“This is it,” Patrick announced as he stopped the vehicle in front of the library. I was happy to see that the two big stone lions I remembered from Second Earth were still there. The wide cement stairs leading up to the library were the same too. But the building itself was a very different place. I remembered a big, imposing structure, with arches and columns that looked like something you’d see in ancient Rome. But that building was long gone. In its place was a small, modern structure that wasn’t much bigger than the library in Stony Brook.
“This is it?” I asked with surprise. “It’s kind of…small.”
Patrick laughed and said, “We haven’t used traditional books in about two thousand years. It’s amazing how much room they took up. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.”
He got out of the car and hurried up the stairs. Gunny leaned over to me and said, “I told you, it’s all about those little specks of things. That’s where they keep all the information. It’s magic.”
“Gunny,” I said. “I’m kind of nervous.”
“About what we’re going to find here?”
“Yeah, and about what we’ve already seen.”
We both took a look around at the quiet neighborhood. Some kids were playing kickball on the grass across the street. People rode by the library on their bicycles. A group of musicians played some classical music on the library steps. They all looked relaxed and as happy as could be, not like the frenzied New Yorkers I knew from First and Second Earth.
Gunny took this all in and then said, “This is why I brought you here. You needed to see this. It raises a whole lot of questions, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s go find some of the answers.”
THIRD EARTH
ThiswaslikenolibraryIhadeverseenbecause, well, there were no books. Actually, I take that back. There was one book, but it was in the lobby of the building, encased in a heavy glass box like a museum exhibit. I figured this was a book that was here to remind people of the past and the way things used to be. As I walked over to it, I wondered what would be the one book chosen to take this place of honor. Was it a dictionary? A Bible? Maybe the complete works of Shakespeare or some famous poet.
“Green Eggs and Ham?”Gunny said with surprise. “What kind of doctor writes about green eggs and ham?”
“Dr. Seuss,” I answered with a big smile on my face. “It’s my favorite book of all time.”
Patrick joined us and said, “We took a vote. It was pretty mucheverybody’sfavorite. Landslide victory. I’m partial toHorton Hears a Who, but this is okay too.”
The people of Third Earth still had a sense of humor.
Patrick led us through the large, marble-floored lobby where several people sat in comfortable chairs, reading from flat computer screens. Since space was a problem, this was a good way to go. Still, I loved to read and couldn’t imagine not being able to hold a book and turn the pages.
There were several long corridors leading off from the lobby. Patrick led us down one that was lined with doors on either side. Some were open and I could see people inside. I glanced into one room and saw something that made me stop short. Three people were seated around a silver platform that was raised about a foot in the air. Standing in the center of the platform, speaking to them, was Abraham Lincoln! I swear. He was right there. Honest Abe.
“… and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” Abe declared.
“Th-That’s Abraham Lincoln!” I said to nobody in particular.
“Yup, Gettysburg Address. Want to listen in?” Patrick asked.
“That’s some guy dressed up like Abe, right?”
At that instant Abraham Lincoln disappeared. Zap. Just like that, he faded out and the platform was empty. I shot a quick, questioning look to Patrick. He put an arm around my shoulder and led me farther down the hall.
“Think of how the caveman felt the first time he saw fire,” he chuckled. “It probably wasn’t much different than you’re feeling right now.”
“That was no fire, and I’m no caveman,” I said in shock. “Whatwasthat?”
“I’ll show you,” Patrick said, and led us into one of the rooms off the corridor. This room was pretty much like the one with Abe Lincoln’s ghost, but bigger. There were six simple chairs circling a silver platform that was about eight feet across.
“I’m a teacher,” Patrick explained. “So I have access to this super deluxe room.” I looked at Gunny. “Have you seen this before?”
“Yeah,” Gunny said with a smile. “Like I said, it’s magic.”
“Take a seat,” Patrick said. We did and he closed the door behind us so we had privacy. “The concept is simple. Every bit of information that exists has been stored in the data banks. It’s not much different from the computers you have on Second Earth, but about twelve billion times more powerful.” He took the center seat, pressed a glowing white button on the armrest, and said in a loud, clear voice: “Computer. New search.”
A pleasant woman’s voice spoke back to him, saying, “Welcome. How can I help you?”
Whoa. Star Trekor what? The lights dimmed automatically, and our attention was shifted to the round stage in front of us.
Patrick touched the button on his armrest and said, “Computer. Lincoln, Abraham. United States president.” Instantly the image of Abraham Lincoln appeared on the platform in front of us. But it wasn’t just an image, it looked like he was actually standing there in the flesh.
“Oh, man!” I said. “It’s a hologram.”
“Exactly,” said Patrick. He then touched the button again and said, “Gettysburg Address.”
Instantly Abe began to speak. “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth-“
“Clear,” Patrick said, and Abe disappeared.
“How cool isthat!”I exclaimed. It reminded me of the holograms that Aja Killian showed us on Veelox.
“That was an easy one,” Patrick said. “Abraham Lincoln is a common entry.”
“Then let’s get a little uncommon,” Gunny said. “We’re here to learn about theHindenburg. Ever hear of it?” ”Are you kidding?” Patrick said, scoffing. “I thought this was going to be tough.” He hit the button and said,”Hindenburg, zeppelin, early twentieth century.”
Before us, floating over the platform, was a familiar sight. The silver airship appeared and hovered in the air, in miniature form, of course.
“Interior views,” Patrick commanded.
The full zeppelin disappeared and we were shown a bunch of different views of the passenger cabin of theHindenburg. I can’t tell you how cool this was. It was like tearing open a seam in time and peeking back into another era. TheHindenburgwas a fancy airship. I guess they designed it like an ocean liner. There were staterooms and a dining room, and a long deck where you could stroll around and look down on the world from behind the safety and comfort of glass.
“It was a luxury liner,” Patrick said. “Designed to ferry people across Europe and over the ocean in style.”
“We’re interested in the crash,” Gunny said quietly.
“I figured that,” Patrick said. He then pressed the white button and said, “Computer. Hindenburgdisaster.”
The full blimp reappeared. Then a second later fire flashed on its right side, near the tail. The fire spread so quickly it was like watching a movie that had been sped up. The tail dipped as flames spread over the silver skin of the balloon. The image was so realistic, I expected to feel the heat. The zeppelin hit the ground, tail first. Then the nose started coming down. I could even see people scrambling out of the gondola underneath and running for safety. It was horrifying, and fascinating.
Finally the entire balloon was engulfed in flames. The skeleton of the structure was revealed as the outer skin burned away. Then, horribly, the frame collapsed into a pile of burning metal. The image stopped moving, like a
