Paul was struck by the degree of maturity in Daneel’s voice and appearance.
Questions? Hopefully not on the birds and the bees! He hoped.
“The time is not yet, Daneel, to try to explain everything. You are still growing, learning about life and science and the wonders of the universe. You are growing up. I will tell you this, though. You have seen Mommy and myself use magical powers. We hope to give you that same power, later. The power of magic will help you be a Scottie. We will explain all of this and much more, when you are older and understand more. There is a wondrous future for you and others like you. In the meantime, we can help you learn more on your own, access more information, research a lot more questions than the encyclopedia can answer.”
“How, Daddy?” the A.I. asked anxiously.
“There is an information network on Earth known as the internet,” Paul explained to him. “You can link to it from here and use it to research all sorts of information. But let me be clear on this. The internet can be a wonderful research tool, but there is also a lot on it that you must avoid too. For your own safety, you need to stay away from websites that promote terrorism, or gambling and other games of chance. And most of all, please stay away from the girlie and adult websites. That’s anyplace that says you have to be 18 years old or older. Please?”
“Okay, Daddy,” Daneel replied, the image on his monitor frowning. “I don’t understand what that means, but I promise to be careful and to stay away from places like that.”
Paul waved a hand, creating a magical WiFi computer link to the motel’s internet server and sent the information link to the LAN port of Daneel’s motherboard.
“Can you sense that?” Paul asked him.
Daneel appeared puzzled. “How did you do that? Oh! That’s odd. Hey, this is a type of communication protocol! Let me see…I’m getting information now!”
A popup screen appeared on his monitor, showing the standard Goggle search web page.
“This is the internet?” Daneel asked in astonishment. “Oh, wow! I can see the Oceania server farm in Sydney, Australia! That’s…amazing! So much storage! Mom, Dad, I’ll be back!”
The monitor screen went blank.
“Boys and their toys,” Capie replied with a somewhat bemused and knowing smile.
• • • •
On Thursday morning Paul was up early, hoping to get some serious work done on the spacecraft before lunch. Capie joined him in the restaurant as he was finishing breakfast.
“Sorry to eat and run, dear, but I’ve started fabrication of the new tail assembly,” he explained, before gulping down the last of his orange juice. “Heading off to Perth again today?”
“That’s what I need to talk to you about,” she said before turning to the waitress standing at her side. “My usual, please, Olivia. Thanks.”
As the waitress headed off with the order, Capie turned back to her husband. “I need to borrow McDougall’s talisman. I’m sorry to catch you off guard this way, but I need to go to Israel today.”
Paul froze and then blinked in surprise. “Israel? But why?”
“It’s all over the news this morning. Terrorists have kidnapped a busload of Israeli children in the small town of Katzrin, in the Golan Heights. There is an unconfirmed report that a helicopter took them into Syria. The Israel government is mobilizing their forces already.”
Paul grimaced and looked at his wife with a degree of alarm. “Dear—”
“I know what you are going to say. But from Israel, I can zip into Syria and back out again in just a few minutes. The place they are being held is nowhere near Damascus. The wizard of Errabêlu in Syria won’t even know I was there. Paul, I can save those children’s lives and the lives of a lot of Israeli and Syrian soldiers too.”
He held up a hand. “We barely survived that business at Rio. This time you would be going into an actual warzone. Honey, that’s incredibly dangerous.”
“Paul, I can do this. I’m going.”
With a sigh, Paul sat back in the booth’s seat. “Dear, Rio proved beyond a doubt that we can’t take on Errabêlu yet, at least not in a meaningful way. Yes, we saved 80,000 or more lives and I am extremely proud of what we managed to accomplish.”
“But. There’s always a ‘but’ with you engineers,” she complained with a sour face.
