As they stood in the center of the room, the walls began to recede into crystalline distance. An African veldt appeared, in three dimensions, on all sides, in color reproduced to the final pebble and bit of straw. The sounds are now beginning: the distant pounding of antelope feet on grassy ground and the papery rustling of vultures. Sky-wide shadow movement was seen. On Gina Hadley's tilted, perspiring face, the shadow flitted.
She overheard her husband calling them "filthy beasts."
"The ravens,"
"You see, over there, in that direction, are the lions. They are now traveling to the
swimming hole They had just finished eating, Leo said. "I'm not sure what,"
"Some creature." Gina Hadley extended her hand to block the glaring light.
Her narrowed eyes "Perhaps a newborn giraffe or zebra,"
Are you certain? Her husband's voice seemed oddly tense.
She said with amusement, "No, it's a little late to be sure. "I can only see cleansed bone over there, with vultures dropping for what's left."
Did you experience that scream, he questioned.
“No.”
"Just a moment ago?"
"No, sorry."
Lions were approaching. Gina Hadley was once more filled with admiration for
the ingenious mechanical mind behind this room's design. A selling miracle of efficiency
for a ridiculously low cost. Each house ought to have one. Oh, sometimes they
they surprised you, gave you a twinge, and terrified you with their clinical correctness, but
What pleasure everyone has most of the time—not just your own daughter and son, but for
yourself whenever you desired a little journey abroad or a short change of scenery. Here it was, then!
Now the lions were in front of you at a distance of fifteen feet, and they were so real—so startlingly real—that you could feel the prickling fur on your fingers and your mouth was watering.
filled with their heated pelts' dusty upholstery fragrance and yellow color.
was like the yellows of lions in a beautiful French tapestry in your eyes.
and the sound of a matted lion's lungs exhaling on the calm summer grass.
noontime and the dripping, panting mouths gave off a meaty stench.
The lions were observing Gina and Leo Hadley while sporting horrifying green-yellow eyes.
eyes.
Watch out, Leo yelled.
The lions charged at them quickly.
Leo took off running. Gina instinctively ran after him. She was laughing and he was crying outside in the hallway when the door banged, and they both stood shocked by the other's response.
“Gina!”
“Leo! Oh my sweet, sweet Leo!
"They nearly caught us!"
"Walls, Leo, keep in mind that they are nothing more than crystal walls. Oh, they do appear authentic — Africa in your parlor — but behind glass screens, everything is just three-dimensional, extremely reactive, extremely sensitive color film."
