoever as to his presence. As hard as it is to believe he must really be invisible.

       John continues and soon passes two more women coming in the opposite direction. They do not compare to the fresh loveliness of the first, but there is no denying that they are also extremely beautiful. Being in the future had done nothing to interfere with John's appreciation of beautiful women. He turns to watch as they walk away, taking in every detail and movement. "After all" he thinks with amusement, "I was sent here to observed the population". These last women had also passed without noticing him confirming the fact that he was truly invisible.

       A thought crosses John’s mind that he could safely enter any of these houses and possibly observe some very intriguing scenery. A picture of the first girl stepping out of a shower, light reflecting from her wet sensuous body, flashes through his mind. He enjoys the sight of a lovely naked female as much as any man, but he is not the peeping-tom type and is not seriously tempted to take undue advantage of his invisibility. In any regard, he had been told that his activity would be closely monitored, and he seriously doubted that this type of "observing" was what the people in the space ship had in mind.

       John resumes his journey without further interruption and soon reaches one of the main streets. It is still named "Central Avenue", and, unlike the side street, is beginning to bustle with early morning activity. John stops and can only gape in amazement.

Everywhere he looks he sees lovely women, and a goodly number of them are breathtakingly beautiful. There is not a single one that he would not classify as being very attractive. They all look healthy, energetic, happy and contented. They all have trim well proportioned figures, even the ones well up in age. He does not see a single individual that he would classify as being either fat or thin. "Boy! One thing has sure changed and it certainly is for the better" thinks John. "I have never seen this many gorgeous women in one place in my entire life. I'm not in the future. I've died and gone to heaven".

       Trying to put things in perspective John assumes that such a dramatic change in women's physical appearance must surely be the result of some type of genetic development. Even in his own time some scientists had expressed confidence that it would only be a matter of time before methods would be discovered that could control physical development. It is quite obvious to John that such methods have not only been developed but had proven to be extremely successful.

       John starts down the street with buoyed spirits continuing to stare in awe. He is so engrossed that he travels for several blocks before it dawns on him that the only people he has seen so far had all been female. He stops and looks intently in every direction and can not find a single man in sight. Even bus, taxi, and truck drivers are women. From what he has seen so far one would think that that the male sex had ceased to exist. This is ridiculous of course, and there has to be a logical explanation. John had found a strange mystery in this new society and is intrigued with the prospect of finding the answer. With this thought in mind he proceeds happily on his way continuing to enjoy the fascinating scenery.