Peter, the threat of punishment will be enough to prevent some individuals from following in your crimes. Thats part of the reason that you will be punished. Now, I want you to swallow this.
She pulled her left hand from her sleeve and held it out towards him, the palm facing upwards. Helen could just make out a tiny red dot lying upon it. Was it maybe a deeper red than the pill that Judy had invited her to swallow earlier, outside the door?
No, Peter said, entranced by the little red pill. You cant make me.
Helen looked on, breathless, wondering what would happen next. Judy knelt on the floor before Peter, her little feet pressing into her round bottom, back braced by the thick obi she wore around her waist, hair immaculate, the black rod of her console a horizontal line emerging from the complicated knot at the back. Helen was certain that all Judy did was stare into Peters eyes
Okay, Peter said suddenly. Shivering, he reached out and pressed his finger onto the little red dot. Ill take it, he said, and placed it in his mouth. He swallowed.
Good, Judy said. Now, before there can be repentance there must be understanding. Before punishment there must also be understanding, for without understanding, all we have is vengeance. Let us begin.
Peter gave a hesitant nod.
Judy said nothing. Helen moved around so she could see them both better. The pair seemed to be locked in a silent conversation, Judys impassive stare conveying something that caused Peters lower lip to begin trembling. There was a tension in the room: Helen could feel it filling the apartment; it tarnished the gilt of the antique picture frames that hung on the wall; it brushed on the rich fabric of the furniture coverings.
When it seemed like the tension could build no longer, Judy spoke at last. Why were you working on the ship, Peter?
I told you. To help keep the TM working. There was no AI on that ship.
But why not?
You dont have to have an AI on a ship, do you?
Thats not what I asked.
There was a long pause. Peter was sweating.
You know why we didnt have an AI.
Helen had guessed the answer.
I want you to say it, Judy said.
Peter rubbed his forehead with his pajama sleeve.
Okay, sometimes we wanted to keep a lid on what we were doing. Competitive
advantage. Nothing illegal.
But you were doing something illegal, werent you, Peter? You built the processing space in which those personality constructs were illegally imprisoned.
I thought they were in there of their own volition!
Again, Judy didnt speak, simply held Peters gaze, and Helen felt a little stirring inside her. The red pill that Judy had handed to her outside the door had heightened her senses, too. Judy was guiding him as to what to think and feel. Helen was catching the edge of it. It was powerful stuff. Peter cracked.
Okay, he said. I guessed, but I didnt want to know. I thought that by not being told directly, by allowing myself to believe there was maybe nothing wrong going on, I would somehow be absolved of any connection to the crime. That was wrong of me.
Judy smiled. It looked sinister on her black-and-white face.
Good, Peter, good. You see, Im trying to get a picture of whether or not you are a user of the Private Network. I dont think you are, you know. I think you were on that ship for other reasons. Go on, tell me. What were they?
Peter waved his hand around his apartment.
For this. I like nice things. That takes money.
Judy frowned. But everyone can have nice things, Peter. You know that.
Peter shook his head. He was trembling now. Trembling with something that almost felt like righteousness.
But these are the originals. There arent that many of them left. A copy isnt good enough. That mirror on the wall, its an original Lebec.
Judy looked at it. She looked back at Peter.
But it isnt, Peter. Remember where you are
He shook his head violently.
You dont understand, Judy. It may just be a shadow of the Lebec that was made in the atomic world, but that doesnt matter . What matters is that shadow Lebec is owned by Peter Onethirteen. Only he had the taste and the money to buy it.
Helen was so engrossed in watching Peters suddenly animated face, she didnt realize for a moment that Judy had turned to stare at her. When Helen did, she flinched, but Judy appeared not to notice.
There you are, Helen, she said calmly. It always comes back to this: possession. Because possession disturbs the ideal of equality by making one object subordinate to another. Remember that.
She turned back to face Peter.
So, Peter, you operated beyond the law on those flights in order to get the money to acquire nice things. Is that the only reason?
No, said Peter, there was another reason, and you know it. I can feel the recognition in you. This pill is helping, isnt it? He seemed to be gaining confidence. He had found a confidante, a kindred spirit. Yes, you feel it, too. He nodded, pleased. We both know what its like, knowing that youre the best at something.
Judys face remained impassive. Peter held her gaze.