Mariza was at the Southwest Regional Spaceport, watching nervously as the Vault began its ascent. She would never get used to the idea that there were people sitting above the huge, billowing flame. The awesome noise of the launch was kept to a quiet whisper inside the terminal by fourteen inches of glass – not “glass” at all, but a synthetic stronger than titanium and clearer than pure water. Mariza marveled at what technology had wrought.

The exhaust contrail still stood where it was created, as though a huge geyser spewed smoke and vapor from the depths of Earth. She could no longer see the transporter. It was time to go back to Albuquerque.

Mariza returned to the IVA pad where a short while ago, Joshua had shown such uncharacteristic emotion. She sat in her IVA without starting its systems. Was he under so much stress that it had just been a release, or was his inner self awakening and pushing the past aside? Mariza knew about Lina – Joshua didn't know this – and the girl's ghost haunted her almost as much as it did Joshua. Maybe the ghost was loosening its grip. Maybe Joshua would ... Stop! she thought to herself. Only time will allow Joshua to heal. He's worth waiting for. But it's so hard!

Mariza started the IVA, and it moved almost soundlessly toward the exit. She placed the tag in the slot, her debit was automatically registered, and the transportation guidance system was activated. After programming her destination and pressing the auto button, the IVA responded and began the journey back to Albuquerque.

The blue sky and the varicolored earth always captivated Mariza. New Mexico was truly a land of beauty. The American State had maintained some of the ancient traditional values, and was still known as the “Land of Enchantment.” Today the land seemed truly enchanted as Mariza sped along on the electronic ribbon, enjoying the wide expanses, the mountains in the distance, remembering the yellow and purple flowers of summer, and the antelope grazing here and there. No one knew where the antelope came from, but they added elegance to the natural landscape.

The route to Albuquerque skirted some of the large housing complexes. Mariza couldn't help thinking about the Middle Age villages of old Europe where farmers who worked the surrounding fields lived under the protection of the lord's castle. Today the incentive for these large complexes was primarily efficiency – of land use, environmental preservation, and easy access to entertainment. Ah yes, entertainment. Mariza gave her on-board screen a command and instantly picture and sound provided a live action pornographic screenplay.

“Damn!” she said to herself. “This is the last time I'm taking it in for repair.” As though a threat was needed to get the unit's attention.

The built-in programmer supposedly detected the age of the viewer and prevented the under-aged from seeing these shows. That was a big joke among the kids, who regularly engaged their parents in sordid conversations just to prove that they could by-pass the system. Mariza verbally scrolled through the programmer until she found some classical music being performed live by the Sophia Symphony Orchestra.

As she settled back to enjoy the landscape and the music, she wondered at the state of entertainment. For most viewers programmed entertainment added the positive or negative substance to their lives that the current lifestyle had taken away. Mostly negative, she thought. She knew that she was part of 'entertainment', under the guise of news and commentary, but hoped that she was above the hype.

She checked the time on the control panel. It still amazed her that Joshua would already be in his hotel before she reached Albuquerque. Technology had certainly provided some amazing conveniences. She hoped that it could once again become a tool rather than an obsession.