Justen lowered himself gingerly into the chair and allowed the man standing before him to attach the Interface to the appropriate points on Justen's head.

"We understand, Justen, that you've never Linked before," the man commented as he connected some wires to the base of Justen's skull.

"No, sir," he stammered, and paused for a moment. "I consider myself, ah, fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this University, sir, and I do appreciate your taking the time to train me in the use of the MentaLink." Even in the midst of his anxiety, Justen tried to compose himself and speak to the professor with the manners his mother had taught him. He might not be rich, but he could at least speak like a Citizen should.

The man smiled as he finished the connection and stepped back. "It'll take a little time to master, son, so don't get too frustrated. But, if you're going to attend University, this is something you can't get around." He pulled a chair close to Justen's station and sat. "You scored well above average on your entrance exams, though. If your two-week training session on the MentaLink reflects your written score, you should be admitted with little difficulty."

Justen knew he was one of very few people from the Far North to manage to attend an accredited University, simply because of the fact that his school system (like many in the North Country) wasn't financially stable enough to afford even one Interface. Some schools in his region had saved up and bought one Interface for the entire High School—during your Study Hall, you could sign up for a half-hour of MentaLink training. But not Justen's.

Standardized, written entrance exams were uncommon these days, with MentaLink performance exams being the norm, but Universities tended to placate the less fortunate students and school districts by still permitting written exams for remedial admittance. Any student without experience on the Link would have to undergo a two-week training period, since all information in the curriculum was directly transferred via the MentaLink, and all class sessions were devoted entirely to testing the integrity of the Transfer and applying the absorbed information.

Most students didn't score high enough on the written standardized tests to qualify for the two-week training period. Justen was one of the lucky ones. Only time would tell if he beat the odds once more and actually passed the MentaLink entrance exam at the end of the training period.

The professor broke into Justen's reverie. "Are you ready, son?"

Justen swallowed and nodded. The man reached over to a nearby table, picked up an apparatus—an Interface nearly identical to Justen's—and strapped it easily to his own head. "The MentaLink," he explained as he connected himself to the device, "is controlled purely by conscious thought. You need only think of a subject, and you will access that subject. Our link here in the lab is closed-circuit, so you will only be able to access myself and our University Archives. First, I'll show you how to control the Interface. I'll speak aloud until you grow used to the link. Ready?"

Deep breath. "Yessir."

"There's a toggle switch at your right temple. When you're prepared to link, flip the toggle up. Try to keep your mind clear, and I'll guide you through the Interface this first time." The professor reached up to his own temple, closed his eyes, and toggled his Interface on.
His heart pounding in his chest, Justen deliberately cleared his mind of all stray thoughts, reached a shaky hand to his temple, and slowly flipped the switch.

Abruptly, he was not alone.

Justen became vaguely aware of a vast wealth of knowledge just beyond his reach... and, more clearly, of another presence. He marshaled his mental energy and silently addressed the presence.

Professor?

"Very good, Justen," he answered aloud. "You seem to be very self-aware. This is a good start. Now, we'll teach you about accessing information. This may be easier if you close your eyes." Justen obeyed.

Can you understand me? the professor queried silently.

Yes, I can.

Do you know where the Student Union is on campus?

No, sir. (Should I have studied the campus map?)

No, Justen. This is your first test.

Embarrassment. Sorry, sir—I hadn't realized you would 'hear' that.

Of course. Amusement, then back to seriousness. I want you to seek out in my mind the location of the Union. I'm thinking of it right now.

Momentary panic. Gingerly, unsure of himself, Justen reached out with his consciousness toward the other's. Student Union... map... location... Like shuffling through a stack of papers, Justen looked through the professor's mind for the information he sought, sensing other superfluous information in the process. He discovered that the professor truly was impressed thus far, and had expected to start Justen off with basic self-awareness training. Most students who had never Linked before had a difficult time of reaching out with their minds at all.

Then, like a spark, he knew exactly where the Union was. He could clearly picture the building with its old-style brick and glass. It was as if he had always known, and had just managed to remember it after a long while of searching his thoughts... although truly it was another's thoughts he had searched.

Very good, Justen, the professor acceded. Now, tell me: where is the Student Union?

He could still see the Union in his mind, but didn't need to look at street signs or building names. He simply knew, as in a dream. On Center Road, next to Johnson Hall.

How do you get to the cafeteria?

Justen strode into the Union, turned left, and walked upstairs. It was as if he had been at the University for years, though this was only his second visit to the campus. He was amazed at his own knowledge of every characteristic of every section he passed, every worn stair, every crack of paint. He knew them as well as he knew his own bedroom back home.

I've eaten in that cafeteria every weekday for the past fifteen years, the professor explained. My memory of that passageway is sharp, and therefore yours is as well. That is what we call a Transfer. I directly transferred all my knowledge of the Student Union to you.

