Aida added with reluctant admiration, "The pyramids are their cryo-storage facilities.  NewEgypt has found that patrons will pay a premium for the more limited luxury space on the upper levels."

"Luxury space?" said Roic.  "Isn't it all t' same, once you're frozen?  I mean, technologically?"

He glanced at Raven, who murmured, "One certainly trusts so . . ."

"Yes, but the cryo-contracts are selected and signed by the living people," Aida explained.  "It has been a very appealing and successful program for NewEgypt.  They've trademarked that entire historical period to block imitators."  She added in a tone of some disappointment, "They were giving away live sphinxes at the conference this year, but our department head was too late to get us one."

With effort, Miles didn't blink, and so he had a good view of the next facility along their route, which featured glass towers and glittering spires wrapped with lines of colored light.  The groundcar was well sound-insulated, but he could have sworn a faint bass beat penetrated the canopy.  "Music?"

"Shinkawa Consolidated," their guide explained.  Sure enough, they passed another gate, with the cryocorp's name displayed over it in shifting rainbow hues.  "I believe they are trying to appeal to a younger crowd."

Miles tried to digest that.  It wasn't going down.  "Surely that would be the smallest market segment."

"Patrons are normally older when their contract is activated, yes," said Aida.  "But personal affordability is improved the sooner you sign on and begin your payments.  It's actually been a very effective strategy for Shinkawa.  If I didn't have a cryo-contract through my own employer, as part of my benefits package, I'd consider them myself."  She hid a giggle behind one well-manicured hand.  "Though I probably shouldn't tell you that."

Another cryocorp campus appeared on the opposite side of the highway.  It seemed to have a lot of trees, but neither walls nor gates—nor gate guards—though a low stone divider bore the name Northern Spring.  What buildings Miles could spot through the vegetation looked blocky and utilitarian.  Miles pointed.  "How about those folks?"

"Ah, Northern Spring," said Aida.  "They have the distinction of being one of the oldest cryocorps in the region, and one of the first to develop a facility out here, but they are not what we would call top tier."

Actually, according to Miles's not-always-inadequate preliminary reports on Kibou-daini, they were the sixth largest publicly-owned cryocorp presently doing business, which would certainly make them what he would call top tier.  But the general look of their place was staid to the point of stodgy.