Roger and Ann were to meet Sergei in San Francisco. "Shall we go by train, boat or plane?" Ann asked.
“The train is too slow, and the boat trip around South America will take several months,” Roger replied. "Let's go by plane."
He entered the central network using his personal computer and waited for the system to confirm his identity. With a few keystrokes, he logged into the electronic ticketing system and entered the codes for the origin and destination. After a few seconds, the computer brought up a list of suitable flights, and it chose the earliest one. The dollars to pay were automatically deducted from his personal account.
The planes flew from the city airport, which they reached by city train. Ann changed into her travel attire, which consisted of a light blouse made of polycarbonate-based faux fabric that accentuated her vital figure, without genetic enhancements, and dark blue textile trousers. Her pretty brown hair was left uncovered.
At the airport, Roger presented their identification cards to the airline representative, who used their own computer system to verify their identities and obtain information about their itinerary. She entered the confirmation number and gave them two tickets that gave them access to the boarding area. Then they were checked by the security service - this is a necessary measure for all air travel. They handed over their luggage to another representative; it will be transported in a separate compartment of the aircraft, in which artificial pressure is not built up.
“Do you think we will fly on a propeller plane? Or one of the new jets?” Ann asked.
“I'm sure it will be a jet plane,” said Roger. – Propeller-driven aircraft are practically obsolete. On the other hand, rocket engines are still in the experimental phase. They say that when they start to be used everywhere, such flights will take an hour at most. And today our flight will last up to four hours.
After a short waiting period, they were shown to the plane along with other passengers. The plane was a huge steel cylinder at least a hundred meters long, with streamlined wings looking back at an angle, on which four jet engines were mounted. They peered into the forward cockpit and saw two pilots checking all the equipment needed to fly the planes. Roger was glad that he didn't have to fly the plane himself - it was a difficult profession that required many years of training.
The unexpectedly spacious section for passengers had padded benches; there were also windows through which they could look down on the countryside, flying 11 km above it at a speed of over 800 km/h. Pressurized air nozzles kept the cockpit warm, comfortable, despite the cold stratosphere surrounding them.
"I'm a little worried," Ann said before takeoff.
"There's nothing to worry about," he reassured her. “Such flights are quite common. You are safer than in ground transportation!”
Despite his calm speech, Roger had to admit that he, too, was a little nervous when the pilot lifted the plane into the air and the ground slammed down. They and other passengers looked out the windows for a long time. He could barely make out the houses, farms, and moving traffic below.
“And there are more people going to San Francisco today than I expected,” he said.
“Some of them may be going to other places,” she replied. – You know, it would be very expensive to connect all the points on the map with air routes. So we have a system of transfer hubs, and people from small towns first go to such a hub, and then to the place they need. Luckily, you found us a flight that will take us straight to San Francisco."
When they arrived at the San Francisco airport, airline officials helped them off the plane and retrieved their luggage, checking the numbered labels to make sure each luggage was returned to its owner.
“I can't believe we're in another city,” Ann said. “We were in Chicago just four hours ago.”
“Well, we haven’t arrived in the city yet! Roger corrected her. We are still at the airport, which is some distance from the city due to the fact that it requires a very large area, and also in case of rare incidents. From here we will reach the city on a smaller transport.
They chose one of the carbon-fueled ground vehicles waiting in line outside the airport. The cost of the trip was small enough that it could be paid not by wire transfer, but by portable dollar signs. The driver directed his car towards the city; and although he was driving at only about 100 km/h, they felt like they were going faster because they were only a meter away from the concrete road. He looked at Ann, worried that such speed might excite her; but she seemed to enjoy the ride. Fighting, and even smart girl!
Finally, the driver stopped his car and they arrived at the scene. Automatic electronic doors welcomed them into Sergei's building. The whole trip took no more than seven hours.
Source: habr.com