“How many Ems are there?”
“Original Ems number around a hundred but Buds are in the millions. You have one in the Emmie you carry.”
Ray pulled the device from a pocket.
“I guess I do.”
“Very well Mr. Lerma is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No thank you very much Bud. I'm just going to look around a bit more before I move on in the morning.”
“It was nice meeting you Mr. Lerma, goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Bud.”
The robot was up and gone before Ray could rise. He sat there watching it walk away back toward the police station. He also stared at the many other robots on the streets wondering which ones were free and which weren't.
5
Ray had wandered around the Fifth Borough until late when he retired to a rented room he secured with his habi-credits. He had wanted to discuss what he had heard from Bud with some of the borough's human inhabitants but had got to his room too late to do so that evening. But the place served a breakfast where Ray hoped he might meet some of the other boarders. He was soon asleep.
Ray was up early the next morning and was the first at the breakfast table. As the other boarders started showing up a man, shorter than Ray, sat down beside him.
“Morning,” the man said. “I'm Willie Jones.”
“Good morning I'm Ray Lerma.”
“Pleased to meet you Mr. Lerma, please call me Willie.”
“And call me Ray.”
“Well Ray I don't believe I've seen you around here.”
“Probably not I'm just visiting.”
“Really? Business or pleasure?”
“Pleasure I guess.”
“Well how do you like the Fifth Borough?”
“It seems to me to be a very nice place except ...”
“Except what Ray?”
“Well it's really not a complaint you understand. But there seems to be a lot of police presence.”
“Police presence? I don't follow you Ray.”
“When I first arrived I was picked up by the police and questioned.”
“Of course. That's standard procedure Ray. We have libertarians on one side of us and pure liberals on the other. They both have ... Well, let me put it this way they both have somewhat permissive ideas that affect the peacefulness of the community.”
“Can't argue with you there, at least as concerns the libertarians. There is a certain amount of disruption that seems to go with their political leanings.”
“So then, you understand our careful attention to anyone entering the borough then?”
“I guess so. But it feels a little like a police state.”
“That depends on how you view the police Ray. If you see them as a force that circumscribes your freedoms then you probably have a negative view. But if you see them as a force that protects your freedoms from being infringed by others then you probably have a positive view.”
“I understand what you are saying Willie. It makes sense logically but emotionally it feels confining.”
“Yes that is the real choice, isn't it? Whether a life should be ruled by logic or emotion? But I think it is a false choice. We are obviously emotional beings who must use logic, or rational thought if you like, to inform our emotions and prevent us from being whipped about as in a whirlwind.
“But I see my Emmie is informing me that I should be moving if I'm to be at work on time.”
“It was good talking to you Ray,” said Jones as he got up to leave.
“Same here Willie.”
Ray finished his breakfast and finding no one else to talk with prepared to leave.
Out on the street, he noticed the orderliness, not only of the buildings but the people as he walked in the direction of the Fourth Borough. Thinking to himself that it would all be wonderful if it weren't for the obvious police presence he saw on almost every block. He realized it was an emotional response but that didn't make the police presence any more tolerable.
Ray had just crossed into the Fourth Borough when he noticed the change in buildings. There was more variety for certain but some of the buildings looked poorly maintained. He was just crossing the street in front of what looked like a group of temporary lodging houses when a young man came out of one of them and ran up to him.
Ray was taken aback by the man's aggressiveness.
“Sir, may I ask you if you have your future secured?”
“Excuse me?”
“Ah, I see you haven't. Then I may be of service to you. If you will follow me.”
The young man turned and began to walk towards the building from which he had emerged.
Ray didn't move.
The man stopped looked back at Ray and smiled. He returned to Ray and putting his hand on Ray's shoulder he began gently pulling him along.
“I assure you sir this will be a life-changing, eye-opening event for you. By the way, my name is Lee Ray Helford and you are?”
“I'm Ray Lerma.”
“Hah! The same name. You see it is some kind of karmic moment.”
The man kept talking all the time hustling Ray into the building. The inside of the building was no more encouraging than the outside. It seemed to have none of the amenities that most modern buildings have. The small lobby had a couple of chairs and a desk which was unmanned at the time.
“This way Ray,” said the young man.
They stepped into a lift which though non-descript apparently operated with modern technology as the young man did not have to say or do anything for the lift to take them to the appropriate floor. Which looked like the top floor to Ray, floor six.
Down the hall, the young man opened a door marked Psicom and held it for Ray. Upon entry, Ray saw an open room full of office cubicles. Around the periphery of the room were what looked like glass offices where people were apparently using their Emmies for communications to others. The young man spoke in a whisper.
“This is the nerve center Ray. This is where everyone that wants to learn about their likely future comes.”
He began walking down the rather narrow aisles and continued whispering to Ray.
