Empires were dying, countries were disintegrating and cities were breaking apart. The AIs with their superhuman intelligence couldn't see that it was their methods that were causing such dissolution. They measured only the material gains and as such saw only the good. But to individuals caught in such a system, it was apparent that material goods were not enough.
1
People always think tomorrow will follow today. And that it will be pretty much the same. Ray shook his head.
They should have thought about tomorrow not coming. Then they would have been ahead of the game.
Ray was ahead of the game, usually. He was always thinking about what he would do if something happened next or if it didn't happen. He called it thinking two steps ahead. But sometimes even thinking ahead wasn't enough. Especially if you were outnumbered and outgunned.
That's why Ray was keeping to the woods even though he could have made better time on the road. Too many vigilantes and gangs. The whole country had been reduced to gangs. Ray saw it coming even when others didn't. He called it the Dark Ages, not because of physical deprivations, the AIs had taken care of those. But because of human failures in communicating and empathizing.
It started in small ways. Like when Frank Gilbert stopped saying 'hey'. All Ray's life Frank had said 'hey' whenever they passed and then one day he didn't and he looked mad. Ray was younger then and had other things on his mind than some old man's grumpiness. But Ray realized as no one else quite did that something had changed.
Those little pleasantries that provided cohesion and fellowship in a society seemed to disappear overnight. People like Frank went from being ever helpful to ever suspicious. Still, the big shots carried on their ignorant rants against the likes of Frank.
Of course, it would never have escalated as it did if not for the return of the Aggies at just the wrong moment. The Artificial General Intelligence's had once managed many colonies in the Solar System for their governments. Now they had spread to Centauri and many still believed they could bring a golden time like before, but people like Frank weren't convinced. To him and others, it meant replacing one set of overbearing rulers with another.
Anyway, when they lost the vote and AI management began, people like Frank had enough. They would in their own way give as good as they got. They would pay back the big shots with what the big shots had once visited upon them but with the competence that those with practical knowledge of how a space habitat really worked could amplify many-fold.
In other words, Frank and the others like him would best the rulers at their own game and then play that game with new rules; force, ruthlessness and single-minded focus.
Ray shook his head, it didn't have to be that way. If only a modicum of respect had been shown, one side to the other. But that was wishful thinking now. Ray's life had been reduced to living from day to day. Not that he minded all that much. The Aggies would see to it he did not starve. And once he had enough food and drink he could do what he wanted.
And what did Ray want?
Well Ray was a writer and he loved books. Ray had found a book in an old abandoned house. An old house was rare in the colony and an abandoned house was rarer but finding an actual paper book was well, the rarest. Most information was stored digitally and accessed either directly through implanted augmentation tech or with a personal AI assistant called an Emmie after the form of AI that powered it, emulated brain technology.
Ray didn't go for auggies but did use an Emmie when needed. After all, he wasn't a technophobe. But a book was better. It didn't require any interface except the God-given ones, as Ray's dad used to say.
Anyway, Ray was on a walk-about with the book as guide. He was visiting all the places mentioned in the book. From one end of the habitat to the other. Ray figured it shouldn't take more than a month. An engineered habitat didn't have anything in the way of real obstacles. Really the only thing that stood in his way was people. They were none too friendly to strangers since the vote.
Space habitats had proliferated in the Centauri System since its founding nearly two hundred years before. Ray's habitat, New California, was the largest built so far. Ten miles in diameter and fifty miles in length, it was a cylindrical design with counterbalances to negate the spinning cylinder's moment of inertia thereby allowing accurate station keeping and pointing for the power and light needed to operate the habitat. Spinning at one rotation every three minutes provided nine-tenths Earth gravity for its inhabitants.
With a circumference of thirty-one miles and an area of over a thousand seven-hundred square miles, there was plenty of space for Ray to explore. The road system Ray was following was laid out as a grid. Ray could have made ten miles on the road easily in a day and completed the journey in a month except it was impossible to use the roads without exposing himself to danger.
Traveling off-road was gonna cost him at least a month's time even without stopping to see the sights. But Ray didn't care, he didn't have much else to do.
It was a bright clear day as usual when Ray approached the outskirts of New San Fran. He hadn't been there since he was a boy when he went with his dad on business. New San Fran was one of the larger cities in the habitat, nearly a million people. It was also probably the richest with the most prestigious university within its city limits.
Ray was barely within the city proper when he heard a voice behind him.
“Sir we have been watching your progress. Will you please state your business.”
Ray turned to find a robotic “minder” trailing him. A minder could be considered a police detective. The minder was bipedal with a human-like torso, arms and head, but still very much robotic. Ray had heard that they were Em based like his Emmie.
“I have come to see the city. I guess I am a tourist.”
“Yes sir, we have a program for tourists. You will wait a moment and an excursion vehicle will be provided.”
