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Hearing the voice of the Wise One, Chris froze. He knew that Kronos would certainly identify him, since all Vinland’s computers had a hierarchical structure, and information would eventually flow here, but he was still confused. In addition, Kronos had direct access to the databases of eye corneas kept by the guards, which allowed him to easily identify who was standing in front of him.
After a pause, the AI continued:
– What brings you to this room?
– Supreme Ruler Kronos, I am confused because I can’t find an answer to one question.
– Does this question concern you personally or is it of global significance?
«It concerns me personally, but it may have an impact on the political structure of the Continent.
After a short pause, the Wise One asked another question:
– You have to make a choice and don’t know whether it will be right?
– Yes.
– What does this choice concern?
– The future of Vinland. I’m worried about where the Continent will end up under Demian Roskhald’s rule. What’s next for Vinland?
Kronos’s eyes changed color, as they did while the thought process was going on. In a matter of seconds, having analyzed all the political regimes of the past and compared them with the current situation, he calmly said:
– If everything is left as it is, then totalitarianism will reign on the Continent.
– Supreme Ruler Kronos, why are you talking about this so calmly?
«I only monitor the implementation of the Code, and what future awaits Vinland is decided by the ruler and senators elected by the people.» If the citizens of the Continent are happy with everything and there are no mass unrest, then I must accept their choice, whether I like it or not.
Chris was tormented by other questions, but when he heard footsteps, he realized that his colleague was returning to his workplace, and it was time to end the conversation. Thanking Kronos, he hurried to his computer.
* * *
Throughout the night shift, Chris thought about the conclusion made by the Wise One. Exactly at nine in the morning, when another shift took over at the AI control panels, he, as usual, went into the cafe on the ground floor of the building. Chris loved to spend time there, reflect on what was happening on the Continent, and then go on vacation. That morning, he was also sitting by the window, drinking coffee and thinking about life, when suddenly his attention was drawn to a book that looked out of the bag of a girl passing by – «The Age of Blockchain, or Belshazzar’s Feast,» which Mr. Graves was working on. Running out of the cafe, Chris caught up with the girl.
– I’m sorry! Tell me, how did you get this book?
When the girl turned around, her face seemed familiar to Chris. After thinking a little, he remembered that he had seen her several times in the ministry cafeteria, as well as on the day when he visited the professor’s apartment.
«Excuse me, were you the one coming down the stairs when I was talking to Mr. Graves’s housekeeper?»
«Yes, you’re right,» the girl smiled, and Chris realized that she was very pretty. Medium height, slender, with shoulder-length dark hair. Particularly beautiful were her brown, sparkling eyes and the dimples on her cheeks that appeared from her especially radiant smile.
«Chris Taffer,» the young man introduced himself.
«My name is Lucia,» said the girl.
«I happened to see Professor Graves’s book in your place and wanted to know how you got it.»
– Are you talking about this book? – The girl took a bound edition out of her bag. Carefully holding it in her hands, she shared: «This book is not sold in stores.» The owner of one shop, a good friend of mine, gave it to me to read for a while. Why did she interest you so much?
– I am a historian in my first specialty; I completed my studies at the university in the department of the author of this very book. Where did you study?
– Far from these places. I came here several years ago to work at the Ministry of Information.
– Please tell me the address of this bookstore! I need to find out from the dealer how the book, banned after Mr. Graves’ arrest, came into his possession. Perhaps he can tell about the health and whereabouts of the professor.
Seeing his sincerity and concern for the fate of Mr. Graves, the girl looked at Chris more carefully:
– Do you know that many bookstores operate underground, and not everyone can get into them? Since it’s so important, I can take you there after work today.
«Wonderful,» Chris agreed. «I’m free this evening.»
– Then let’s go at 20:00 on Marx Avenue, near the fountain.
– OK see you later!
«See you later,» the girl said and, returning the book to her wicker bag, continued on her way.
After getting some sleep after the night shift, Chris went to the specified address. The girl was gone for a long time. At 20:30 he was about to return to his place, but saw a familiar silhouette in the distance.
«Sorry for being late, I had to stay late,» said Lucia, approaching him. Her hair was slightly disheveled, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, and the freckles that strewn her pale skin became even brighter.
