Virtuality Simulation Center, North Pier, 435 E. Illinois: Harold’s heart was pounding. He was standing in the cyberpod waiting to experience virtual reality. He hadn’t felt like this since he was 11 and saw Shamu the killer whale at Sea World of Ohio. Harold’s father was a big Cleveland ice cream distributor and he got free passes so the whole family went, and the neighbors, including Brad Feldman.
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Harold’s girlfriend Pam was in an adjoining cyberpod. The cyberguide was tightening the knob on top of her helmet. With her ears and eyes covered, Harold thought, Pam looked like a confused robot, but a beautiful one. For now that Harold was going to experience virtual reality, he loved everyone. He wasn’t even mad when Pam got a piece of lobster in her hair during dinner.
Suddenly Harold heard footstep sounds in his helmet. A voice said, “Time to die.” He saw the enemy, Pam, who was represented as a slender, faceless man. Harold pressed the cyberstick walk button to advance but he couldn’t control the speed and he flew up the stairs and out into space. Then he saw himself get picked up by the collar by a monster pterodactyl. He pressed the fire button a few times, turned left, then right. This went on for a while. The game was over.
