The priest (part 2)
A theoretical noon
and the canary
When the priest was back in the living room, holding a tray, Asiram was sleeping. Not wanting to wake him, he put the tray on the little table between two opposite armchairs went to the window with arms behind his back and fell into silence after closing his eyes. He only turned when Asiram moved.
“That’s a bit weird, I think I took a nap. Robots don’t do that around humans.”
“You’re safe here that’s the gut feeling, excuse me, the circuit feeling.”
“Is this my cup of tea?”
“Yes. Help yourself.” The priest sat, took his cup, sipped some tea and closed his eyes again.
Asiram did the same but he just pretended he was sipping tea. He even tried to smell the hot tea steam. No sensory for that, no smell – no taste, just a sense of pain and pleasure was all he had.
“I had the same dream just now, maybe it would be a nice topic to discuss.”
“Later you will tell me all about it. How old are you?”
For the first time and at a loss for words Asiram used Salvation’s wording.
“I’ve been functioning for 26 years as of today.”
“So it’s your birthday today? Happy Birthday, Asiram. What a strange coincidence, it’s my birthday too.”
“And how old are you?”
“206 years old. We are only a zero apart. If I knew you were coming I’d have some cake. What are you looking for?”
“Won’t you use that little machine to scan me and find out exactly where I was the last two days at least?”
“I don’t have one, though I am the inventor.”
“Really? It is almost a pleasure to be scanned you know!”
“Everything that I invented for the robots is. Cannot say that I approve the other little gadgets out there.”
“Yes. Some are. I guess. Horrible. For us.”
“You had an unpleasant experience, I am sorry. Haven’t they banned them yet?”
Asiram stood up and was shaking a bit, stretched his arms then touched his temples and he was back in his previous condition.
With his usual mild and controlled voice said:
“On the contrary, but lets not talk about this. I wonder sometimes why humans never explained what gravity really is.” Asiram clearly wanted to change subject.
“Do you have any ideas? There must be thousands of theories on the matter. I’d like to hear yours or tell me which one is your favorite.”
Asiram sat down again but didn’t touch his tea, he had completely forgotten it. Instead he was looking at the photos on the second little table right next to him. Old times, a family of six in a farm somewhere in the world all happy and laughing, a table full of food in front of them, what should be grandparents.
“Lovely photo this one,” he commented and was left unanswered.
“Tell me about Gravity Asiram.”
“I would have expected you to know already, no it’s a new theory. I am not sure it has any validitity because I’m a robot and we are the biggest cryptomnesiacs in scientific matters. Humans really wanted to save as much knowledge as possible and put it in our brains.”
“We put it yes but not everything. There were theories we kept for ourselves. You only know about Gravity the official theories. The systemic.”
“Does this have anything to do with handwriting and being spiritual, wondering about God?”
“You’re damn clever Asiram, can you also imagine why?”
“I felt some pleasure so I guess I am ‘flattered’ by your words. Thank you. Because you would easily know that only something that proves God is real would allow such a theory in a non spiritual brain to spawn and at the same time there would have to be no handwriting too. It involves too much gravity and would affect the script, the plan of God should God exist. A God who is Hiding from Religion. You may have not banned those horrible gadgets but you banned Religion, haven’t you?”
“They didn’t ban Sorcery. THEY.”
The priest stood up feeling uncomfortable, he remembered the last time he was the president of UN and how he lost this privilege, how even Marisa joined the others and THEY unanimously kicked him out.
‘It took her two years to regret and create Asiram,’ he thought, ‘and me to become a priest and find this place to withdraw protected by the UN.’
“My theory has to do with Kirlian photography…” Asiram continued only to be stopped immediately by the priest who rushed to him excited and placed both hands on his shoulders.
Asiram was surprised staring at his face and it was obvious, the priest knew what he was about to say.
Interesting to see the introduction of Kirlian photography in this piece. Am I to assume that you will explore the “aura” angle in further posts?
each part I post is in vain – my concentration is really bad this demanded an immense effort which I don’t think I will be making as often in the future, life distracts me and although I am trying to remain connected to the english language for writing purposes, this doesn’t seem good in any sense for me because of its infeasibility it’s like running with wind up to 9b against you. but I have posted enough parts to at least show anyone interested how the story will end, so I’m thinking of posting a large part simply saying (no… Read more »
Nic,
You are exploring, what to me are difficult subjects, and, in my opinion, are doing to very creatively. If you need any help with the translated versions, I, and I am sure, many others on this site would be more than willing to help.
The themes you have injected into this part are intriguing and I would like to see how you close them.
thanks for offering to help.
time to edit as I said earlier —— >I will edit this reply
I will contact you when I am facing even more serious problems, the problem is it’s not a translation this is written directly in English and then scanned again and again to spot odd english. I avoid being descriptive even in Greek. I like dialogues and just saying where the protagonists are if its necessary describing is minimum (nothing is everything not even less is more)
Nic, I can take a shot at editing this if you want. The only difficulty is knowing what you’re trying to say. So I would say, do your edits and if needed I can help afterwards.
basically anything odd or too unnatural or an error you can pm or publicly say it I have no problem, suggestions where there could be a better description of something. maybe I can pm the next part when it’s ready and you can scan it and correct its lousy or unnatural grammar in context. such simple things but great help. I would be more confident to write prose and show it to someone before posting.
perhaps I’m asking a lot from you or others here.
Just read this and the previous instalments. This is my type of writing; you are stretching the reader, teasing them.
Hi there Pilgermann, how are you? thanks for your comment, very glad I see you here and commenting, hadn’t you posted some work? did you remove it?
I’ve been travelling.Just checked my account and seems I need to link to my archived posts.
Glad to see you’ve been busy.
I hope your travelling was beneficial and pleasant. Could have been busier had I Wild Gears or the classic Spirograph and I could understand what’s going on in the world, that would give me some hope.
Enforced traveling is more accurate. Hard places to lie down and watch humanity flush itself down the toilet.
The world is spinning into a black hole, and the only thing we can do is throw sparklers into it, hoping to hear a big bang.
But there is hope, our children are our hope.
enforced traveling – are you a parent? how did this affect you as a parent? did you take your kids with you? this sounds serious. I think we all know what is going on but so far few dare to say it. (deleted nobody because yeah I can say it at some point and others haven hinted it too) and some may even be too brainwashed or earn a living because of those who coordinated it. and I said enough already (for now or permanently for now). but someone said “somebody is messing with the Bridge” regarding this situation which… Read more »
In my travels I managed, somehow, to pick up two children – adopted – because their parents had been killed So now I carry my luggage and theirs as well! Most of the people are busy doing what they’re told – they have no mind of their own – then of the rest there are those who look down from the tower and smile, and those that know what these bastards are doing, they can only watch and despair. The power is with those that have data, and through that data they can devise whatever reality they want…..but I am… Read more »
Whenever I talk to you I feel like talking to a real survivor, I wish the best for you and your adopted children and a future without ever having to be enforced to travel.