Now, the professor continued, let's show you the Archives. This is where you'll spend a great deal of your Link time. Now... have you ever read Hamlet by Shakespeare?

No, sir.

Good. I want you to search the Archives for Hamlet.

Despair struck at Justen, and a feeling of being overwhelmed by the massive amount of information to sift through.

It's not difficult, son. Reach out like you did with me, but reach out to that knowledge you sense. It's similar, but nonsentient. It can't respond to you—it's there purely for the taking. Look for Hamlet.

Resigned, Justen obeyed. Hamlet... Hamlet... Shakespeare... Unexpectedly, he started thinking of snippets of other Shakespeare plays. Oh, brave new world, which has such people in it, he thought ironically.

You're close, the professor called to him, with a tinge of pleasant surprise. Don't let yourself get distracted—that's the easiest thing to do on the Link. Be careful.

Hamlet! He sensed that he was just on the verge of remembering something, although he knew intellectually that he was actually just about to learn it. The experience was mind-boggling.

Open your mind, boy, but be prepared—it'll come fast, and you can sort it out later. Careful, now.

Slowly, Justen leaned forward toward the 'memory' of Hamlet—and felt a peculiar rush, like a huge intake of air. He realized that he had indeed gasped aloud at the sensation, and had opened his eyes as well. Instinctively, he closed himself into his own consciousness, startled and frightened, blocking out all other inputs.

"Justen? Are you all right?" The professor's voice, spoken aloud, seemed flat and almost emotionless after experiencing such communication on the MentaLink. Justen closed his eyes, steeled himself and answered silently, reopening his hesitant mind to the Link.

Yes, Professor—I just wasn't expecting that.

Relief, melded with understanding. Good. Tell me, Justen, what is Hamlet about?

He searched his newfound memory and discovered that, with a minimum of confusion, he could recall the basic gist of the play. Hamlet's uncle murders Hamlet's father and marries his mother, and he pretends to be insane while he plans to avenge his father. —Amazing! I know Hamlet! Wow...

Now, Justen, I want you to recall a passage from what you just transferred. OK?

All right. Justen composed himself and prepared to access his memory more deeply.

At one point Hamlet finds a skull and talks about it. What does Hamlet say?

Justen searched his new memory of Hamlet for a scene with a skull. Almost immediately, he saw the scene unfold in his mind, and knew the line to which the Professor alluded. 'Alas, poor Yurich—I knew him well.'

Excellent recall, Justen. Now... well, I think that's enough for one session—wouldn't you agree?

Relief, mixed with mild excitement. Yes, sir! Will I be permitted to practice on the MentaLink before our next session?

Certainly. In fact, it will be required. For now, though, let's exit the Link.

Abruptly, the professor's presence was gone from him, and he was utterly alone in the Archives. Justen took a deep breath and raised his right hand to his temple. His physical sensations seemed dreamlike as his finger touched the toggle and flipped it down.

If the professor's departure from the MentaLink was strange, his own was even more so. It was as if one of his senses had taken leave of him—not sight, nor sound, nor the kinesthetic sense, but his newfound mental sense. He knew that couldn't be right... but it felt that way to him. Relaxing himself, he opened his eyes to find the professor detaching himself from the Interface and looking rather bemused.

"It was the same for me, my first time in the MentaLink," he explained. "I was actually about your age when the technology became common, and learning to navigate within the Link was a skill everyone was learning. After you become more used to it, exiting the Link is a bit less... traumatic."

Justen was still a bit shaken from his experience, and was slow in responding. "That was... different. I, ah, I understand that it is also possible to access the entire Planetary Network from campus? Will I be permitted to do that?"

"Yes, in time. For now, though, the MentaLink in your residence room is set for campus-wide only."

—I have a MentaLink in my room? Wow...

"After the initial week of your training, you will be permitted to access the Global Network. For now, though, campus-wide should be plenty challenging. You'll have access to the entire campus of students, as well as the Archives."

The professor stood and approached Justen, reaching for his Interface. "Now that you understand the concept of how to Transfer," he said, removing the connections one by one, "I'd like you to transfer from the Archives the volume on Basic Link Etiquette. There are some things you need to know before you link with other people. Just look for Basic Link Etiquette. Tomorrow I'll quiz you on what you've learned. Do you have any questions for me before you go?"

"Just one. Is that all the training I get today?"

The professor chuckled as he set Justen's Interface down on a nearby table. "The Basic Link Etiquette should be enough to keep you busy for the rest of the day. And, if I'm any judge, you'll probably be wanting to spend as much time as possible on the Link. Just be sure to give your mind some time to absorb what you've Transferred, and to get plenty of sleep." The professor paused, looking down at Justen. "You're off to a good start, son—keep up the good work." He extended his hand to Justen.

"Thank you, sir," Justen replied as he stood and shook the professor's outstretched hand. "I'll do my best."

:: work in progress available :: e-mail for details ::
:: last updated 19 december 2002 ::