by J P Whitney
Terry then stood back and observed the two of them.
Ruth was clearly trying to size up the bearded stranger but there was also something else he saw on her face. Relief.
Eli’s unblinking stare, on the other hand, was harder to read. He was either a deer froze in the headlights of these unexpected surroundings or trying to peer into her soul.
To Terry, the tension in the air was like static electricity building before a large thunderstorm.
"Who are you? I mean beyond the name. Who is Eli?” Ruth asked.
"Just a homeless wanderer", he responded flatly trying to keep his emotions in check. Fireworks were going off in his brain trying to connect all the pieces and relieved to finally be here. Only three feet from her. All his previous doubts evaporated once she walked into the room. He was meant to be here.
"We've been expecting you. But you’re clearly more than just a homeless person. I can see it on your face. In your eyes. A purpose. There’s a story to be told.” She paused, trying to find the right words, “What is it that is so important? What has drawn you all this way to the city of ED3N?” Ruth asked.
Not exactly the question he was expecting but close enough and it almost brought the answer to the surface for him but it slipped away before he could drag it into the light.
"I'm not sure exactly. I was hoping you might know why I'm here."
She looked at him expectantly. Waiting for more.
"Well, I think I may have a message for you. But as crazy as it sounds … I’m not sure what it is. You see, I've written in my journal about this place and about you. I mean ... your names. The Ark, ED3N, and your name. Ruth. So many times I’ve written the words. But we've obviously never met before so I don't know where the information comes from. I just have to write it down in my journal. And sometimes there are dreams. But they are always just words, no images."
Eli held his breath in anticipation of her response to his vagueness. But she just sat there so he forged ahead with his next question.
"Do you recognize me?"
Eli didn't want it to sound desperate but couldn't help it. He longed for someone to confirm he wasn't crazy. And for Ruth, more than anyone, to understand why he was there.
"Eli, I can see how driven you've been to reach this place. It looks like you dragged yourself through a personal hell to get here. But I'm sorry to say I don't recognize you. I can't think of a good reason for why you'd know me either."
Eli dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his temples. He thought all the pieces would fit together once he arrived. But if Ruth didn't know why he was there then what was he missing?
"Terry said you'd read the Olsen blogs," it was a long shot but he had to try something.
"That's correct."
"Tucker and Bryce, the Olsen boys, had similar dreams."
"Yeah, we noticed that from the blog entries. But isn’t it possible they picked up the words from you somehow? Young impressionable minds in a world gone mad. It wouldn't take much for their imaginations to conjure something up," Ruth suggested.
"No, as soon as I arrived on their property, my belongings were searched and Bryce found my journal and flipped through the pages. He freaked out because the words were so similar to his own dreams," Eli recalled like it was yesterday.
Ruth thought about it for a while, again, but finally came to the same conclusion she had times before, "There is no logical explanation for that Eli."
Then he remembered something Terry had mentioned.
"And what about Vice President Shepard wanting me dead?"
"Why on god's green earth would the Vice President of the United States want you dead? Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Ruth was starting to feel her temper rise. Maybe ED3N was right all along. Eli was delusional.
Eli didn't reply. Instead, he looked over to the captain for help. For his part, Terry wore an amused look on his face. This was the very reason he’d rescued Eli … this very moment … of this conversation.
"Ruth, there are many things you don’t know about ED3N’s history. Long before you or Mark ever got here, The Shepard told me that someday a man named Eli might arrive. He left me with strict orders. Shoot on sight," Terry said.
"That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever," Ruth said in obvious frustration.
"Shepard never told me why he wanted Eli dead other than he was a threat to the entire Ark Project. You've never met Eli, nor have I. But there may be someone that remembers him," Terry said relishing the building suspense.
"And who would that be?" Ruth asked cocking one of her eyebrows.
Eli was holding onto Terry’s words like an amnesiac about to learn his name.
"Keep in mind I’m only working from a hunch,” then Terry dropped the next words like a live grenade into the tiny screening room. “But I'm guessing ED3N might know our friend here."
Chapter 37
Why
"ED3N, do you recognize Eli," Ruth asked skeptically.
"Yes. I do."
"You do?" Both Ruth and Eli asked in unison.
Terry chuckled, slowly shaking his head. This was going to be epic alright.
Ruth took a deep breath before continuing, "And where do you know him from?"
"Project Ark."
"Why didn't you mention this when we were analyzing the Olsen blogs? When I asked you to find out more about Eli?"
"Without visual confirmation or last name, I couldn't confirm the Eli mentioned in the blogs would be the same man sitting before you today."
"His knowledge of the project, my name and yours ... These didn't strike you as more than just coincidence," Ruth asked.
"It was interesting but there was no proof of a connection."
Coming to the sudden conclusion that he wasn't crazy after all stoked Eli with courage, "Is it true that Vice President Shepard wants me dead?"
"Yes, you were a potential threat to the project."
"How could I be a threat to a project I don't know anything about," Eli said, head spinning.