“But I thought I would just walk around and meet the folks.”
“That would be very inefficient sir and take much longer than necessary. I assure you an excursion vehicle is the best choice.”
Before Ray could respond the excursion vehicle arrived.
“Allow me to help you sir.”
The minder then grabbed Ray's arm and somewhat roughly hurried him to the vehicle which had opened a side door and lowered steps.
“I hope you enjoy your stay. Good day sir.”
Ray was up the steps and the door was closing before he could protest.
“Good day sir,” said the vehicle.
“Your tour will take approximately one point four hours. You will see all the sights and highlights that New San Fran has to offer. Just sit back and enjoy. Refreshments are available using your habi-credits.”
The vehicle had taken Ray all over the city and Ray had been unable to convince the robot to stop and let him out to talk with anyone. Then he had an idea.
“I need to use the restroom.”
“Now sir? Are you sure?”
“Of course I'm sure.”
“Very well we will be stopping in a moment.”
The excursion vehicle pulled to the side of the street in front of what looked like a public building.
“This is the Transportation Agency sir, they will be happy to accommodate you. I'll just wait here until you are through. No hurry.”
Ray could imagine the Em-based intelligence smiling. The door opened, the steps lowered and Ray was out of the vehicle. At first, he thought about running but figured he would have to do something somewhat more clever to get away.
2
Since the AI's had taken over New San Fran it had become a mecca for fringe ideas. Everyone who had ever given a thought to organizing the body politic had shown up. At first the city, with its inherent wealth, could easily accommodate these radical ideas. As one political party or the other would champion the movement of the moment.
But there had been a breakdown in civic cohesion. New San Fran was essentially divided now by s
even political systems that vied with one another for dominance. The ideologies had fought to a standoff and had become represented by seven separate communities arranged in concentric rings. The people and neighborhoods of these rings changed as one traveled from the outside to the center. Ray had disembarked the excursion vehicle in the outermost community known as the Seventh Borough.
Ray went into the Transportation Agency building and asked a passerby to point out the restrooms.
“They're everywhere my boy. You may use any room you wish including this hall. But if you haven't brought your toiletries with you you'll find some behind that door there.”
Ray looked to where the stranger was pointing and then turned to thank him, but he was gone.
What a strange answer.
The bathroom was a mess. Ray had to clean up before he could use the facilities. Even then he wished he didn't need to. When finished in the bathroom and finding no other way out Ray returned to the hallway.
Not wishing to return out front, Ray walked further down the hallway. Just as he was about to turn a corner a rushing mob confronted him and swept him back along the corridor. They were approaching the entrance and Ray was still being jostled and pushed along with the crowd. It wasn't until they were outside that he was able to extricate himself.
He stood on the stairs of the building as he saw the mob of young men surround the excursion vehicle. They were pounding on the door. They began rocking the vehicle from side to side. Probably to save itself from ending up a wreck the vehicle opened its doors. The youths charged up the stairs and began demanding the vehicle to take them somewhere. Anywhere seemed to be fine with them.
Ray watched as the vehicle, obviously with no choice, closed its door and began to move away.
How strange.
Just then Ray heard a voice behind him.
“Aren't they adorable,” said a man as Ray turned to see.
“Those kids are alright,” he said.
The man was about Ray's height but looked thin and harried.
“Well I'll say one thing for them. They've got a lot of energy, though it may be misdirected a bit.”
“Naw, not at all. Those are the finest in the community. They are rambunctious, that's all. Just the way we like them. By the way, I'm Godwin, Jean-Jacques.”
“Pleased to meet you,” said Ray as he reached to shake Godwin's hand. “I'm Ray Lerma.”
“I haven't seen you before, have I Ray?”
“No Mr. Godwin I'm just visiting.”
“Unusual. And please call me Jean-Jacques. We use to get a lot of visitors but that stopped when the AI's took over. I miss it myself.”
Godwin paused and a wistful look came across his face.
“You can never define your political philosophy without reference to others. You know Ray?”
Ray looked a bit lost.
“Anyway, I miss the debates we use to have. Now no one travels much outside their neighborhood. A consequence of the AI's providing all that's needed.”
He hesitated before continuing.
“Well, Ray come with me to my house. We'll have a nice meal and talk.”
Ray quickly agreed. It was exactly why he had come to New San Fran anyway.
Godwin's house was not far from the Transportation Agency building. They walked as they took one of the streets that ran in the direction of the circumference of the cylindrical habitat. Ray always felt somewhat confused when walking in that direction. Looking ahead you could see the road slowly rising as if up a hill. Looking back you could see the same thing. It was as if you were always in a valley about to climb a hill but there was no effort needed, just continue your usual pace and you would get there.
Before they got to Godwin's house a group of youths approached them. The young man in the lead addressed Godwin.
