Read Online THE FOREVER GENE (THE SCIONS OF EARTH Book 1) by Warren Dean - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Warren Dean
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base about three metres square and ten centimetres high, which was constructed of the same blue material as the floor. The transparent sides of the cubicles appeared to be sheets of energy stemming from the edges of the base and rising to a height of approximately three metres. The floor of each structure shone with a pale green light, which bathed its internal space in a misty glow. Insubstantial patterns of light and colour floated throughout the space, some of them reflecting unfamiliar symbols which could have been letters or numbers.
She counted twenty of the cubicles, which were arranged in a circle around a large metallic cube. It occurred to her that the cube was the first metallic object she had seen within the facility. It was approximately four or five metres square and seemed to be the source of the faint humming sound which permeated the building. Metal pipes protruded from its sides and extended over the top of each cubicle, each pipe ending in a flat disc which looked a lot like a large shower rose.
The users of the cubicles stood beneath the discs, moving and altering the patterns around them with intricate actions of their heads and fingers. Occasionally one of them would move out of or into a cubicle, simply stepping through one of its translucent walls. Apart from the hum of the central cube and an occasional burst of what sounded like high-pitched static, the whole operation was silent.
"That is our central information processor," said a voice alongside her. Qara started and turned to see Vi standing there. She seemed to have appointed herself Qara's personal guide. "It contains the data we brought with us to your planet and our researchers constantly feed new information into it. Our analysts draw the information they require for their studies into the three-dimensional interface modules where they can interact with it."
Oyugun, a painfully shy young man who was fascinated by all things technological, temporarily overcame his customary reticence. "How are the, er, people inside the modules able to access the information they are working with?" he asked hesitantly.
"I'm not an analyst, so I am not really qualified to explain the technicalities of the system," Vi replied. "I am sure Ko will explain it to your technicians when they arrive. As I understand it, the information is converted by the processor into electronic signals, which are fed into the modules through the overhead pylons. The signals intersect the light particles rising from the base, which causes the information to be represented three-dimensionally within the modules. Some of the information is represented sonically, which you probably hear as bursts of static. The analysts using the modules wear tiny laser emitting devices in their eyes and on their fingertips, which enable them to manipulate the information."
It was a lot to digest and Qara hoped that Tol was recording every word. Knowing him, he was probably already halfway through converting the material into an 'Insight' feature.
Oyugun looked suitably impressed by the Faerie Folk's computer system but, before he could ask for further details, Vi shepherded them towards the right-hand end of the domed room where Ko and the ambassador were waiting for everyone to assemble.
The others were settling into what resembled comfortable armchairs arranged in a large semi-circle facing the centre of the room. Qara sat in one of the chairs and felt it begin moulding itself to fit her figure. She leapt out of the chair with a yelp. Everyone else seemed delighted and Batu quickly discovered that if he wanted to sit back or lie down the chair automatically adjusted itself to the required angle. Sheepishly, she sat down again and kept as still as she could.
Ko, Vi and the ambassador took up position at the focal point of the semi-circle. Physician Ti had left the party as soon as it entered the facility. A pair of the Faerie Folk's
She counted twenty of the cubicles, which were arranged in a circle around a large metallic cube. It occurred to her that the cube was the first metallic object she had seen within the facility. It was approximately four or five metres square and seemed to be the source of the faint humming sound which permeated the building. Metal pipes protruded from its sides and extended over the top of each cubicle, each pipe ending in a flat disc which looked a lot like a large shower rose.
The users of the cubicles stood beneath the discs, moving and altering the patterns around them with intricate actions of their heads and fingers. Occasionally one of them would move out of or into a cubicle, simply stepping through one of its translucent walls. Apart from the hum of the central cube and an occasional burst of what sounded like high-pitched static, the whole operation was silent.
"That is our central information processor," said a voice alongside her. Qara started and turned to see Vi standing there. She seemed to have appointed herself Qara's personal guide. "It contains the data we brought with us to your planet and our researchers constantly feed new information into it. Our analysts draw the information they require for their studies into the three-dimensional interface modules where they can interact with it."
Oyugun, a painfully shy young man who was fascinated by all things technological, temporarily overcame his customary reticence. "How are the, er, people inside the modules able to access the information they are working with?" he asked hesitantly.
"I'm not an analyst, so I am not really qualified to explain the technicalities of the system," Vi replied. "I am sure Ko will explain it to your technicians when they arrive. As I understand it, the information is converted by the processor into electronic signals, which are fed into the modules through the overhead pylons. The signals intersect the light particles rising from the base, which causes the information to be represented three-dimensionally within the modules. Some of the information is represented sonically, which you probably hear as bursts of static. The analysts using the modules wear tiny laser emitting devices in their eyes and on their fingertips, which enable them to manipulate the information."
It was a lot to digest and Qara hoped that Tol was recording every word. Knowing him, he was probably already halfway through converting the material into an 'Insight' feature.
Oyugun looked suitably impressed by the Faerie Folk's computer system but, before he could ask for further details, Vi shepherded them towards the right-hand end of the domed room where Ko and the ambassador were waiting for everyone to assemble.
The others were settling into what resembled comfortable armchairs arranged in a large semi-circle facing the centre of the room. Qara sat in one of the chairs and felt it begin moulding itself to fit her figure. She leapt out of the chair with a yelp. Everyone else seemed delighted and Batu quickly discovered that if he wanted to sit back or lie down the chair automatically adjusted itself to the required angle. Sheepishly, she sat down again and kept as still as she could.
Ko, Vi and the ambassador took up position at the focal point of the semi-circle. Physician Ti had left the party as soon as it entered the facility. A pair of the Faerie Folk's
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