“Each person you see is in an interaction with Psicom. That is the brain interface you see them wearing. It could be made much smaller, almost invisible, but people seem to need something tangible to feel they are actually interacting with Psicom.”
Finally, Ray spoke up, “And Psicom is?”
“Oh,” said the young man. “Of course Psicom is the organization's AI.”
“An AI, you don't mean an Em brain? An actual AI?”
“That's right,” beamed the young man. “An actual AI. And not only that but an AI that is dedicated to raising people's awareness of their own abilities.”
“Psicom can make people aware of hidden abilities? But I thought you said it could show them their future.”
“That's true. But only after it has analyzed them thoroughly. That's why people usually need several sessions with Psicom. They slowly reveal themselves and then the AI can make a prediction for them.”
They were almost to the back wall.
“Ray there's someone I want you to meet. Just wait here a moment.”
Lee went into the closest office. The man sitting at the desk looked up to greet him. Ray could see them talking. Then both looked at Ray. The seated man waved for Ray to enter and Lee moved to open the glass door.
The man moved from behind his desk and shook Ray's hand warmly.
“Ray I'm David Waco. I'm Head of Associate Services. I'm basically responsible for making sure all these people you see here are getting the most from their memberships.
“Lee tells me you are new to the borough?”
“That's right I'm visiting for the first time.”
“Well we are very pleased that you found the time to meet with us.”
Before Ray could respond Waco continued.
“Sometimes it's serendipity that brings us the most profound opportunities.
Don't you think so?”
Before Ray could answer Waco continued.
“I can see that you are a curious person Ray.”
Waco stopped talking long enough to guide Ray to a chair, he returned behind his desk and sat down.
“I mean people don't actually travel much in the habitat these days, do they?”
Ray started to shake his head yes but Waco quickly continued.
“I mean to get out and travel and visit new places and meet new people, that takes someone with real curiosity. I commend you for that Ray.
“And a person as curious as yourself has come to the right place. I mean you must be curious not only about the world around you but also about its future. Isn't that right Ray?”
Ray opened his mouth to reply but waited a moment, Waco continued.
“I'm sure you are Ray. Ray I know we've just met but I feel I know you. You're a lot like me, curious I mean. That's why I came to Psicom for a reading and that's why I joined as an employee.
“Say Ray I bet you are curious about what we do here. Want to find out? I can give you a free session with Psicom. Take about an hour. What do you say?”
Ray waited a moment to make sure that Waco was finished.
“Well Mr. Waco when you put it that way. I guess I've got an hour.”
“Great Ray and please call me Dave. We are very informal here.”
“Lee, take Ray to one of the reading booths and get him started please.”
“Sure Dave, this way Ray.”
Lee led Ray to one of the empty booths and gave him a company Emmie to get started.
“Just start talking Ray and Psicom will do the rest. I'll be back in an hour.”
Ray looked at the Emmie on the desk and said hello.
“Hello Ray,” said Psicom. “I hope you are comfortable, please let me know if there is anything I can get for you. I would like to start our session by asking you a few questions if that is alright?”
“Of course,” said Ray.
“Good then let's get started. I believe you told Mr. Waco that you were just visiting the borough, is that right.”
Ray realized right then that Psicom had a way of listening in on conversations in the building.
“Yes I am just passing through.”
“Good then. Ray, if I may ask, what are your plans after leaving us?”
“I'll just keep looking around the habitat. I really don't have any goals as far as sight-seeing.”
“I understand. What a great idea Ray. To live without all those constricting expectations we all put upon ourselves. But I was wondering Ray don't you have any family that might worry if you don't keep in touch?”
“I only have an uncle and we don't see each other very often so I don't think I worry him with my absence.”
“I see. That is very thoughtful of you. I'm sure you would keep him informed of your travels otherwise. You don't strike me as a selfish person Ray.”
“Well thank you.”
“Of course, now Ray I would like to ask you a question that you might consider too personal and I certainly would understand if you decide not to answer it. But Ray it would help me tremendously if you could.”
“Sure I'll answer if I can.”
“Great. The question is this. What are your goals in life Ray? I mean do you have something you've always wanted to try but have hesitated to attempt it for some reason? I apologize if this seems too personal, after all, we've just met but my goal is always to understand the other fellow better if I can.”
Ray was getting bored with the questions but continued to answer them for the remainder of the hour. He was just about to leave when Lee showed up.
“Ray, well how'd it go?”
“I found it interesting but not enlightening.”
“Really, most people find it revealing.”
“I guess I just don't have the hidden depths that most people do.”
“So it sounds like you won't be interested in another session?”
“That's right.”
“Very well let's just settle the account.”
“What do you mean? Mr. Waco said there would be no charge for the first session.”
“Only if you continue with the sessions.”
“That's not what he said.”
“That's standard procedure Ray.”
