But said Helen.
Read this while Im gone. She thrust a thin plastic pamphlet into her hand.
What
It was too late. Judy had vanished. Helen looked down at the pamphlet. Written along the top were the words Welcome to the Digital World. Welcome to your new life!
Level Three, Variation A
Helen crouched in the corner of the mirrored room, knees pulled up tight against her chin, arms hugging her shins. She guessed she had been trapped in the room for about six hours now. Long enough to make herself hoarse, shouting for help. Long enough to realize that Social Care werent coming. Long enough to realize that she faced the awful prospect of being a victim to those crimes she had thought were only vicarious entertainment on historical shows. Rape. Murder. Torture. She gazed at nothing, not wanting to look into the terrified eyes of the other Helens who shivered around her. The wide eyes, the pinched cheeks, the pale faces all served to amplify her own fear.
Watcher, she whispered. If you are there. If you really exist. Please, please. Help me.
Then there came the noise of the seals in the door disengaging. Helen whimpered with fear. How much would it hurt?
A thin, unshaven man stepped into the room, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he saw Helen.
Please, Helen said. Reflexively she felt for her console, but it was no use; Kevin had taken it away when he had first pushed her into this place.
The man giggled. Say it again, he said. Say please and I might be nice.
Helen felt something inside herself harden. She pushed herself upright against the wall, gazing at the mans fingers as she did so. He didnt look so strong, really. Maybe she could get behind him, hold his blue-stained hands away.
Too late. With a speed that took her by surprise, he lashed out, brushing his fingers against her cheek. She felt her legs give way.
The man stood back and looked down at her thoughtfully.
Now, he said. Where shall we start?
How about with a profile readjustment?
The man jumped at the voice.
A woman stepped into
the room. Black hair, black lips, white face. The sight of her terrified the man.
No, he croaked. You dont understand. This is not what it looks like
The woman smiled. Hello, Helen. Hello, James. My name is Judy. Im-
The mans face crumpled. How did you know my real name? They told me that my anonymity would be assured.
Judy rolled her eyes. James, they are running illegal personality constructs. They are collaborating in the torture and murder of said constructs. I think it may be a fair assumption that they are not the sort of people to be trusted when they tell you that your anonymity is assured.
The man stared at Judy, trying to understand the full import of what she had just said.
Helen was a lot quicker on the uptake. You mean this isnt real? Im a personality construct?
I dont know about real, Judy said. It is true that you are a personality construct. According to your time frame, you were copied by a Marek Mazokiewicz two days ago. Youre being run, illegally and without your consent, so that people like James here can get their rocks off torturing you.
Helen wasnt listening. She was still focused on the first part of the sentence. According to my time frame she said slowly. A yawning feeling opened up in her stomach.
Judy shook her head sadly. According to atomic time, you were copied seventy years ago. Youre just the latest in a long line of Helens. Im sorry.
Helen felt a pang inside her. She forced down the welling nausea for the moment.
Why? she asked.
Why were you copied? As I said, so that people like James here could play with you. Torture you. Isnt that right, James?
No, said James. He began to wring his hands. I wasnt going to do anything like that. I just wanted to knowwanted to knowwhat it would be like
Helen felt contempt rising inside her. She dismissed James from the conversation.
What happens now? she asked Judy.
Judy tilted her head. That all depends.
On what?
Judy looked at James. The people who run this place know that their cover is blown. Theyll want to destroy the evidence. What happens now depends on whether they manage to wipe the processing space in which we reside, or whether my atomic self manages to stop them.
Helen licked her lips. Do you think you will?
Judy smiled and nodded. I always do. Weve been dealing with the Private Network for some time now. One of my digital alter egos is hot on the trail of Kevin-one of the Private Networks leaders-right now. They wont do anything to harm the simulation while hes still in here.
James slumped hopelessly into a corner of the room.
Helen gazed at Judy. Digital alter egos? Youre going to have to explain that
Judy fingered the black sleeve of her kimono.
There are twelve of us, she said. Twelve digital Judys. And then there is our other sister, living out in the atomic world. For the sake of convenience, Im sometimes called Judy 3.
Judy 3? said Helen.
You can call me Judy. She tilted her head, listened to her console, which was set in the form of the black rod threaded through her hair. Here we are. My sister has just caught up with Kevin