The World Game Read Free Page A

of each locker, below the main door, there was a small hatch.
    “Find your locker and stand along side it to the left. As of this moment we are under strict military discipline.” Fuller marched along the row of standing cadets and assumed a harsh, instructive tone.
    “You obey all instructions immediately and without question. There will be no please, or thank you from myself or other staff. You will be addressed as “cadet” and by your last name, which must be visible on your uniform at all times. You will acknowledge instructions with “yes sir” or “no sir” as the case may be.”
    Fuller paused, looking along the line of dumbfounded faces. “Anyone who does not wish to comply with these instructions should depart now.” The silence was tangible. A few cadets looked at each other in horror, wondering what they had got themselves into. But no one spoke, or left.
    “Right, let’s get on with it then. Open your lockers, read the instructions on the door, and become familiar with your youniforms and equipment. You will note the small hatch at the bottom of your locker. That is where your personal buddy parks itself when not active. You will get to meet your buddy shortly. For now, touch the green “screen” button, follow the directions and change into your youniforms.”
    As each cadet pressed the button a green fabric modesty screen ejected from the locker door frame and curled around and back, enclosing just enough space to change clothing.
    “Cadets.” called out Fuller, everything off down to the skin. That means plasdaids, feminine hygiene, l-eye-v lenses. Anything. Your youniform will take care of all those matters as soon as you put it on. Your youniform is the ONLY piece of clothing you will wear 24/7. Together with your buddy, it cleans you and itself, and will take care of you if you take care of it. Hurry now. Another thirty seconds and the screens go back ready or not.”
    There were some noises of panic from a couple of the screens and one screen bounced as the occupant tripped over his own gear. thirty seconds later the screens retracted leaving most of the cadets standing straight by their lockers, looking smart in their deep blue youniforms. One of the boys was in a complete mess with his youniform on backwards. Fuller sauntered over to the backward youniform cadet and looked him up and down.
    “Well, what are you going to do about this cadet?”
    “Umm, yes sir. Ermm, no sir, I don’t know sir.”
    “Do you know where your butt is cadet?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “So why isn’t your butt in the butt end of the youniform cadet?”
    “It was sir, when I put it on. It keeps turning around on its own sir.”
    “How did you put it on cadet?”
    “I pulled it over my head and slid my legs in sir.”
    “Did you read the instructions on how to put on the youniform cadet?”
    “Sort of sir.”
    “You did not see them or you ignored them cadet?”
    “I couldn’t read them clearly without my contact lenses sir, so I guess I ignored them sir.”
    “That could cost you your life cadet. NEVER ignore instructions. Follow them to the letter. The youniform is made of DNA keyed allo-iso-skin. The youniform is YOU cadet. Read the instructions now.” There was a short pause as the cadet squinted at the few lines. “The instructions state clearly, what, cadet?”
    “Sir they say, put your fingertips of your right hand on the corresponding fingertips of the youniform and press the yellow Form-on button. The youniform will flow onto your body automatically and seal itself into place. To remove youniform put your right hand onto the youniform holder and press the red Form-off button.”
    “Well cadet?”
    The cadet looked at the red button, then back at Fuller, his face a mask of horrified realization. “But sir...”
    “DO IT!” There was muffled laughter coming from the others as the cadet hesitantly put his fingers onto the holder and pressed the red button. The youniform immediately began to