«I was about to leave, deciding that your plans had changed, but suddenly you appeared at the last moment, one might say, out of nowhere,» Chris looked at Lucia with interest. Still, I wonder who she is. Perhaps an agent provocateur, like the girl who came to the cafe and tried to find out information about some list. But I didn’t want to believe it. His new friend seemed surprisingly sincere and fragile, as if she was not from this world.
Looking at her watch, the girl said:
– While it’s not too late, we can look into the bookstore. It is located in Luz.
Hearing the name of the thirteenth region of the Continent, Chris thought about refusing, but the desire to find out at least something about the fate of Mr. Graves gave him determination. At this time the girl continued:
«We’ll go there in my flying machine, it’s parked two blocks from here.»
Is he invited to Luz? Yes, it looks like a new check. Well, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It is impossible to blame him for anything. It’s worth taking a walk and seeing what Lucia wants from him.
– With pleasure. «I just didn’t know how to spend this evening,» Chris smiled.
Lucia’s aircraft was parked among others in the parking lot. It was a small supersonic plane that could fit two people in the cabin, quite standard, as Chris noted. Taffer noted with surprise that Lucia did not have a feminine, uncertain style of control; on the contrary, all the actions of his new acquaintance were clear and precise, and she drove herself, without resorting to the services of an autopilot.
Thirty minutes later, Chris and Lucia arrived in Luz. The citizens of this region did not want to obey Kronos, for which they were deprived of the right to vote and other preferences enjoyed by residents of the other twelve regions. Luz, by agreement with the first ruler of Vinland, recognized himself as part of the Continent and made monthly contributions to the treasury, but at the same time continued to live by his Code. They also managed to ensure that guards, military robots and even drones could not cross the border of the thirteenth region without special permission from the Senate. It was like a state within a state, living according to its own laws, but not enjoying general rights.
After walking several streets, the young people came to a dilapidated building. The girl knocked three times and an elderly man opened the door. Walking inside, Chris saw shelves filled with paper publications. He was delighted because on the Continent, books were mostly distributed electronically so that their contents could be easily controlled.
Taking Lucia aside, the man asked in a whisper so that Chris could not hear:
– Is he one of us?
– No.
«Why did you bring him here then?»
– We need his help. Steve wants to talk to him.
«Maybe he’s connected to the guards!»
– We checked, there was no surveillance of him.
Without taking her eyes off Chris, who was leafing through books of ancient Greek thinkers, she added:
– Please prepare the room. Steve, Cheng and Nigel will arrive soon.
The man went to carry out an errand, and at that time the girl approached Chris, who was already standing at another shelf.
«You won’t find such rare books even in the university library!» But my mother showed me the funds! – the young man said with admiration. The yellowed paper of the edition of bygone times smelled of dust and, barely perceptibly, of expensive tobacco. Whose fingers touched her once? Who left this small scratch on a perfectly preserved binding? This book had its own story, and Chris wanted to know it.
«Mr. Anand carefully kept them all this time,» the girl tenderly ran her hand along the spines of the books lined up on the shelf. «He is opposed to edited publications presented electronically on the Continent, and wants to convey reliable information to future generations. There is not only a bookstore, but also a library where you can borrow real paper books. The next shelf displays a collection of books published in the 19th century.
«Do you know anything about Mr. Graves?» – Chris regretfully returned the book to its place.
«There has been no news about the professor since his arrest,» Lucia shook her head, and sadness surged in her speckled brown eyes.
Chris was surprised by the girl’s answer.
– Where does this information come from?
– He’s my father. I arrived in the capital to find him.
Just as he thought. Another daughter and another test. Now, for sure, they will ask him about the list and cooperation with the resistance. Still, it’s a pity that the story ended so anally. He was beginning to like Lucia, she wanted so much to believe him. Well, obviously you shouldn’t delay it. He must show that he is a good citizen, if only in order not to fail his mission in the AI tower. Chris was about to press the button on the pen given by those interrogating him last time and call the guards, but the girl noticed his movement and quickly said:
– Please don’t do this! I am indeed Professor Graves’ daughter. My full name is Minerva-Lucia Carter.
Chris paused. Of course, her words mean nothing – and the first provocateur called herself Minerva.
«Maybe my father was talking about me.» I was raised by my grandmother far from the capital and took my mother’s surname as a child.
