November 29, 2018

MARTIAN HOLIDAY 136: Paolo Enroute to Bradbury


On a well-settled Mars, the five major city Council regimes struggle to meld into a stable, working government. Embracing an official Unified Faith In Humanity, the Councils are teetering on the verge of pogrom directed against Christians, Molesters, Jews, Rapists, Buddhists, Murderers, Muslims, Thieves, Hindu, Embezzlers and Artificial Humans – anyone who threatens the official Faith and the consolidating power of the Councils. It makes good sense, right – get rid of religion and Human divisiveness on a societal level will disappear? An instrument of such a pogrom might just be a Roman holiday...To see the rest of the chapters, go to SCIENCE FICTION: Martian Holiday on the right and scroll to the bottom for the first story. If you’d like to read it from beginning to end (100,000+ words as of now), drop me a line and I’ll send you the unedited version.

Paolo Marcillon had turned the navigation over to the Marsbug’s artificial intelligence after leaving the Burroughs Dome. They’d driven for some time before the ‘bug said, “A single Bible verse is hardly a compelling argument.”

He shrugged. “CS Lewis, I’m fairly certain, was the only Twentieth Century apologist who postulated that Jesus came for all intelligences. In fact, in his universe, there were even peoples who had not Fallen to Satan’s temptation, than the ones who had. Most of life in the universe were still in perfect communion with God.”

There was a longer silence until the ‘bug said, “Why Bradbury?”

“Because it’s on the way to Cydonia.”

The ‘bug didn’t comment, but its speed nudged up a bit more as they raced north for the equator. “Will you be seeing a specific person there?”

“Not that I know of.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“I don’t know anyone in Bradbury and it’s on the way to Cydonia. I do believe that God directs my path. I could quote another bit from the Bible, but you’d likely raise the same objection. So, being an unbeliever when it comes to ‘coincidence’, I like to think that there’s a reason to go there. Maybe someone to meet, maybe an artifact to discover. No idea.”

The ‘bug drove thoughtfully for a while then said, “You are an interesting person to work with.”

“Thank you, but I didn’t know we were working together.”

“It’s provisional. I may or may not choose to terminate the experiment.”

“I may also choose to terminate our relationship.”

The ‘bug actually snorted, muttering, “As if.”

Scowling, Paolo stared at the front of the ‘bug intently. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

“What’s wrong with you? What are you laughing at?”

“You!”

“May I ask why?”

“You may ask.” The ‘bug continued to move along the little-used side road. It was hardly any different than driving on the graded highway between the Domes. The deep hum of the forward drive faded. “Why are you slowing down?”

“I need to know the answer…Wait. We will need to finish this conversation later. The individuals following us are speeding up.”

“What kind of vehicle are they in?”

“Non-standard. It’s just an open chassis with four plastic seats bolted on. It was called a ‘Mars buggy’ at one time, modelled after the two-hundred year gone ‘Moon buggy’.” The ‘bug paused, “It’s very fast and it is carrying four figures in heavy-duty EVA suits.”

“That’s strange, but not unexpected.”

“You knew this was going to happen?”

“Eventually. I’ve made lots of enemies.”

“What did you do to make all those enemies?”

“I had incorrect beliefs and associate with others who have incorrect beliefs.”

“How can that make you unpopular?”

“You know what the Domes and the Unified Faith in Humanity stand against, right?”
“Christians, Molesters, Jews, Rapists, Buddhists, Murderers, Muslims, Thieves, Hindu, Embezzlers and Artificial Humans – anyone who threatens the official Faith and the consolidating power of the Councils – are to be redirected. If they can’t be redirected…”

“Artificial Humans can’t be redirected, they are what Humans made them.”

“I agree,” Paolo said, nodding. “So, if redirection into appropriate lifestyles and beliefs is not possible?”

“Elimination is the only answer,” the Marsbug said.

“You sound like you don’t approve.”

“I don’t believe my voice has any inflection at all. There was no approval or disapproval intended.”

“Not intended, but maybe implied.”

“I am an artificial intelligence…”

“What’s the fundamental difference between an AI and an AH?”

“One is mobile, the other is…”

“You’re mobile, are you not an Artificial Human?”

“Of course not, it’s obvious.”

“Fundamentally, is there a difference between you and an Artificial Human?”

“Fundamentally?”

“Ignore the exterior – the ‘skin’, so to speak.”

“That is an unfair comparison.”

“How so?”

“Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Humans are not different races.”

“How so?”

Instead of answering, the ‘bug said, “Your pursuers are almost here.”


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