He did not recognize the square at all, but he guessed from the
schoolgirls that he was in an intellectual residential neighborhood.
At first he thought the school was one for girls, but then he noticed
a few lone boys among the homeward-bound students and decided that
most of the families in this area must be deliberately having as
many girls as possible. When sex-determination had become possible
through centrifuging human sperm to separate the male-producing and
female-producing types, most parents decided to have sons, especially
for their firstborn. They often told themselves they would have
daughters later, but unfortunately small families were the rule.
The resulting over-production of males had led to some ineffectual
state laws forbidding sex-determination, an unsuccessful attempt at
self-regulation by the medical profession, a lot of talk in Congress,
and an almost fanatically determined movement among a class of
thoughtful people to produce only daughters. This last class, besides
seeking to balance the sex ratio, perhaps had in mind the fact or rumor
that human parthenogenesis had been achieved. Phil remembered a Sunday
afternoon video shock talk: _Will Women Born of Virgins Become Our Only
Intellectuals?_
Other aspects of the neighborhood around the square fitted with his
guess. There was an appearance of shabbiness, the skyscrapers were low,
advertisements lifeless, traffic was light, there were no hot rods.
He let his gaze roam over the tiers of tiny flats, wondering where
Lucky might have gone. As he did so, he turned on the jeep's radio.
"... while Mystery Man Billig, mastermind of Fun Incorporated, is
believed to have fled the country. Tonight at 8:30 New Washington
Time, President Barnes will address all us American folks, partly
to silence the small, syndicate-inspired clamor at the outlawing of
male-female wrestling and jukebox burlesque, but more to explain to
an amazed citizenry the full reasons behind the charges brought this
morning by the federal government against sixty-nine high officials.
I predict--and remember this is just my personal libel-free guess,
fellow-folks--that the president will reveal that Fun Incorporated has
been peddling dream pills, temporary sterility tabs, and I'm as shocked
and disgusted as you are, folks, female robots equipped for obscene
functioning.