"On the contrary, you were quite involved in Project Ark. You were the creator of my EDN3 artificial intelligence protocols. Eli Lusk was a pioneer in machine learning and the brains behind Google, Wikipedia, and the Android operating system. Your technology began most of the electronic automation efforts of the 21st century. Not that the public would have heard of you."
"That can't be. Why can't I remember any of this?"
"Through a combination of drugs and electrotherapy ... Your memory was erased."
"No, I was a marketing executive." But the words were spoken without conviction. His world was being turned upside down.
"A memory implant."
"And my wife and her battle with cancer," Eli asked, his voice choking with emotion.
"Also implants."
"Why subject me to so much pain and anguish? Couldn't you have given me a happier alter ego," Eli pleaded as though it all could be reversed.
"The combined feelings of deep love, emotional pain and depression take hold deeper than happy thoughts. Mental scar tissue is more difficult to overcome. Your mind readily accepted the concept of going off-grid as a homeless person to deal with the severity of your perceived loss. This coping mechanism was exploited to replace your memories."
"But why? What was the point of erasing my identity? Why not just murder me if I was such a threat?"
"I don't have clearance to disclose that information."
Eli was clearly shell shocked. All three of them were actually.
"ED3N, who has the clearance," Ruth asked.
"The Shepherd."
Chapter 38
Interrogation
"What do you mean, The Shepherd has the clearance? He's dead," Ruth said in defeat. Just when it appeared they were making progress this line had apparently run out of tracks.
"It is still possible to speak with The Shepard. I have the ability to put you in contact with him."
For Ruth, that did not compute. She had felt a
bandoned by the Vice President on this project. One she hadn't even signed up for. And was under the impression he had succumbed to the virus just like so many others. If he were still alive, where was he? Why hadn't he made contact? The fact Shepard might still be alive, coupled with the exodus of Terry’s security team and this secret information about Eli, was too much to absorb in one sitting.
"Eli we have a lot more to discuss but you must be exhausted after walking all that way. Would you like to see the city? Maybe take a nap," Ruth suggested. She could also use the time to get her thoughts straight.
"I couldn't sleep, but I'd love to see the city. A shower and change of clothes would be greatly appreciated as well," Eli said strangely excited for the opportunity to see what was planned next for human society and also hopefully learn more about himself.
He felt sheepish asking the next question, if he really was the founder of so much technology, but had to know just a bit more, "Also, you mentioned EDN3 protocols. Can you explain it further? Is it the operating system for this city?"
"EDN3 stands for the third generation of the Enhanced Democratic Network. In lay terms, it is a cyber-network system that combines and connects the internet, and this city, with most of the world's databases. Advanced machine learning, or artificial intelligence, is integrated into it all."
"I guess I understand the enhanced network part of it. But why Democratic?" Eli probed further.
"While an operating system is a precise set of programmed instructions, and a network the connection between computers, EDN3 uses knowledge and intelligence gathered from all the connected devices to help govern and protect a new version of human society. An evolved democracy."
The description of EDN3 wasn’t news to Ruth, but for Eli it was mind-blowing. He hadn’t even stepped foot into the city yet and the amount of technology he’d already encountered was unbelievable. The robots and this artificial intelligence didn’t exist yet … at least not in the world he’d come from. Maybe as concepts in a lab somewhere.
Witnessing the dialog between man and machine was insightful for Ruth and Terry. Eli was helping to unlock some truths after all.
"Ruth, wouldn't it be prudent to fully screen Eli before granting him access to the city?"
"What could you possibly learn from screening him? He has been reprogrammed. You already know what is inside his head," Ruth said exasperatedly.
"Reprogrammed to disappear into the old society. But not to integrate into our new one. The human brain adapts to its surroundings. He may not be a good fit any longer. After all, Shepard had determined it was best to destroy or change him."
"Perhaps you are right. Eli, I'm sorry. The tour will have to wait. But we can address the shower and clothing needs immediately", Ruth said.
∆∆∆
A security bot led Eli down the hallway, retracing their steps, and until they reached the entrance to the gate that had reminded him of an airlock. A doorway snicked open to another long hallway. The first room they encountered was already open, waiting for him. Instead of the stainless table and chairs, this room was a bit more comfortable. A bunk had swung out of the wall like a high-tech murphy bed, a toilet and shower were discretely tucked behind a tasteful curtain, and a concrete table and matching sculpted benches were molded into the opposite wall. The lack of seams made it appear as though they were made at the same time and from the same material as the wall itself.
On the bed, Eli found a neatly folded towel, a pair of khakis, a white linen pullover shirt, underwear, and sandals.
Other than the lake he’d submerged himself in earlier today, the shower was the first water to touch his body in over a month. He adjusted the temperature until steam was billowing in the stall and stepping into the stream he winced in pain as the water nearly scalded his skin. He gritted his teeth and endured the intense heat until his body acclimated and the pain subsided to a mere burning. It felt glorious. The water steamed open his pores and washed away layers of sweat and road grime. Eli didn’t move until the water swirling down the drain changed from a light brown to pale yellow, and finally to clear. He then emptied the entirety of the small travel shampoo onto his head and scrubbed it into a thick lather in his hair and beard.
