Attunga

by Peter Wood

  ***

  ‘Everything is different with so many dolphins.’

  ‘How, Burilda?’

  ‘Well, for example, eight baby dolphins have been born in the reach and it’s only five days since they got here.’

  ‘Eight? That’s great. That makes it nine with the one born on the trip. Is that a lot?’

  ‘No, it’s about right for the number of dolphins we have, but we just aren’t used to it. Our dolphin doctors are running round in circles with excitement. Can you guess what his name is?’

  ‘Who’s name?’

  ‘The baby born on the trip … He’s called Comet.’

  Wirrin and Thom were with Burilda at one of the thirty feeding stations spread fairly evenly round the sides of the extension section of the big reach. They’d come across with Sonic and Calen in the twice-weekly commute on the Comet to see firsthand how everything was going, and after having a look through the completed first stage of the giant dolphinarium complex, which was to be the main centre for Warrakan dolphin work, they’d zipped several kilometres on their skimmers to watch what happened when a pod arrived.

  The general air of activity and excitement was quite incredible. Skimmers were on the move or drifting with dolphin pods as the associated humans kept a close eye on their wellbeing and movements. Burilda informed them that there were usually between one hundred and fifty and two hundred skimmers on the reach at any given time. As head ranger she was almost overwhelmed with the demands of coordinating the training, education and activities of the nearly three hundred new dolphin associates who’d made the trip from Earth.

  ‘Look! There’s a pod, and a second pod’s heading in as well,’ said Thom.

  Wirrin watched as a leader from the first pod activated the automatic release of food with a short series of bumps and holds on a pressure-sensitive panel. This was the first time he’d seen the process in action as it had only been working for two days and according to Calen the dolphins thought it was a great game.

  ‘That’s very clever, Burilda. Did they take long to learn it?’

  ‘Quick as a flash. It surprised me because the Earth dolphins are nowhere near as clever as ours, but Sonic says they’re quick because it’s a pod effort, plus they’re extra motivated because they don’t get any food till they get it right.’

  Chunks of fish-sub shot out at random with little chuffs of pneumatic pressure and dolphins darted hither and thither. Thom laughed and pointed.

  ‘Those two young ones already know the chasing game the Attunga dolphins worked out with the fish-substitute.’

  After a couple of minutes Wirrin asked Burilda why the other pod hadn’t joined in.

  ‘They’ve learnt that the food automatically stops coming if they get any closer than 40 metres while another pod is feeding.’

  ‘Really? Well why don’t some of them come close as a game? Attunga dolphins would.’

  ‘Because then they’d have to wait extra time before the food station worked again and the rest of their pod stops them.’

  ‘And they have to learn all that? Sounds like life is full of rules.’

  Burilda laughed. ‘That’s only the start, Thom. They have to go to at least two other food stations before this one will work for them again, and they have to go from one end of the reach to the other at least every three days.’

  ‘Is this to keep them circulating?’

  ‘Only partly. Sonic wants them to solve as many problems as possible in the next five months while they’re so crowded … Except they’re “games”, not rules. He and Calen are planning to teach them something new at least once a week.’

  The food station stopped spitting out fish-sub and within thirty seconds there was a complete changeover. A new dolphin pressed in a new code, and the food started flying out again.

  ‘When do they get the live food we brought back?’

  ‘Any time they can find it, Thom. Originally we were going to use it in the first few weeks and systematically wean them off it, but now we’re making it last the whole five months and releasing it regularly into random areas of the reach. It gives them a good reason to keep exploring and it’s exciting for them.’

  ‘I suppose that was Sonic’s idea too.’

  ‘Yes, he’s full of ideas and so far they’ve all worked.’ The skimmer stopped at the edge of the reach and a very tall, dark-skinned man came over and introduced himself as Martin. He knew Burilda of course, but his eyes widened when Wirrin and Thom were introduced as two of the Dolphin Boys. He watched quietly as the food chunks went skating in all directions but relaxed when Burilda starting asking about his pod.

