Page:Amazing Stories v35n11 (1961-11).djvu/140

almost completely silent and accommodates a surprising volume of traffic. Dinner proves excellent, with a wide selection of dishes and beverages. Looking through the menu, the only noticeable absence is seafood. Otherwise the fare is much like that offered in Earth cities and reflects credit on the efficiency of men like our friend, the farm manager. The thought leads to a decision to take him up on his invitation, and after finishing our coffee we dig out his directions and head for his home.

THANKS to the city's hub layout, with its radiating boulevards and regular system of side streets, the Manager's domicile is easy to find. The building seems more like an airy cluster of aluminum and glass terraces than an apartment house. "We lived near San Diego for awhile," says our host, "but this beats anything on Earth. It is the California/Florida concept of indoor-outdoor living raised to the nth degree. Our climate here is controlled—warm enough to be comfortable, cool enough to be vitalizing—so we have no real need for heavy clothes or heat appliances. As there is little wind—just mild artificial breezes to keep the air circulating, and only light "condensation showers" that are scheduled during the dark hours, Earth-type weather walls are unnecessary. So beyond a few one-way curtains, drapes and translucent panels for privacy, we practically live in the open. That is, the open beneath the city dome!

"Speaking as one engineer to another, I hardly need point out that due to our low Lunar gravity only the lightest structural framework is required, and building operations are a cinch. Mostly a simple job of assembling prefabricated units. All our materials—aluminum, glass, various types of reinforced plastics—are made locally."

"It's not a bad life at all," our hostess assures us. "Lunar wages are high, prices are low and housekeeping is easy. We dress well, have good shops and some really nice restaurants and clubs when we feel like doing the town. I belong to several social groups and we do our share of entertaining." She smiles contentedly. "Once you get used to the idea of living on the Moon, it's not much different than San Diego, Boston or Columbus, Ohio. The towns are smaller, but the people are nice and we can get practically anything we need."

In her matter-of-fact way, the lady has pretty well summed up life as it will eventually be lived in our planetary colonies. The description of a Moon city's layout, food production facilities,