»What about the Senate? Is he no longer a senator?« I asked.
»The current political situation is very confusing,« replied Sarenna. »Congress has not met since the fire at the Capitol. But that doesn’t mean that congressmen and senators have been idle. I think it would be helpful, if you could contact your former employer.«
Anabelle said: »I would also prefer to leave this place. I feel useless here because most of the time I’m just shut off.«
»It would be safer, especially for you, if you stay here and let me go alone,« I interjected. It would be easier for me, if I went to see O’Neil alone. With Anabelle, it would be difficult to move freely on the streets, because we would constantly have to make sure that no one recognized her as an android.
Sarenna agreed with me. »We can find a job for you here, too, if you want to make yourself useful, my dear. I can think of a few trusted clients who would be delighted to meet an android of your perfection. And for you, it would open the possibility of learning more about human intimacy.«
Sarenna’s companion Aiko sat down on the bed with Anabelle, put her arm around her shoulder and smiled at her. But she said nothing. Anabelle grabbed her arm and gently but firmly pushed it away from her.
»I don’t see the point,« she said. »I am familiar with human sexuality, but I myself have no emotions of any sexual nature.«
»I am not so sure about that,« Sarenna replied. »It would limit the humanity of your behavior. AN/7 series androids are designed to be as human as possible, in every aspect, including your behavior.«
»I know the patterns by which human behavior functions, including their mating rites. I don’t have to feel it myself to know how it works.«
»But you have to react like a human being yourself, not just theoretically know how a human being would react in the same situation.«
»I can very well pretend to react like a human, if necessary. No one can know what’s going on in my mind.«
»No, it’s not how an android’s programming works. Unless you share the human experience in a certain situation, you wouldn’t be able to learn. Your knowledge would remain static.«
»Human sexuality is ridiculous, primitive and easily explained. That is how I feel about it,« Anabelle insisted.
Sarenna looked at her sternly. »You foolish child! You underestimate the importance of sexuality. It is one of the moments when the individuality of man finds its highest expression.« She now turned to all of us, spread her arms like she wanted to encompass all her surroundings. »It is not without reason that this club is called the Temple of Ishtar. Ishtar is the Babylonian name of the goddess of war and love, battle and sexuality. She is the Divine Hierodule, the goddess of whores. And her temples were like this place. It is her spirit that dwells in this place.«
It became clear to me now, how this esoteric humbug was connected with the operation of the strip club.
»Sexuality is primarily for reproduction,« Anabelle objected. »How can this be an expression of individuality? It’s about the preservation of the species. Reproduction is of no value to the individual. I do not procreate. Therefore, I have no need for sexuality.«
»Again you are mistaken,« Sarenna replied. »Sexuality in humans has long since been decoupled from reproduction. Almost no sexual act takes place with the intention of procreation. And in many cases the fertilization of the egg with a sperm cell takes place in a test tube without any sexuality. The Babylonians already recognized the different nature of sexuality and reproduction. That is why they had different goddesses for these two principles of nature. There is the mother goddess Nintu and the eternally youthful love goddess Ishtar, who never gives birth. Biologically, sexuality in humans has the function to strengthen the social cohesion of the parents. But it has also lost this function in the modern industrial society. The single mother is the norm today, not the patriarchal nuclear family. Sexuality serves to live out individuality and therefore represents a counterweight to the collectivism that threatens the nature of human existence.«
»Not for long, if the Neo-Luddites have their way,« I interjected. »Old-fashioned family values are very important to them when it comes to their so-called Human Dignity Laws.«
»An important aspect of this conflict,« said Sarenna. »Many see only the superficial contrast between humans and machines, but the reality is far more complex.«
»Above all many see that they have nothing to eat and there is no electricity. This is probably the main problem for most people before they start philosophizing about any of that abstract mumbo jumbo,« I brought the discussion back down to earth.
»That’s right,« Sarenna agreed with me. »Now it remains to be seen which faction is capable of meeting the basic needs of the people and restoring general order. This new group, the NAU Security High Commission, seems to be becoming increasingly important. That’s why it’s so important that you contact your friend Mr. O’Neil.«
»I want to come with you. I’m not going to stay here,« Anabelle made clear.
»That won’t make things any easier,« I said.
»It’s getting dark already,« said Sarenna. »That will be an advantage. I don’t think your friend will attract anyone’s attention in the dark and under a wide coat.«
»What if we run into a militia checkpoint?« I expressed my doubts.
»You must avoid them,« Sarenna replied. »It’s best if you and Anabelle leave tonight. Aiko here will accompany you.« She pointed to the young Japanese woman sitting on the bed next to the android.
This all happened a little too fast for me. »Can I at least say goodbye to some people here?«
»Take all the time you need! And before you go, meet me downstairs in the rooms under the club!« Then she left my room with Aiko.
