“There’s a lot at stake in keeping us ordinary slobs convinced we have the same chance of getting the pie in the sky as some guy with three degrees.”

“Well … maybe. But I’m not holding my breath.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful, though,” said Gabriella wistfully, leaning forward and startling Eric by rubbing her knee against his. “Garden and Eden, the paradise worlds. Where farmers get three crops a year, the scenery’s so beautiful it breaks your heart, and the weather is balmy all year round. No dangerous animals, no pollutants to worry about, all the conveniences of modern society shipped regularly through the GATE … and no taxes. I’d go in a minute if I bought it.” She gazed abruptly straight into Eric’s eyes.

“What about you, Eric? Would you go?”

“I don’t know,” he said awkwardly, acutely conscious of the friction below the table. “I guess so. Everyone else does.”

That much was true. The government didn’t have to cajole. Hardly anyone refused the GATE. Families were always kept together. In the 150 years of GATE operation there’d been only two or three instances when someone selected had refused the opportunity. Eccentrics Everyone else went. Who wouldn’t accept a free trip to Eden if given the chance?

It was something for everyone to dream about. The lowliest of the low could hope, for unimaginable psychological reasons, to be chosen. A poor man had the same chance as a millionaire.

Sure he’d go, he told himself. Right now, though, there was promise of a more immediate sort in Gabriella’s eyes and in the actions of her leg. It appeared he’d bought something besides the GATE.

Halftime ceremonies concluded and the game resumed. The remote chance of buying the GATE vanished from the minds of those cheering and commenting on the action.

As the evening wore on Eric responded to Gabriella’s game of footsie with interest, if not with excessive enthusiasm. She was attractive enough, and as Charlie claimed, she certainly seemed interested in him, but she was still a bit aggressive for him. Time would tell.

The game stayed close. Much to everyone’s delight Phoenix pulled it out in the last minute.

People began filing out of the restaurant, leaving it in possession of the serious drinkers. Colligatarch Local gave the weather. Business commentary followed. Eric disengaged his leg from Gabriella's and rose.

“Well, I’ve got a full day tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah, we know,” said Charlie, also standing and pushing back his chair. “We’ve all seen the headlines. ‘Brilliant young Selvern designer has full day!’” Laughter came from their companions.

“No, really, I do,” Eric protested. “I have to go to Hong Kong next week.”

“Hong Kong?” said Gabriella. “How exciting!”

“It might be if I hadn’t been there so many times before.”

“You never told me the company sends you overseas.”

“You have to pull information out of Eric,” Charlie told her with a wink. “He thinks anything he says about himself sounds like boasting.”

“It wouldn’t be boasting, I suppose,” Eric said. “It’s only business. Selvern has a big plant over there. It has to do with the new ring opto. It’s supposed to go into production next year, and since I designed some of the backup circuitry, they want my input on the line.”

“Well,” said Adrienne, “I guess it won’t be long before you won’t be coming up here to eat with us commoners. Sounds to me like you’re teetering on the edge of a promotion.”

“Teetering, hell,” said Charlie proudly, “it’s practically assured. Assistant Chief Designer.”

“Does that mean you’d be leaving Phoenix?” asked Gabriella.

“Naw.” Charlie answered before Eric could. “Moving up a few floors, maybe. Pretty soon you’ll be able to take the stairs to dinner, Eric.”

“Give me a break, will you, Charlie?”

“Sure. What d’you want broken? Seriously, I think it’s great. Wish I could go along. Never been to Hong Kong.”

“No, but you’ve been to Caracas. I’ll trade you.”

“Would if I could,” Charlie told him.

Gabriella rose. “It’s time for us to leave, too. I’m certainly not going to hang around to listen to you two brag about your exciting lives.”

“You could travel with us,” said Charlie, quick to take advantage of the slightest opening.

“Charlie …” Eric said warningly. He noted that Gabriella did not object to the idea. All that made him hesitate was the belief she was angling for a long-term relationship, something that appealed to him not at all.

“Maybe we’ll do this again tomorrow,” Adrienne suggested.

“Okay by me,” Charlie replied, nodding toward his friend. “If Selvem’s brightest designer can tear himself away from his work, that is.”

They paid, strolled down the mirrored hallway toward the elevators.

“Wasn’t that something?” Adrienne was saying. “I mean, a real Syrax, right in front of us. I could have reached out and touched him."

“He probably wouldn’t have allowed it." Gabriella eyed herself in one wall. “I hear they don’t like to be touched. Maybe it has something to do with the field they carry.”

“Is it a protective device?” Adrienne asked.

“No,” Eric told her. “I read somewhere that it’s some kind of radiant suit, necessary for maintaining proper pressure and atmosphere. At least, that’s what the writer of the article claimed.”

“Seems plausible,” said Charlie, who appreciated reason even if his profession did not always demand it.

They parted company in the street-level lobby. Gabriella gave Eric a discreet if lingering kiss while Charlie groped Adrienne. She made a show of seeming flustered. The two men watched as the women departed.

“Nice,” Charlie opined. “Maybe some weekend we can all go skiing.”

“I don’t know the first thing about skiing, Charlie.”

“I’ll teach you. You ought to get out more. You're in better shape than I am, so if I can do it, you can, too.”

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“And I wish I had your b'ains. Hey, speaking of good shape, I don’t know who’s handling the company end of this new ring opto business as far as promo is concerned, but it—”

“I’ll do what I can, Charlie. You know that. Though why they’d listen to a designer, I don’t know.”

They sauntered out onto the street. Rush hour had gone its frenetic way while they’d enjoyed supper and the game, but the streets were still full of those who’d worked late and were hurrying homeward.

Around them the steel and glass towers of downtown Phoenix were ablaze with light. Dominating all lesser spires was the aerial warning beacon and laser rainbow which crowned the Associated Dynamics building. The skyscrapers were scattered judiciously about the central corridor, letting the moon shine through. The placement was by design. It does wonders for the mental health of a great city when its citizens can stroll the streets unintimidated by their surroundings.

On a small structure nearby, laser light crawled across a display several stories tall. A few older-style neon signs clung to street-side establishments.

Taking the place of the fleeing workers were people out for an evening’s pleasure. There were couples locked arm in arm, others holding hands, solos looking to make eye contact. A few Hare Krishnas edged around Eric and Charlie, neat in their uniform three-piece gray business suits and saffron turtlenecks, their top knots bobbing behind them. Harares on a street corner harangued passersby, pressing leaflets on any who’d take them. Their hysteria was muted by the fact that it was stili in the nineties.