Connexion : The Atlantis Project, Book.1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

the
place. Giuseppe got out of the vehicle and this time spoke to
Clementine first, as he opened the door for her.
    “Here we are, Miss. Now, please follow me; I
will show you where you will be staying with some of my
friends.”
    Jacques and Charlie followed suit and also
climbed out of the vehicle, rather clumsily. In so doing, Jacques
bumped his head hard on the roof of the car.
    “Ouch! Damn it! You could be a bit more
careful, Charlie! What’s the hurry? I’m here, too, remember!”
    “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying
attention.”
    “I I’m in the way, just say so. I know you’re
taking your mission seriously, but you might just need to keep your
feet on the ground.”
    “Listen, stop all your fussing. You’re going
to get us in trouble. For once just keep quiet and take an interest
in what’s happening to the three of us.”
    Jacques, surprised by his brother’s
confidence, and a little put out, decided to keep quiet and follow
his advice. Giuseppe opened a door which led to the interior of the
dome. The pavilion’s 28 rooms were arranged around a large,
slightly raised circle, in the middle of which was a sort of
metallic plate of impressive size, fixed to the ground. The area
was well-lit and the height of the dome alleviated the feeling of
confinement. Hanging gardens partially filled the space over the
dwellings. They were actually small, landscaped platforms suspended
by cables, with partially glass-bottomed floors. Their arrangement
on several levels allowed the light coming from the high parts of
the dome to be diffused perfectly.
    “It’s astonishing, isn’t it? We have
organized these pavilions so as to limit the feeling of
confinement. When they have a little leisure time, residents can
take time out to relax in one of our suspended solariums. It’s the
best remedy we have found to counter the effects of stress
resulting from living in an enclosed space in the absence of
natural light. Of course, their use is limited to one hour per day
so that each person can take advantage of them as his schedule
allows.”
    “How do they get up there?” asked Charlie,
amazed at the beauty and the impression of lightness given off by
the whole infrastructure.
    As he spoke, one of the gondolas began its
descent. The long steel cables slowly lengthened and lowered it
toward a sort of slightly raised landing, situated over the
canteen.
    “Well now, I think you have just found the
answer to your question. How fortuitous; that’s Francisco who’s
just come down. You’re in luck; he’ll be relaxed when he meets you.
Let us join him in the canteen.”
    “How can they tell who is in that gondola?”
Charlie said softly. “With all the vegetation, you can only make
out a vague silhouette.”
    Giuseppe, who had heard him, answered, “You
can discern a series of small, differently colored lights along the
underside of every gondola. Each resident has a color code which
allows him to be identified when he goes somewhere. In fact, there
are eight small diodes of variable color, which means exactly
40,320 possible combinations. Currently, that is largely sufficient
to cover all of the individuals working on this base. It seems
unbelievable, but after a while, the eyes adjust and begin to
recognize the algorithm in the same way as they would identify a
mere shade of color. Otherwise, one may always consult the digital
chart just in front of you,” he added with a smile. Émile will
process your enrolments as soon as we have finished our tour.”
    “ Do you think you’re allowed to smoke
here? Ask him if you can smoke in the recreation areas.”
    “I guess I’ve never known you to hold on for
so long. I wasn’t thinking about it, but now that you mention it,
Jacques, the idea of being completely nicotine-deprived doesn’t
thrill me.”
    “Good! Go on then, ask him the question!”
    They were entering the canteen. A sign stood
before them, obviously strategically placed. It said in large
letters: SMOKING