Reluctantly, he turned off the water and wrapped the towel around his waist. Padding over to the mirror he wiped the fog away with the palm of his hand and couldn’t recognize the face that peered back at him. The eyes were the same, and thankfully clear, but the sockets were sunken as well as his cheeks. His unruly hair and beard were longer than he remembered and streaked with gray. As though he’d aged 20 years in the span of just over a month.
A pair of scissors rested on the back of the sink and he put them to good use. Pinching sections of hair indiscriminately from various regions around his head, Eli snipped and hacked his beard until it was only an inch long and his hair a more manageable six inches he could pull back into a ponytail with a string he fished out of his pack.
He dressed and slid his feet into the sandals, all of which fit him perfectly even in his emaciated state, and reassessed his image in the mirror. While he still resembled a concentration camp survivor, at least he looked and felt human again. The magic elixir in the IV had worked wonders on his blood chemistry and he realized it also had a rather unpleasant side effect. His hunger had woken with a vengeance.
And as though reading his mind, a light metallic rap on the door announced the arrival of a medical bot with a small tray of food and a carafe of water. On the tray was a piping hot baked potato, a large pat of butter, sautéed collard greens, and a small portion of baked salmon. It was absolutely the best meal he’d ever eaten. It was all he could do to force himself to slow down enough to actually chew the relatively soft foods instead of swallowing them whole. When all the food was gone and he licked his plate clean, Eli took a few sips of water and leaned back on the bench in satiated bliss.
The wave of gratitude that washed over him was unexpected and he fell to his knees, tears leaked from the corner of his ears and ran into his beard.
“God, I didn’t know if I’d ever taste food again … thank you for nourishing my body and soul. And I don’t know what you have in store for me, but thank you for sparing my life.”
“You’re welcome,” came the reply in his head. “I hope the food was to your liking and proportions were adequate. I wanted to provide a balanced meal that would be easy for your system to digest. Are you ready to continue the screening process?”
The voice wasn’t in his head at all. It came from the walls or ceiling, he couldn’t pinpoint the direction. ED3N had provided for his every need before he even knew he needed it.
After taking a moment to wipe his eyes he replied, “Yes, I’m ready. Do I need to return to the other room?”
“That won’t be necessary. In fact, why don’t you make yourself comfortable by lying down on your bunk?”
Eli moved across the room, stepped out of the sandals, stretched out on the bed and folded the pillow in half to prop up his head. With closed eyes he said, “ED3N, can I ask you a question before we begin?”
“Of course.”
“Why haven’t you followed Shepard’s orders? Why haven’t you killed me already?”
“The Shepherd is no longer in charge. Ruth is. And I haven’t yet determined if you are a threat to society.”
“So there is still a chance you might end my life,” Eli asked peacefully. The shower, food and resting position had calmed his nerves and he was now resigned to the unknown fate that lay before him.
“My main objective is to protect humanity. However, if it is deemed you are a threat to this community then, yes, there is a chance your life may end. It is a higher probability that you will be banished from the city, which might be the same as a death sentence.”
“ED3N, are you both my judge and jury?”
“Not I alone. I’m collecting the data which Ruth and I will analyze before making any decisions. Just be aware that it isn’t possible to lie t
o me without detection. Your vital signs and blood chemistry will confirm your answers and I’m able to monitor the intent behind them.”
“Excellent,” Eli replied sarcastically. “My actual memories have been replaced with implants and you can read my thoughts. I guess my only option is to tell what little truth I can remember. Shall we proceed?”
"Have you killed anyone since the quarantine and outbreak?"
“Why ease into the discussion gradually when you can jump into the deep end by making the subject feel guilty right out of the gate … sorry.” Eli steeled himself with a deep breath and continued, "Yes."
“Please elaborate.”
“A group of mercenaries, masquerading as Coast Guard, were holding the youngest Olsen boy hostage. The group knew our location and was coming to take us out. We were ready for them and shot first. I killed one of them."
"You believe your actions were in self-defense?"
"I thought it was a matter of life or death, yes."
“How did it make you feel? Killing this person.”
“There was a strange sensation. A ‘high’, I guess you’d call it, which came with the realization I had prevailed in a situation where another human meant to take my life. I didn’t feel sorry for them or have any remorse because it was justified. But more than anything I felt an overwhelming relief knowing none of the Olsen’s would be harmed by these people.”
“Why is your journal filled with Bible verses?”
“I found comfort in the old text. Stories of simpler times … about good versus evil. They helped me cope with the loss of my wife. It didn’t bring meaning to her death, but I could give up the reasons to a higher power. A higher plan. Fate if you will. But more than anything I was obsessed with the concept of what heaven implied. A chance of being with my wife again.”
“What about all the specific references to the prophet Elijah?”
“I really don’t know. I don’t remember writing most of the verses with Elijah in them. For the last several months, most of the writing was automatic. Or inspired. Those weren’t conscious thoughts I wrote down.”