  ‘Yes, there are thirty-two dolphins altogether and they’re adapting to the unusual conditions much faster than I would have thought possible. We all put it down to the influence of Super Dolphin.’

  ‘Super Dolphin? Is that what you call him?’

  ‘We’re not being derogatory. One of the marine scientists is a collector of ancient 2-D fiction – hero vids and books – and after talking with your amazing dolphin he got so excited when he was describing the meeting he burst out with the description and it’s stayed with us.’

  Wirrin did a quick retinal search and burst into laughter.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Sonic’s going to love this. I’ll show you later, Thom.’

  Wirrin was really interested in what Martin had said.

  ‘You said books. Do you mean the ones made out of wood?’

  ‘Yes, he’s got three actual originals from the pre-electronic era and he keeps thousands and thousands of digital versions in his personal database.’

  Wirrin had seen wood-pulp books, but never been able to touch them of course. They were much too precious for that. Attunga had a special archive with several hundred of them under high-level preservation, and all young people learnt about them through EdCom.

  ‘Have you seen them?’

  ‘Yes, they’re a special class of book that tell stories with a series of related pictures. The three originals are under vac-seal but he reconstitutes copies with his 3D printer so he can read them the way they were meant to be read.’

  ‘Meant to be read?’

  ‘Yes, he calls himself a purist.’

  They were distracted when three dolphins leapt into the air, one with a chunk of fish-sub held in her jaws and the other two obviously vying for possession.

  ‘They’ve started playing games so they’ve had a good feed.’

  ‘Have you detected much change in their behaviour?’

  ‘Is that a loaded question? Of course. These crowded conditions and artificial food are very unnatural.’

  Burilda shook her head. ‘It’s a serious question. I’m only acquainted with Attunga’s enhanced dolphins so I’m quite reliant on your knowledge for an accurate assessment of Earth dolphin behaviour. What about personal regrets? Do you have any about moving to Warrakan?’

  ‘It’s not good having to leave your home, and that applies to dolphins as much as people, but the advantages and opportunities outweigh any drawbacks by a hundred to one.’

  ‘That’s the general feeling is it?’

  Martin looked quite surprised.

  ‘General? Try one hundred per cent. What else? No-one was forced to come and we’re all tremendously excited about the dolphin knowledge base and the expertise of your scientists and rangers. The enhancement program you’ve established was only a vague rumour on Earth and we can hardly believe we’re suddenly a part of it.’

  ‘Yajala tells me there are some who don’t want their dolphins enhanced?’

  ‘Yajala?’

  ‘Our dolphin AI.’

  ‘You talk to AIs?’

  Burilda, Wirrin and Thom nodded.

  ‘Amazing, but that’s not quite right. Everyone wants their dolphins involved but there are discussions about the value of retaining a wild dolphin reference group.’

  The air shimmered.

  ‘Hello, Martin. It is my pleasure to talk with
you and I welcome discussion on dolphin-related matters at any time. The retention of wild stock dolphins is a non-issue for at least sixty years as our enhancement techniques only apply to succeeding generations.’

  Martin looked stunned. From what he’d just said this must be his first direct encounter with an AI.

  ‘Yajala! Hi! What about after sixty years? There’s plenty of room on Warrakan and it sounds like a good idea to me.’

  ‘Yes, Wirrin, it does sound like a good idea and any number of reaches could be allocated for the purpose when the time comes.’

  ‘Sixty years? None of our dolphins will survive that long.’

  Martin was looking puzzled, which wasn’t the response Wirrin expected.

  ‘They will, Martin. Our health care will ensure that. They were all given healthbots as part of their check on the Comet and I monitor every dolphin continuously. Your Peggy, for example, has a faulty liver and when it’s gradually rebuilt to full function over the next five weeks her life expectancy will jump from four years to at least an extra fifty.’

