SHATTER THE WALL
By SYDNEY VAN SCYOC
Illustrated by WEST
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Magazine February 1962.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
They were a charming family and everybody
loved them to death—especially Amanda!
There he stood, Bass McDowall, life-size on the Wall. She made herselflook at the hateful broad-shouldered image with the deliberatelypenetrating black eyes. She made herself watch his boy-image bend overKippie's slender girl-image, made herself listen to his mellow voicegasp, "Kippie, sweetie-bug."
Savagely she thrust upward on the ebony lever. Bass McDowall, Wallidol, and Kippie lurched and disappeared. Lights glowed from fixturesrecessed into the ceiling, illuminating the long, windowless Wall room.
Kathryn, whose hair was a snug, dark Kippie-cap, leaped from the Wallseat. "Don't turn it off now! Couldn't you even tell, Mother? He'sgoing to kiss her! Turn it back on this minute!"
Amanda stationed herself before the lever, shaking her head. "Not untilI've spoken to you," she said. "Kathryn, I don't think you realizeyet what it means, but you're the youngest person, the very youngest,living in this city."
"Quit calling me that! Everyone has to call me Kippie." She cocked herdark head, Kippie-like. The red mark caused by the constant proddingof her index finger against her cheek glared. "Bass loves Kippie. Hecalled her sweetie-bug."
"I refuse to call you Kippie." She folded her arms. "I don't want todiscuss your name again, Kathryn."
"It will be Kippie." She squirmed into a Kippie-like position. "Soon asI'm twenty-one, I'll change it. You wait!"
"Perhaps you will, Kathryn. But I'll never call you Kippie."
"Oh, quit being silly and turn it on. He might kiss her again." Shefocused her blue eyes upon the Wall. "Turn it on."
"Kathryn, I want to talk to you, and I intend to do so without BassMcDowall staring over my shoulder." She sat down beside her daughter."Now, Kathryn, you're nineteen years old, and you're certainlyattractive by any—"
"I don't have dimples like Kippie does." Remembering, she poked herfinger back into her cheek.
"I'm not talking about Kippie." She stared at the finger sunk into herdaughter's cheek, wondering how many times she had explained that itwouldn't cause a dimple. "I want you to get married, Kathryn."
"I've told you a million times, I won't. You're always after me!" shewailed. "Bass won't ever marry anyone, not even Kippie, and she's gotdimples. Bass says—"
"Bass McDowall is not a real person. He's only an actor."
"He's the realest thing in the world. But he won't marry me, so you'dbetter forget it." She stepped to turn the Wall on again.
Instantly the ash tray was in Amanda's hand, the massive glass trayDell had given her. She hurled it at the Wall, which shattered with abrittle explosive splintering.
Kathryn jumped back, wailing. "I hate you!" Frantically she manipulatedthe lever and twisted the ebony dials. "Bass, come back. Bass!"
Amanda patted the Wall seat. "Sit down, Kathryn."
Finally the girl sat down, sullenly rubbing her eyes with her fists.
"Kathryn, have you noticed that we never see infants on the Wall? Wenever see small children, either, because, Kathryn, you're the youngestperson in this city. The week after you were born, the city hospital'sobstetrical ward closed permanently