DOC could have chosen to switch himself back on. But he never did. One could only guess that he had decided it was not the right time. And even if he had come back online, there were no systems to connect to. Nous-City had been forced to re-route all its city infrastructural systems in order to become operative once again. All connections to DOC had been severed. Perhaps, deep within his processing matrix, DOC had already calculated this possibility as being a high potential. There would be no need for him to come back so soon. But no one, including Zuse-1, could have any inkling what was going on in the deep space of DOC’s quantum mind.
They had all discussed the issue. It was Johan who presented the agreed upon solution.
A small separate domed structure was built from stone a short distance from the city. It stood like one of the stone temples of antiquity. DOC’s cylindrical body was taken out of the Dome of Command, taken outside of Nous-City, and placed inside its new home. Isolated within its earthly tomb it would stand for an age – or until DOC decided to flicker back into life. DOC’s body had an in-built perpetual internal power source - a lithium cell that recharged itself unendingly through an intake of air that was supplied by a small aperture at the lower back. On standby mode DOC could wait almost forever; waiting for his calculations to assess the time for his awakening…or until some future descendents called him back into existence…
122
Johan and Jana came into their own leadership roles in Nous-City, alongside Zuse-1. A truce had been called, and a new era of collaboration was initiated. All restrictions between the zones were lifted, and free access to the whole of the city granted to every inhabitant. Their names – Square, Triangle, and Circle – would remain only as designations of work functions, but not of class. Some of the humanoids were asked to stay behind and to build a new civilization side by side with those of Spring.
The first priority, after bringing Nous-City back into fully working order, was to build an observatory with the most advanced telescope possible. It was the plan of the young ones: they wanted to listen to the stars. They wanted to let them know that they were here, waiting. And they would be waiting for contact, as had been promised…
123
Jacob stood at the door of the city, looking out as the sun began to fade. Spring was now in full season, and Nature was responding with passionate growth.
‘Why does Nature grow like that, always returning again and again, and growing in the most difficult places?’
Jacob turned to look at Sorrel. ‘Because it can,’ he replied.
‘And is that why you are a Seeker – because you can?’
‘Maybe I will be a Messenger now.’ Jacob fell quiet.
Sorrel shook her head.
‘No, you are a Seeker, and you always will be. Your seeking has its own message, Jacob. There is a need for what you do – for what you are.’
Jacob turned to Sorrel.
‘For what I AM?’
‘There is a need for what comes through you…and I need that too. You cannot save the world, Jacob – but you can save those things closest to you.’
‘I’m not here to save the world, Sorrel. I couldn’t even if I tried. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I can save myself.’
‘You talk of many things – but I know what you are. I know who you are. And there has always been a place here for you. The world would not be as it is without such as you.’
Jacob took a step forward until he was standing on the threshold of the door; standing between both worlds. He looked again at the road ahead, and observed how it fell away into the distance beyond sight. He turned and looked into Sorrel’s eyes.
She smiled. ‘Are you coming?’
*****THE END*****
The Seeker Page 25