"There is no food shortage in the Land of Milk and Honey," blared the billboards. But there was a food shortage. Ever since the wheat crops had failed, in the summers of '89, '90, '91, the specter of a hungry world had stood at arms length.

The wheat had failed, so the scientists ironicly said, because the DDT used back in the 1950's and 60's had killed many of the birds that feed on the insects that plague the wheat fields. Maybe this was so, but maybe Mother Nature was simply tired, tired of her crushing burden of humanity.

"Land of Milk and Honey Restaurants, Outlets World Wide."

He adjusted his smog-mask and walked on seeing the looming structure of Dome New York up ahead.

"Land of Milk and Honey, a gourmet's delight featuring Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, all top cuts at rock bottom prices."

How did they do it he wondered. How could they afford to stay in business with the price of beef skyrocketing. Synthetics would be the answer to the price problem, but no one has yet found a way to make algae and other low cost seafoods have the taste of a good steak, and the steaks at Land of Milk and Honey Restaurants were good.

"LMH Restaurants up 1 1/4" the Dow Jones receiver whispered in his ear.

The government was taking a hands off policy towards the huge chain simply because the people were being fed. No one questioned where the food came from, no one cared, they were simply glad there was food at all. The government was in enough political turmoil as it was and was not about to launch a full scale investigation into where the food came from. After all, next year was an election year.

"Come to the Land of Milk and Honey where all the world can be fed; open Sundays for your dining pleasure."

He was still pondering this as he went through the air lock of Dome New York and removed his mask. He was thinking that even though the world was facing a food problem that someone was doing something about it.

He then turned into the nearest Land of Milk and Honey Restaurant for a hearty steak sandwich.

In another part of the continent, Dome Chicago, a television announcer was summing up the news of the day with an interesting last minute statistic, "It has been found that even though the birth rate and death rate have been rising sharply in the last few years that cemeteries and mortuaries are becoming less and less crowded.

Ray Nelson