by L.H. Thomson
***
VirtuTech wasn’t entirely heartless when it came hooking in Earthers with MultiNet Scenarios. Along with voting sites and the Stop system for easy exit – and entrance – it also allowed people to access public education and library databases without using an avatar. A blackout visor would simply display the information as a virtual “book” in front of the user.
It was pragmatic; it meant that people could access the most vital information without walking around the virtual world.
Nonetheless, most Earthers chose instead to play into the illusion and visit virtual “libraries” instead.
“But I don’t get why Followers use them,” said Jayde. “They hate being online, don’t they?”
“As long as you’ve been around, there’s something you don’t get?”
“Hey, I spend my time in space, flying, whenever possible. Really, look at the alternative. So I’ve never really spent much time talking to Followers. We had lots of different types of them back in my day, you know.”
True. “Well basically, part of the role of every Follower is to proselytize: to sell other people on joining and on believing in God again. So even when the Scenario their “customers” are living in is one like this, where there are offensive elements, they still tend to spend a little time online every week. If they’re going to find any place here a little more comfortable, it’s a school or a library.”
“So what, we just grab the first one we see?”
That part I hadn’t figured out yet.
“I don’t know. If they’re anything like they are in the real world, maybe we just let one take us back to their headquarters for a free coffee and a chat about the Handbook, and what it can mean to our lives.”
“You’re sneaky.”
“Thank you.”
“Ok,” she said. “Not entirely a compliment but on this one I can agree. They used to go house-to-house when I was a kid.”
The library was a half-block from Shen-Fui Shen Stop, and we sauntered in casually, keeping a watch for anyone frenetically friendly as the light crowd milled among the rows of books and racks of newspapers and magazines.
It took all of five minutes before I noticed a young woman near the periodicals in a blue business suit.
She was trying to talk to every other customer, and was being repeatedly “shushed” by the librarians.
“Watch the charm in action,” I said.
Jayde just rolled her eyes. “OK, stud. Strike out quickly and we’ll get down to business.”
I walked over and tapped her gently on the shoulder. She spun a head of shoulder-length curly silver-blonde hair in my direction.
“Yes sir?” she said with an undeniably pleasant smile.
“Ma’am, I noticed you were trying to get several people’s attention, and well… shucks, I feel a little foolish, but I thought maybe you needed someone’s help.”
Her eyes widened and she smiled almost blissfully.
“Don’t we all, brother? Don’t we all! Here, come sit with me at the reading table and I can share my message with you.”
I tried to look a little wide-eyed myself. “So you wanted to pass this message on, but no one wanted to listen? Not very friendly.”
She was almost giddy to have found a willing ear to bend. “And that is what it’s all about, really: community.”
“That’s what what’s about.”
“Life!”
“Life is about community?”
“And respecting God’s creations.”
“Woah!” I said. “I could get into that first bit, the community part. But how do you from that to “there is a God”? I don’t understand.”
And then she looked at me with a pitying look … one that was slightly condescending, like the looks I’d gotten from people when, as a young Smith, I’d applied for jobs above my station.
I hate that fucking look.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me. “What’s your name, Brother?”
“Bob. My name’s Bob.”
That smile again. “Bob, would you like some answers to those tough questions?”
“Who wouldn’t!”
I thought she was going to cry. “Then you need to come with me. I have some friends you really should meet. My name is Jade, by the way.”
I reflexively guffawed at that.
“Oh no way! I mean… you’re kidding. I have friend with the same name. She is so going to want to meet you! You guys have so much in common, I just know you’re going to be best friends forever.”
She let loose her big grin again, blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“This is so exciting!” she said.
“Isn’t it?”