Minerva showed a photograph from her childhood archives, where she stood next to the professor, and then a video from one of her birthdays to convince Chris of the truth of her words, and then continued:
«Having learned that the guards had captured my father, I arrived here and joined the ranks of the resistance.
«You’re the second professor’s daughter I’ve met in a week,» Chris shook his head. «If you don’t show me Mr. Graves, who will confirm these words, I will leave.»
The girl put a magnetic key and the book «The Age of Blockchain, or Belshazzar’s Feast» on the table and, pointing to the door, calmly said:
«Since the day of my father’s arrest, none of the rebels have seen him.» Some think that he is still in the hands of the guards, others that he has escaped and is hiding, and still others claim that he has been dead for a long time. That’s all I know. You can go. Use the key and you’re free.
Taking the key and book in his hands, Chris was about to leave the store, but something stopped him. The girl continued with sadness in her voice:
«The guards said they released my father, but there is no confirmation of this, he did not contact anyone. We think all the pardon talk is part of a plan being played out by the guards to find out about the list and identify resistance agents. We wouldn’t involve you, but we simply have no other choice. Steve, Cheng and Nigel will arrive now, they would like to talk to you. – Taking out the tablet and sorting through the folders in search of the desired file, the girl continued: – We have been collecting information about you from the moment you came to your father’s apartment. We know about your service in the AI tower, that you live close to work and go home to the north of the capital once a month. When you came to your father’s house, it immediately became known to government investigators. That housekeeper immediately passes on all the information about visitors to the guards, so, alas, it was not possible to get to you before the interrogators. Having learned that you were inquiring about your father’s health, they sent their agent to you. «Handing out a tablet with a photo of the guards and that girl agent arresting a group of rebels, Minerva asked: «Was that her?»
– Yes.
There was a knock. Mr. Anand opened the door and three people entered the bookshop. One of them, the tallest and broad-shouldered, hugged Minerva and, looking disdainfully at Chris, asked:
– Lucia, why did you bring him here?
«Steve gave permission, Nigel,» the girl slipped out of his arms and took a step back.
And Chris looked at those who entered and thought: is this really a member of the underground that they talk so much about? Are these the same villains who do not hesitate to endanger the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of the people of the Continent? Or was it all a lie too?
«I’m Steve Farlow,» a short man with a stern face stepped forward, perhaps the most homely of the trio, but from the way his comrades behaved with him, it became obvious that he was in charge here. «This is Nigel,» Steve nodded at the broad-shouldered man hugging Minerva, «and this is Cheng.» Chris, we have heard of you as an honest and reasonable person. Can we count on your integrity?
«I’m not ready to make any promises without understanding what we’re talking about,» Chris frowned and stepped back from the bookshelf.
«You are completely free,» Steve took a step, clearing the passage. – You can leave right now. Or stay to hear what we have to say.
Chris hesitated for a second, but nodded, confirming his agreement to stay.
Steve led the guests into a small office where there was a rather shabby table surrounded by uncomfortable old-style chairs.
When everyone was seated, Steve spoke:
«Minerva said that you knew Mr. Graves and even visited the professor’s apartment.»
– Yes, he was my teacher at the university.
The man was about to ask a second question, but Chris interrupted:
– What do you want from me?
Minerva, looking carefully at the guest, replied:
– We need a list.
– I don’t understand what list you are talking about. You are not the first to be interested in it, but I sincerely don’t understand what all the fuss is about.
Minerva looked at Steve and, waiting for an approving nod, began to tell the story:
– This is a list of resistance agents hiding in different government structures. In an effort to be the first to get to him, we even had to rent an apartment on the floor above in order to know about all of my father’s visitors and try to find the keeper of the list among them. By using the list, we will be able to raise a rebellion throughout the Continent, capable of awakening the AI. Try to remember, perhaps your father gave you something, a book or a piece of paper, where certain names might be indicated?
«Mr. Graves sent me a bundle of books, but the guards checked it and there was no list there.»
Cheng, Steve’s longtime associate, entered the conversation:
– Chris, could you bring these books for scanning? Maybe Nail will be able to discover some kind of code there. The hour is approaching, and without the list we will not be able to carry out a mass action of disobedience.
«The professor may not have told you, but I do not share your views and am against violence.» The methods of the rebels are alien to me, as are the methods used by the guards.
«Would you rather see Mr. Roskhald usurp power?» Cheng continued.
