Chapter 9
The City of Tomorrow
Blue Door
Paul dreamed of a city where everything shone.
Buildings curved like coloured glass. Trees grew from rooftops. People moved along the pavements on cushions of air rising from their shoes.
“That beats jogging,” Paul said.
No one heard him.
Across the street stood a round blue kiosk. An elderly woman entered, touched a glowing panel and disappeared. A moment later a young man stepped out.
Paul went inside.
The panel displayed the outline of a human body. Half of it flickered.
ALIGN IMAGE WITH MEMORY, the words said.
Paul touched the screen.
Light travelled down his body. His invisible legs appeared in the reflection.
Then the dream changed.
He saw the Rainbow Room. The seven coloured sparks were striking the white heart behind the final door. Cracks spread through it. The colours separated and began pulling in different directions.
Seven voices shouted at once:
“Red is best!”
“Orange is best!”
“Yellow!”
“Green!”
“Blue!”
“Indigo!”
“Violet!”
The white light shattered.
Paul woke beneath Ponco Blue’s canopy.
His legs were visible again.
“A triumph,” Ponco Blue said. “Exactly as I calculated.”
“You didn’t calculate anything,” Paul replied. “My mind remembered the shape of my body and the machine followed it.”
Ponco Blue stroked his chin. “Exactly as I was about to calculate.”
Paul sat up. “The Radiant Rainbow is in danger. The colours were fighting and the white light broke apart.”
Ronnie and Ponco Blue exchanged a look.
“You knew,” Paul said.
Ronnie sighed. “The Poncos have spent years arguing about which colour is most important. The Great Debate is supposed to settle it.”
“How?”
“You will choose a winner.”
Paul jumped off the bed. “That is why you brought me here.”
“Partly.”
“You said I was invited.”
“You were. We simply neglected to put the invitation in your hand before collecting you.”
“And if I choose one colour?”
“The others have promised to accept it.”
“Do Poncos keep promises?”
Neither man answered.
The blue walls cracked. A spark tore free and vanished towards the white door.
“There are two Poncos left,” Ronnie said. “We must visit both before the debate begins.”
“Why?”
“Because they each possess something the rainbow may need.”
“And because you have another secret plan?”
Ronnie adjusted a pearl button.
“That too.”