  ‘Peggy? Four years? But she’s always been so healthy.’

  ‘She has great spirit but I’m sure you’ve noticed her longer rest pattern.’

  Martin nodded and turned to Burilda.

  ‘Peggy is only fifteen years old with a strong personality and I fully expect her to become pod leader in another four or five years. Yajala, what’s wrong with her liver?’

  ‘It’s a genetic weakness in a small percentage of dolphins from your area. We are restructuring the liver tissue of two other dolphins in your pod with the same weakness.’

  Martin turned to Burilda, slowly shaking his head. ‘Three dolphins are being cured of a condition our own centre couldn’t even detect. There’s the answer to your question about regrets. Do the wonders continue like this?’

  Thom and Wirrin grinned. Yajala nodded, held up one hand and shimmered to nothingness.

  ***

  ‘Hello, Wirrin.’

  ‘Hi, doctor.’

  ‘So what mischief have you been up to this time?’

  ‘Mischief?’

  He had a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘You must have done something major because your implant program has been postponed for another six months.’

  That was unexpected and a slight let-down because Wirrin had been very curious to hear what was planned for him. It had already been held over from the last appointment.

  ‘Is it something to do with the age-extension treatments?’

  ‘Hmm! A well-informed patient. Yes, we’ll get those completed before we do any more brain fiddling … You’ve known about them for a while then? They only turned up on your file yesterday afternoon.’

  ‘Yes, for five days, but it was only made official after we had a meeting with our mentor yesterday.’

  ‘All three of you? You’re ahead of me.’ He checked his console. ‘I see. Thom and Calen are coming in next week.’ He laughed. ‘Are you going to satisfy my curiosity as to why the Dolphin Boys have suddenly been granted age-extension rights twenty years ahead of schedule? I have a strong suspicion you might have had some direct involvement in the Pied Piper expedition.

  Pied Piper? A retinal scan brought up a lengthy narrative poem.

  ‘Sonic’s the one responsible, but I suppose we did help a bit.’

  ‘A bit! That means there’s a story we haven’t been told.’

  Now it was Wirrin’s turn to laugh.

  ‘Do you want me to tell it or would you rather hear from Sonic?’

  ‘What a choice! Instant gratification or heightened anticipation. I believe that’s up to you, you cheeky whippersnapper.’

  This was the second time the doctor had tempted Wirrin to use retinal scan mode. He hadn’t been able to detect the first and he wouldn’t this time either.

  ‘I know very well how much you enjoyed talking to Sonic last time so come over for another visit. Tonight’s no good because Sonic is staying at Warrakan, but tomorrow or the day after works if you can manage it … And I did just look up whippersnapper in case you’re wondering.’

  The visit was quickly arranged, the implant checked – no longer a disorienting experience but rather a momentary blip of control – and the doctor and Wirrin made the short TransCom trip to the anti-agathic centre.

  ‘How much do you know about these treatments, Wirrin?’

  ‘Just general knowledge, and a quick look last night at what happens. I know I have five treatments over the six months and after the second one I have to stay under strict observation for forty-eight hours. I started to read the details for the first treatment but it had too much specialised medical knowledge.’

  ‘It did? That’s strange. Last time I saw it, it was clear and concise. Can you show me on your playback what you were reading?’

  That only took a second and the doctor started reading.

  ‘Where does this come from? It’s not the standard document I was expecting.’

  ‘I don’t know. I just called up age treatments and that’s what I got.’

  ‘Did you see the document identification?’

  ‘Only on the way to the contents, then I jumped straight to the treatments.’

  Wirrin replayed it, then displayed the contents, and after a quick perusal the doctor gave a little grunt of surprise.

  ‘Third-phase extension? We expect that second-phase extension might be ready in another decade but I’ve never heard of a third phase. Is this an authenticated document?’

  They checked the identification page.

  ‘Wirrin, this is a high-level report from the AI human health research database. I don’t understand how you could get access.’

