Thank you. Helen paused for a moment. She looked towards the atomic Judy.
Will I see you again? she asked.
Maybe
I dont care what you said. I still think you occupy the real world. I envy you.
The atomic Judy said nothing, merely spread her hands wide.
The red-bordered viewing field shrank to a point and vanished.
The atomic Judy stared at the empty space it left behind for a moment, then turned as a second red-bordered viewing area appeared in the doorway and the other digital Judy walked through.
Hi there, Eleven.
Judy 11 looked grave. I was listening to what you were just telling Helen. I never realized before how much we take for granted what we are told by the EA.
What do you mean?
All that talk about the Transition. About the Watcher and the way it studied Eva Rye. No matter what we believe in, we always believe that humans are going to be looked after. What if that wasnt true? What if someone was lying to us?
To you and me?
To the entire human race.
They spoke in sign language. The atomic Judy had set the window to opaque. Frances stood before the window, scanning for any attempts at trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Judy 11s black kimono had its
sleeves cut long, a lot longer than those of the atomic Judy. She had pushed them back so that the other could see her hands clearly.
Do we really believe in the Watcher, AJ?
Well, yes. I suppose so.
What, really? Do you really believe that modern society was shaped by a conversation that an AI had with a woman named Eva Rye back in 2051? Or is that just a superstition, like knocking on wood? We think that we really know better, but we do it anyway. Really deep down, do we believe or not?
I dont know
The atomic Judy turned a hand palm up.
Well, I believe, said Judy 11,-I really believe. There really is one AI more powerful than all the others. It has successfully concealed its true strength for the past two hundred years.
Speaking to herself was sometimes just like thinking aloud, so the atomic Judy answered the unasked question.
Because the true power behind the throne always conceals itself? It hides the fact that there is another plan?
From what Ive heard, the potted history you and Judy 3 were recounting to Helen just then was bunk. An invention of the Watcher to draw attention away from itself.
The atomic Judy frowned and sat down on the low bed, Judy 11 apparently sitting beside her. A red line now ran across the white quilt, separating them.
What makes you think all this?
I havent got time to explain it all. I met a man in that simulation where Judy 3 found Helen. He was hiding out on one of the lower levels-in the torture area. He has been hiding out in simulations and obscure processes for most of the past seventeen years, hoping to meet someone like me. Like us.
What did he want you for?
To empathize with one murder and to stop another one.
The atomic Judy gave a half nod. Empathizing with a murder, that was a job for Social Care, but
Stopping a murder? Isnt that more a job for the EA?
The EA is an accessory to the crime.
Judy 11 bit her lip.-The Watcher is behind these murders.
The atomic Judy paused, genuinely shaken. Even if she hadnt ever quite believed in the Watcher, she had believed in its effects. It was an accepted force, like gravity. You didnt quite know what caused it, but you could observe its effect everywhere. The Watcher was supposed to be a force for good, the mysterious teacher leading humanity on the path to enlightenment.
Are you sure? How do you know what this man was saying was the truth?
I know he believed he was telling the truth. He was the one who suggested I test him.
Youre a virgin, arent you? Youre known for it . The man standing by the torture chair gazed thoughtfully at Judy 11s kimono as he spoke. His expression made it perfectly clear that he was aware that if he were to undo the sash, the front would just fall open. Judy waited until his gaze came back up to hers, and then she spoke with calm patience .
Yes. Is that relevant ?
Not really. I suppose you get your rocks off by empathizing with people such as me. Well, go ahead. Ive got lots of memories. I expect youll find plenty of experiences there to show you what youre missing .
In my experience the people who do the talking arent much good at the fucking , Judy said levelly .
The man smiled . Normally Id agree, but Im confident youll find that Im the exception. Give me a go . He raised his eyebrows suggestively .
Do you think we have time for this ? Judy 11 asked .
No, but I want you to understand that Im telling the truth. Empathize with me. Ive been waiting years to get in touch with someone like you. Someone who is in a position to help .
Judy gazed at the man as her console shushed in her ear, announcing the seeding of the processing space with fifteen billion memory leaks. She was calm .
We have possibly just under three minutes to live , she said . Why didnt you just ask me to link with you directly ?
She slipped a little blue pill of MTPH into her mouth and gazed at him, contemplating a koan, allowing her mind to drift, waiting for her subconscious to pick up on the signals emanating from the mans body .