Future Shock Read Online Free Page B

of the aperture at the correct time to go through it.”
    “But how do you know we won’t appear in the future in the middle of the ocean or stuck inside a wall?” Adam asks. A much better question , I think.
    “Aether Corporation owns this building,” Lynne says. “We’ve already made arrangements so it remains in our possession over the next ten years. When you get to the future you’ll likely be greeted by Aether employees who will be happy to assist you.” She gives a tiny laugh. “You might even see a future version of me.”
    This is all happening so fast and it sounds way too easy. There has to be something they aren’t telling us. Am I the only one who sees the warning signs?
    I don’t bother to raise my hand like Adam did. “What kind of risks can we expect in the future?”
    Dr. Kapur speaks for the first time since we got here. “There should be very few risks. We’ve already performed trial runs with the aperture, such as sending inanimate objects and small animals to the future. They all returned unharmed.”
    “Yes, it’s perfectly safe,” Lynne says. “You’re the first people to visit the future, so we’re not entirely sure what the future will be like, but if you compare the world now to the world of ten years ago, not as much has changed as you might think. Technology and pharmaceuticals have made great advances, but most aspects of our culture remain the same. We still use the same money, speak the same language, and use the same roads. The risks should be no greater than walking outside your own house today. We’ll also be providing you with supplies and money in the unlikely event that someone from Aether Corporation is not there to greet you.”
    Dr. Walters looks like he wants to say something, but Lynne continues. “If there are no further questions at this time, we’ll break for lunch. After that, you’ll be heading to the accelerator and we’ll go over a few more details there.”
    “I got a question,” Chris says, crossing his arms. “When do we get paid?”
    “As soon as you return from the future and finish your debriefing.” She smiles and heads toward the door. “Now if you’ll all follow me…”
    As we stand, I overhear Trent ask Chris, “Dude, do you really thinking we’re going to the future?”
    Chris snorts. “No way in hell.”
    I hate to admit it, but I agree with them. What Lynne and the scientists are proposing, this “temporal aperture,” it’s impossible. It has to be. And if it is possible, there’s no way they’d choose us for it. They’d use scientists or people in the military. Not foster kids.
    But my God, if it is true? We’ll be going tothe future . My mind races just thinking about the possibilities. Ten years is a long time. I’ll be twenty-seven years old. Maybe I’ll be married with a kid or two. Maybe I’ll be serving a life sentence in prison like Papá. Or maybe I’ll be a social worker, helping other foster kids like myself. With Aether Corp’s money, that dream doesn’t seem quite as impossible as it did a few days ago.
    No matter what the risks are, I’m all in. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see the future?
    Lunch is served in a cafeteria where employees probably spend their breaks, except today it’s cleared out. I grab a tray and load it up with food—lasagna, salad, some sort of fancy chicken dish, french fries. They even have a frozen yogurt machine. Throwing this much food in front of foster kids is almost cruel. I eat pretty well at the Robertsons’, but that wasn’t always the case.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Trent grabbing a roll out of the basket and slipping it into his pocket. Food hoarding. I’ve seen other foster kids do that. He must have gone hungry a lot when he was younger. Chris catches me watching Trent and sneers at me. I roll my eyes and grab a slice of cake.
    They’ve set up a long table for us so we can all sit together. Guess we’re supposed to be bonding or something. No