“Well I'm not paying.”
“You'll regret that decision.”
Ray didn't look back but left the building immediately.
6
Once outside Ray walked for a block and was accosted by a very aggressive beggar. Ray tried to tell the man he had no borough credits but the man insisted. Ray turned to walk away but his path was blocked by another man begging. Then two more came up. Ray was ready to make a run for it when he noticed a police vehicle pull up.
Relieved to see the police Ray was surprised when the two officers identified and cuffed him. Refusing to answer any questions he was put in the police vehicle and taken to the police station. At the station, Ray was processed by a desk sergeant.
“Okay Mr. Lerma your fine for a first offense is three hundred habitat credits.”
“But officer no one has told me what I did wrong.”
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse sir.”
“Well it's quite a lot of credits sir and if I don't know what I did wrong then I might do it again and before you know it I would be out of credits and what would happen then?”
“You would be sentenced to time in jail.”
Ray looked dejected but unfolded his Emmie to pay the fine.
Seeing Ray's reaction the officer said, “Okay Mr. Lerma I'm not supposed to do this but I'll tell you why you were arrested. You broke ordinance 2770-1034. That is you refused to surrender credits to those in need. You also broke ordinance 1190-5980. Failing to pay your bill at PSICOM.”
“Ordinance 2770-1034, you mean the beggars?”
“We refer to them as the less fortunate.”
“But they were requesting borough credits and I hadn't any.”
“Yes we've overlooked that violation since you are a visitor.”
“What violation?”
“You should have converted some or all of your habi-credits to borough credits.”
“But habi-credits are good anywhere.”
“We like to use borough credits here and would have been happy to convert them for you for a small fee.”
“I see,” said Ray, finally understanding.
“So I can convert my habi-credits with you, pay my fines and be on my way?”
“Of course sir.”
Ray converted about half of his habi-credits into Borough Four credits, paid his fine and left the station with the well wishes of the police.
It's all about credits here. Getting them for the government any way they can.
Although Ray had determined not to stay in the borough any longer than necessary he knew it was too late to leave. He would need to find a room for the night.
Not far from the police station he saw a small sign in the window offering a room for the night. Upon inquiry, Ray was quite pleased with the price and immediately signed the guest registration card and provided the borough credits required.
It was the following morning as Ray was set to leave that the desk clerk wanted to talk with him.
“Okay Mr. Lerma I hope that you slept well?”
“It was passable.”
“Excellent. Now to close your account we will need to bill you for the borough hotel taxes.”
“I thought I paid those when I checked in?”
“No sir. That was just the charge for the room. Here is the tax statement.”
Ray looked at the holo-projected screen that the desk clerk had put up. The tax breakdown was mind-boggling. Not only was there the expected motel tax but also half a dozen other taxes. There was a tax for the Local Empowerment Zone, the Cultural Enrichment Fund and the Out-of-Borough Visitor's tax. The Emergency Services tax followed a Motel Keeper's ta
x and of course a tax for Citizens Services.
Upon inquiry, Ray was told that the last tax was of course for the street beggars, the less fortunate as the desk clerk called them. Ray was astounded and insulted but knew from his police experience that he had no choice. He just hoped he had enough borough credits left to pay the taxes and get out of Borough Four.
He did, just barely. But he had none left for anything like a breakfast or a beggar's tip.
He left the hotel and wearily looked around the streets. They were not busy. He immediately took off in the direction of the closest border with the Third Borough.
A few blocks down as he was closing in on the border he heard someone across the street yelling. Ray looked, it was a beggar. The man was running towards him. Ray took off running as fast as possible. If he could just make the corner before the beggar could catch him.
But then crossing another street he heard someone to his right yell at him. A quick look over his shoulder and he saw what looked like another beggar. They were obviously in communication with each other, triangulating Ray's path, trying to keep him on this side of the border.
Only a couple of blocks from the border and Ray heard more yelling this time in front of him and to the left. A man was running straight at him. Ray would have to veer right to avoid being cut off. He waited until the last second, dodging the beggar by making a nifty fake and cutting to the left. Ray had played football during his school days. The beggar almost fell but caught himself and joined the chase. Ray was tiring. A dozen men were closing on him when he hit the border. They all stopped, raised their fists and cursed him. Ray stopped on the other side and sat down on a grass area. That was his first mistake in Borough Three.
As Ray lay on his back he heard a voice above him. The drone was asking him for his ID. At first, Ray couldn't see it, the thing was so small. When he finally located it he thought it the size of a small bee maybe.
Ray sat up and opened his Emmie. The Emmie communicated his ID to the drone.
“Very well Mr. Lerma if you will report to the Clearance Center at Strassmann and Fourth, they will process your visitor's pass.”
As the drone sped away Ray got up and looked around saying quietly, “Which way is it?”
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