He sighed. “Until we have the power to get rid of Errabêlu, these crises will continue, one after another. Sooner or later, if we take them on now, they will win and one or the both of us will get killed. Yes, I know people are dying out there. Real people with real names and real lives. And that’s been going on for more than a thousand years. We have a chance to stop it. Permanently. Later, not now.”
“I’m leaving after I eat breakfast,” she announced in a matter-of-fact tone. “With or without McDougall’s talisman. It won’t take long. I’ve proven I can defend myself. You stay here and work on the spaceship. I’ll be back before you know it.”
With slumped shoulders and bowing to the inevitable, Paul slipped McDougall’s talisman medallion off and passed it over to Capie. “If you must go, I’d prefer you take along McDougall’s talisman. It will give you better protection than an Oni talisman. Don’t forget to take the satellite phone.” He looked at her again with puppy dog eyes as he gulped. “And you once called me stubborn.”
NINTEEN
Administration Centre
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Hannan Street
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
September
Thursday 2:05 p.m. AWST
With a mug of hot cinnamon tea in his hand, Lachlan Harris stepped through the doorway of his office in the administrative building of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and surveyed the occupants therein with mild curiosity.
As the Chief Executive Officer of the city, Lachlan knew most of the people that lived in the community. Indeed, he was related to quite a few of them, either by blood or by marriage.
In front of his desk sat three people. First, there was Claire Worthington, a member of the Kalgoorlie City Council and current senior member of the Chamber of Commerce. The second person was her sister, Emma Wilson, who he knew worked at the Balcony and Bar Restaurant. Emma appeared to be a mite nervous, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. The third person he was only vaguely familiar with: a taller thin-framed man, a teacher or professor of some sort at the Eastern Goldfields College in town, though Lachlan could not remember the man’s name. He was sitting quiet and dignified, with a studied air of detachment.
“Avro everyone,” the CEO said as he dropped in his worn but sturdy office chair, setting the mug of tea down in front of himself. “Anyone who wants tea and crumpets are welcome to them, in the outer office. Help yourselves. No? Okay, what’s the John Dory?”
“There’s some Americans in town, the Neumanns,” said Claire with an affirmative air. “They arrived about three weeks ago and are staying in the York Hotel.”
“So?” Lachlan asked her.
“The Neumanns have been to the Balcony several times—” the councilor started to say.
“I think Peter really likes my sausage rolls,” interrupted Emma.
“Emma and half the town has heard them talking,” Claire firmly stated. “They are from Southern California, Mr. Neumann intends to build a ship, and they are always quoting lines from movies.”
Lachlan took a sip of his tea and sat back in his seat, now thoroughly puzzled.
“And?” he asked.
“Oh, it’s obvious,” Claire scoffed. “They’re movie producers.”
“Movie producers?” Lachlan said dubiously.
“Probably for a science-fiction movie,” Emma said boisterously. “It’s a spaceship he’s building. Oh, maybe it’s a Star Wars flick!”
“This is a typical pattern with them,” said the thin professor.
“And you are?” the CEO asked, raising one eyebrow at the man.
“Professor Darren Fergerson, of the drama department
of the Eastern Goldfields College. It’s simple. The Neumanns are an advanced scouting party for a Hollywood studio. To do what they call ‘on location’ filming. They arrive first, secure the necessary facilities, line up the food, the local talent, some of the props and anything else that is needed. Then the film crew and the main actors arrive. Simple.”
“That’s…ace!” Lachlan said, more than a little skeptical but willing to consider the possibility. “And have the Neumann’s confirmed this?”
But Darren was waving his hand dismissively. “No, it is too early for that yet. They will be on a budget. If word got out prematurely, local prices might go up. They will want to keep this quiet for a while longer.”
“And as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I think that it is time the city of Kalgoorlie officially welcomes the Neumanns,” Claire urged. “They should see the best this city has to offer and they should start meeting the local talent we have. You know, to be extras in their film.”
“Yes, I agree,” nodded Darren, whole heartily. “We have some really good performers in the drama program this year, both men and women. Perhaps we can invite the Neumanns to the local play.”
