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THE OUTSIDE WORLD

The orchestra was playing a concerto by Mozart with the composer at the keyboard in the spacious yard in front of the palace when a man slipped up to the mayor of New York and told him, "Some people in Brooklyn claim to hear pounding."

"Ignore them. They're just imagining it. Maybe there are some bugs in their EPU programs. Sometimes I even hear a little pounding in the programs I experience. But no doubt they're getting old since they've been around a few centuries. Just leave me alone for a little while. I'll check out what's going on later."

"As you wish, sir." The man left the mayor to continue hearing the concert he froze while the two were talking. About ten minutes into the concert, the images the mayor was experiencing started looking a little funny. Sometimes Mozart would look like another composer and the style of dress would change from 18th century garb to 19th century garb and back again or change to 22nd century clothing which was out of place in the program.

The mayor became distracted and ended the program in order to enter another program which was of New York City in the year 2401. No one knew exactly what year it actually was since experiencable programs had become reality for the world's people for the last three centuries. Since that was 2102, it had to be at least the early 25th century. But due to time dilation, there was no telling what year it was. It could be winter or summer and no one knew since everyone was in a program that seemed more real than reality.

The mayor met with the city council in Manhattan in the council chamber. The complainers from Brooklyn appeared as projections in the room at the front of the chamber. They looked as solid as everyone else in the room. The mayor and council members listened closely as the leader of the small group spoke.

"I've been living in Brooklyn all my life and for the last few months I've been hearing pounding. I don't know where it is coming from. It just comes out of nowhere and seems to have no source. I've heard the noise in nearly every program I experience. So have my friends here." They all shook their heads in agreement. "Is there anything you can do for us? It's just about to drive us crazy."

The mayor said, "I'll send a tech crew out to Brooklyn to see what the matter is. So don't worry about a thing. Once everything is straightened out you'll be able to go back to enjoying your favorite programs. Does the pounding interfere with your work programs you experience?"

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