“Hey old man I thought we told you if you wanted to walk this street you have to pay. You got it?”
Godwin took out his Emmie which had prepaid habi-credits.
“I believe this is what we agreed upon.”
The young man held out his own Emmie as a transaction was made then looked it over.
“Yeah it's what we agreed on but we didn't agree on this guy,” he said pointing at Ray.
Ray's heart rate spiked.
“Well why don't we just stay with the same deal?”
Godwin held his Emmie out again as an exchange was made.
Ray could tell the young man was torn between accepting a given or trying to get more out of the deal. After a tense moment, he held his Emmie out also and said sullenly, “Yeah okay whatever.”
“Next time,” he said as he and the gang moved on.
“That was close,” said Ray.
“No need to fear,” said Godwin. “They are just a little high-strung. You know how kids are Ray.”
Ray shook his head and fell in line with Godwin as he continued walking.
They soon arrived at Godwin's house without further incident.
“Have a seat Mr. Lerma while I get us some drinks.”
Ray looked around the room while waiting for Godwin to return. He noticed the wall of bookshelves with the desk in the corner.
No one has that many books, not these days.
Before Ray could inspect the books Godwin returned with the drinks.
“Thank you,” said Ray taking his drink from Godwin. “I couldn't help but notice the books Mr. Godwin. I've never seen so many in one place.”
“No doubt,” said Godwin. “But I feel they provide an ambiance to the room that puts me in the mood to do my work.”
“What kind of work do you do Mr. Godwin?”
“I write of course. I make more books,” he said with a laugh.
“May I look?” asked Ray.
“Of course.”
Ray rose and walked over to the bookshelves and scanned the volumes.
“I have to admit Mr. Godwin I don't recognize many of these names.”
“I'm not surprised Mr. Lerma,” he said as he rose and walked up beside Ray.
“These are Earth philosophers. Mostly political writers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. One of my namesakes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the other of course William Godwin,” said Godwin as he pointed to each book.
Ray took the volume by William Godwin and opened it and paged through the book.
“So what is it about?”
“If I may,” said Godwin who took the book, opened it and read.
“An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice,” he paused before continuing.
“Man once freed from all artificial political and social constraints stands in perfect rational harmony with the world. And in this natural state man can for the first time fully express his infinite soul.”
He turned to Ray, “What do you think?”
“I don't know. No constraints? Wouldn't that lead to anarchy?”
“You say that as if its a bad thing Ray.”
“Well isn't it?”
“Not at all, it's very liberating. You just can't think outside your upbringing. No offense. Everyone has that problem.”
“But you are talking about people doing just as they like. What if they would like to kill you? What if they would like to rob ...”
Ray's face became animated.
“That's what happened on the way over here, isn't it?”
“Yes, we were robbed in a manner of speaking. Looked at in another way we conducted a business transaction. To the satisfaction of both parties, I might add.”
“You call that a business transaction! You were robbed! Where were the police?”
“Ray let me ask you something. Who pays the police?”
“Why the citizens desiring protection of course.”
“They pay them directly?”
“No, of course not. The government arranges it.”
“I see and of course you pay for the government. A form of overhead no doubt. How many government employees do you think are required to support each officer in t
he field?”
“I don't know,” said Ray becoming flustered. “Several I suppose.”
“Yes several at least,” said Godwin. “So to get one police officer to protect you, if you are lucky enough that he is there when you need him, you have to pay several other salaries. Correct?”
“I guess so,” said Ray somewhat dejected.
“Okay, so if we could get rid of all that overhead we could save a lot of money, right?”
“I suppose.”
“And we could save even more money by getting rid of the policeman and just paying the thief. Couldn't we?”
“That's crazy.”
“Crazy but true. No taxes Ray. Just pay as you go. We've done several studies to show that it's much more efficient and economical.”
“But it doesn't seem moral.”
“Morality and economics? Well for a religious person that might be important but for a political theorist such as myself morality is just another input into an equation. The economics really doesn't care.”
“I know but it seems like you are encouraging theft.”
“Not at all. Those boys don't think of themselves as thieves but entrepreneurs. They are in the market providing safety in return for monetary credit.”
They continued to talk for sometime before dinner. Ray couldn't quite grasp economics without morality but he could see that efficiency was served in Godwin's system. After a nightcap, Godwin showed Ray a bedroom he could use. Ray would get a fresh start in the morning.
3
After breakfast, Godwin gave Ray instructions on what to expect in the next borough, the Sixth.
“You will find those people little different than here except that in being misled by their founding documents they have implemented a borough-wide government. As I convinced you last night, I believe, it is not the most efficient way of organizing a society. But to each his own I say.”
After a few other admonitions, Ray said goodbye to Godwin and headed out on his own.
To the Stars V-1 Page 12