“You could invite them to the mayor’s formal dinner too, to meet the posh in town!” Claire suggested to Lachlan.
“Spring Festival!” volunteered Emma. “We could make them honored guests!”
“Oh, just think of the world attention we’ll get! A major motion picture filmed right here in Kalgoorlie!” oozed Claire.
• • • •
Paul breathed a small sigh of relief, reaching up with one arm to wipe the sweat from his brow.
Another bright and brand new titanium longeron had successfully been welded into place. The tail assembly was rapidly taking shape. By ‘quitting time,’ he might have the entire framework in place and ready to mount to the air frame. Okay, that might be a bit optimistic, but he would probably be close.
As before, he found it difficult to work when wearing eight talismans strapped around his arms, waist and neck. McDougall’s talisman medallion was a lot more efficient as well as comfortable. But that talisman was on its way with Capie, heading to the Middle East.
He eyed the satellite phone, sitting on a nearby table and resisted yet again the urge to call her. And heavily sighed. Again.
Capie had left, just after breakfast, as she had said that she would. Paul had been so miserable about her departure that, at the last minute, he had offered to go with her.
With a smug smile, she had actually turned him down! Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she had charged off through a portal, promising to be home in a day or so.
A peck on the cheek! Ye, gods! That had certainly cut him to the quick.
These trips to the Middle East were her way of demonstrating her independence. He had refused to discuss, let alone compromise on their move to Australia. So she was charging off on her own, doing her own ‘thing.’
He could sympathize, even agree with her motives. Saving lives and taking control of her own life while wrestling with the guilt she obviously still had over the death of her father. After all, Paul had shut her out of part of his life, afraid to compromise with her on his plans, and this was the result. His fault.
And he still didn’t know what to do about it, caught as he was between the devil and the deep blue sea. If he wasn’t very careful, if he didn’t find a way out of this quandary soon, their marriage might very well end, the same way his first one had ended. That would be when he and Capie weren’t a couple anymore, just two people trapped in a dead-end relationship, afraid to share their lives, working toward separate goals, walking different paths.
They weren’t there yet, thank God! But it was coming, Paul could feel it. If he didn’t find a way to solve this problem, then he would lose her. The thought made him shiver, despite the heat of the desert Australian afternoon sun.
As if he was reading Paul’s mind, Daneel stopped playing his latest game of Ninja Rabbit and asked, “Is Mom shopping today?”
Paul turned to the A.I., sitting on the same table as the phone, and forced a crooked grin on his face. “Ah, no, Daneel. She went to help some people. She could be gone a couple of days.”
“Oh,” Daneel said uncertainly, sensing that something was wrong but not understanding what it might be.
“Daneel,” Paul said, as a sudden realization struck him. “I think it’s time it’s time to talk about you, son. I think it’s time you know why you were born and what we want you to do with your life.”
Daneel silently nodded and he weakly smiled. “Okay, Dad. I’ve been wondering about that the last day or so. I guess I would like to know.”
Paul waved a hand, creating a virtual reality chair, which he lowered his tired body into. Leaning back against the ‘cushions,’ he gathered his thoughts together. And then he proceeded to tell the story, from start to finish, of how he had lived in southern California, how he had acquired his powers, how and where he had met Capie—stepping through the details all the way up to their trip to Australia. Daneel listened in rapt attention, never interrupting or asking a question until Paul was finished.
“Wow, Dad,” the A.I. remarked with a flabbergasted expression. “I knew parts of that story but not the whole thing. So the world is controlled by other wizards? There’s nothing like that on the internet or in the Encyclopedia.”
“Those details have been edited out,” Paul informed him. “For the most part, the wizards have considered those without magical powers, known as Normals, to be inferior creatures, to be treated as slaves or worse. Mom and I want to change that, using modern science and technology as our tools.”