  ‘Oh, Akama and the security AI on the Comet gave it to me a week ago.’

  ‘I’m not meant to be seeing this.’

  ‘Yes you are. The holo would have been blocked if you weren’t.’

  ‘This must be quite a story I’m going to hear and I have to wait till tomorrow night? Can we have a look at the later sections of the document?’

  ‘We can try. I’ll have to call it up though, because it’s not in my personal storage.’ The holo screen went through a momentary kaleidoscope of links as Wirrin followed his trail of the previous evening, and then for five minutes they both scanned the information the doctor was so interested in.

  ‘Amazing! Full implementation of second phase will lift life expectancy to 220 years and the third phase is a century-long project with an expected outcome of over three hundred active years … I wonder what we’ll be doing if we live to that age?’

  The trio had talked about exactly that last night, and Wirrin had searched out answers for all their questions.

  ‘We all reckon everything will have changed so much we wouldn’t understand it anyway.’

  ‘Does Sonic have a view on this?’

  ‘Dolphins live in the moment more than we do and he said he hasn’t put any energy into thinking about it yet, but we don’t talk about the distant future with him.’

  ‘You don’t? Why ever not?’

  ‘There’s a strong probability his enhancements might reject when he’s four years old. It’s so scary it’s a kind of taboo topic for us.’

  The doctor looked so horrified Wirrin liked him even more.

  ‘What? Rejection of his enhancements or a general rejection?’

  ‘Both.’

  ‘It will work out all right, Wirrin, and he’ll have the best care that Attunga can possibly give him.’

  ‘I know, but even Turaku doesn’t know what will happen.’

  ‘He’ll get through and live for ages. You’ll see! Now, let’s get started on the scans for your first treatment. Did you know that these scans require more processing power than any other single treatment in the medical world? We have to build a molecular level model of every cell and function in your body and then run simulations to find the premium processes and programs for a new set of healthbots to keep everything functioning at one
hundred per cent capability.’

  Chapter 19

  ‘Wirrin, Thom, Calen – I am the planning assistant for your new home on Warrakan.’

  ‘Hello, Wanna. Is that still your name?’

  ‘You are correct, Wirrin. Construction is scheduled to begin three months from now and you can make any changes or refinements you wish in the intervening period.’

  ‘We like the plan we have here, so we think we’ll keep it almost the same when we move.’

  ‘It is pleasing to hear your satisfaction but the basic stipulations for your new residence suggest the need for many changes.’

  ‘Stipulations? What are they?’

  ‘Internally there are requirements for a 12 by 6 metre pool, four semi-detached guest rooms, a dolphin viewing gallery, and an enhanced InfoStation. Externally there are extensive requirements for dolphin facilities. Since none of these requirements may impinge on your personal space allocation, your new reserved living space will effectively triple.’

  ‘That’s not right. We looked it up the other night and Level Two gives us an extra thirty per cent. Triple sounds ridiculous.’

  ‘Your Second Level rights on Warrakan give you three thousand cubes, Wirrin. Your thirty per cent special loading takes you to four thousand cubes. With your current structure, major living areas would be part of the pool section and thus excluded from your allocation. Likewise your single guest room.’

  ‘Special loading? What’s that about?’

  ‘It’s tagged as administrative compensation.’

  The trio stared at each other.

  ‘It’s too big. We’ll never use it all.’

  ‘That pool is enormous. It’s nearly three times as big as this one,’ said Calen.

  Wirrin turned to the planning assistant. ‘Wanna, you must have some suggestions for what we could do with all this space.’

  ‘Certainly. Instead of display versions of natural environments you could grow real plants. If numerous visitors are expected at your new home a welcoming setting, surrounded by beautiful natural plants, would be a highly appropriate and enjoyable addition. I also have noted that Thom previously expressed an interest in producing natural fruit and vegetables. Also, some people with extensive volume allocations dedicate a portion for production of organic compounds for various scientific purposes.