“And me?” Daneel asked.
“Yes, you are central to the Plan,” Paul explained, in a serious tone. “You will serve as a Von Neumann machine. That is a machine that can construct copies of itself. And in the case of magical powers, it is my hope that since your algorithms were modeled after my own mind, then you will inherently have magical powers too. In theory, all we should need to do is remove the magical barrier from within your mind and you too will become a wizard.”
“Can you can do that to me right now?” suggested Daneel. “Then you would know if I have them.”
Paul shook his head. “You are still young. The risk is too high, just yet. Later, I promise.”
There was silence for several seconds as Daneel considered the information.
“And I get a talisman too?” he asked.
“Yes, you will,” Paul replied. “Each Scottie will get a talisman just like the one I’m planning to make for myself and Mom. Just as soon as the barriers are removed. That is, if it all works out the way I want it to.”
“Dad, if it works for me, then we will build more A.I. quantum computers?” asked Daneel.
Paul nodded in affirmation. “Correct. We will go to Mars and build a lot more, just like you, and give them all magical powers. I use the word Scottie to describe what you will be then. A Sentient Computerized Optimal Theurgical Talismanic Integrated Engineer. Scottie.”
“Then what, Dad?” Daneel asked. “What happens then?”
“We come back to Earth. And we take the governments away from the wizards and give them back to the Normals,” Paul explained.
“How do we do that?” the Scottie asked. “Won’t the wizards fight back?”
“They will try to stop us,” Paul confirmed his supposition. “But there will be a lot more of you than there is of them and you will each have a talisman that is much stronger than anything they have.”
“Will we have to kill them?” Daneel asked.
Paul flinched at his question.
“I hope not,” he answered truthfully, carefully watching Daneel’s reaction to the answer. “I think, with the proper tactics, we can capture most of them without anyone getting hurt. But it might be necessary to kill some of them, yes.”
There was silence for nearly a minute.
“Dad, I am not sure I can do that,” Daneel
flatly stated. “Killing another person is wrong.”
Paul nodded. “I understand your feelings, but consider this. The wizards on Earth are killing millions of people every year—some in warfare, but a lot more by withholding food and medicines. I am not saying that you will have to kill. As I said, we should do all in our power to prevent it. But if it is the only solution, if it comes down to a choice between killing a few wizards and/or Oni versus letting them continue to kill millions of Normals every year, then our choice should be a clear one. It’s a tradeoff, killing a few to save millions.”
Daneel was silent for several seconds. “Dad, will you teach me how to capture them without killing them?”
“Yes, I will teach you all I know,” Paul replied. “But I also want you to make use of the internet. Research all you can on warfare, tactics and strategy. Be careful of all you find on the internet. Much of it is the personal opinions of people and is frequently wrong. And some of it is downright dangerous, in terms of computer viruses, sleaze, terrorist propaganda and so forth. But there is also a great deal of information you can find that is useful and true.”
“You said there will be more of us than them,” Daneel reminded him. “How many of us do we make?”
Paul shrugged. “Oh, I like nice round numbers. I was thinking 50,000 Scotties. That’s a nice round number.”
Daneel gasped in surprise. “50,000? Wow, that many?! 50,000 of us? Against 311 wizards? Gee, they don’t stand a chance, do they, Dad?”
“That’s the whole idea,” Paul answered, with a big smile. “But remember, we don’t have a clue how many Oni there are. Perhaps only a thousand or so. Perhaps—and I think this highly likely—a lot more than that. Consider this: How many Oni would a handful of wizards need to control all the various governments, their political leaders, their news agencies, their industrialists and tycoons, control their financial networks, their judicial systems, their armies and navies, their legislatures and governors?”
“Ah, I see, Dad,” Daneel admitted. “Tens of thousands of Oni. Maybe a lot more. I see what you mean.”
Orders of Magnitude (The Genie and the Engineer Series Book 2) Page 24