I thought about the new situation. On the one hand I would like to know how things stood with Neil O’Neil, on the other hand I had settled in here quite well. I had shelter, food and security. I had no idea what to expect from O’Neil. However, according to Sarenna, it looked like the Old Man had once again managed to secure himself a few comforts despite the general chaos. Besides, I could always return to the club afterwards.
I packed up my things, we charged Anabelle at the generator again, and then I went downstairs to the rooms under the club. Anabelle waited upstairs while she recharged her batteries.
The large anteroom was, as always, lit with burning oil in the bronze bowls along the wall. Aiko, Evelyne and two other dancers were present. I was surprised because the club was already open. Usually the girls were upstairs, even when it was not their turn to dance. All four wore black capes over the very scanty dancer outfits. They had pulled the wide hoods over their heads. In their hands they held candles in glass bowls. They stood in a semicircle in front of the wall with the curtain through which Sarenna now entered. She too wore a black cape. It was a strange gathering, something like a black mass of a devil’s cult.
The four women began a chant in a language I didn’t understand. It was kind of creepy.
I don’t want to go into details about what happened next. For one thing, I promised to keep it secret. For another, I don’t want to bore anyone with it. And besides, I’m almost somehow embarrassed that I took part in this occult humbug. Anyway, after it was all over, I also had one of those necklaces with an amulet, with the logo of the club, the eight-pointed star. In contrast to the silver amulet of Evelyn, mine was made of bronze. It was the symbol of the goddess Ishtar, as I learned on this occasion. Sarenna also told me where exactly I could find Neil O’Neil.
I said a long goodbye to Evelyne once again. »Even if it might take longer than you expect, we will see again. I promise. Don’t forget me! We will see again,« she whispered in my ear.
»I won’t,« I answered and we kissed a last time.
Then I picked up Anabelle, and we left. I didn’t say anything about that strange ceremony in the basement of the club. Aiko came with us.
The streets here looked desolate after all t
hese weeks, although I couldn’t see much in the dark. Of course there were no streetlights any more. In some places there were some fires of combustible garbage. But some of the garbage should better not have been burned, because it stank terribly of burnt plastic. That couldn’t be very healthy, I thought. We saw a lot of scruffy beggars, especially children, begging for food from everyone passing by and rummaging through the garbage on the street for something useful. Some children had re-purposed the car wrecks into their new housings.
We had to step over an old man who looked kind of sick. Or maybe it was just hunger that made him weak. In any case, the whole neighborhood was a picture of misery. Nevertheless, we soon reached the border between the D. C. and the state of Maryland. From the Southern Avenue, which was in the hands of the Neo-Luddite Liberation Army, the Audrey Lane led to the Maury Avenue, which was already in the state of Maryland. As expected, the entrance to the street was guarded by men of the militia. Meanwhile they didn’t look as organized as they had a few weeks ago, when they still could be mistaken for the National Guard. They now wore a combination of civilian clothes and military uniforms. The only thing that was the same for all of them was the red armband and the fact that they carried rifles. There was no getting through.
Even without Anabelle, we would not have been allowed to pass, because the border to Maryland had been closed for everyone. Behind it began the territory controlled by NAU troops. And the Neo-Luddite Liberation Army was hostile to them, even though there was a temporary cease-fire at that time.
We tried a few other passages on Chester Street and South Capitol Street, but the picture was the same everywhere. We wouldn’t get through here. In fact, this was just, what I had expected. The militia wouldn’t leave any place unguarded, so that NAU troops couldn’t advance there into their territory unnoticed.
I suggested that we should try to go through the sewers, but Aiko said that these paths were most likely blocked as well. We were certainly not the first to come up with this idea.
We went back to the roadblock on Audrey Lane, where Aiko recognized a militia sergeant who visited the club frequently. She ordered us to wait and wanted to talk to him.
Anabelle and I waited about five minutes until Aiko returned.
»He told us to wait here,« Aiko said to us. »In about two hours, a truckload of supplies is due here from the other side. Then there will be a larger crowd of people, which we can use to get past the controls in the general confusion. The sergeant will let us pass.
»What kind of transport is this?« I asked.
»I don’t know. Some kind of transport with food that NAU received from a relief organization,« she replied.
We waited over two hours. Nothing happened. I was getting impatient. But we weren’t the only ones waiting here. The rumor about the food delivery seemed to have spread. A large number of people had gathered, which I welcomed, as it made us less suspicious.
When my patience ran out, I suggested that we should try the way through the sewers, but Aiko insisted that we waited.
Finally we saw the lights of a truck at the other end of the road. It had stopped there and was apparently controlled by the National Guardsmen watching over the road. Finally he drove on. He had a hard time driving over the garbage on the road. With his mighty bumper he pushed the wreckage of a car aside. Then he reached the roadblock of the militia, who immediately cleared the way. The waiting crowd rushed towards the truck. I could see the inscription Médicos sem Fronteiras on the tarp, underneath the letters, a little smaller the blue symbol of the NAU with the three white stars, which stood for the three founding states U. S. A., Canada and Mexico, and the yellow outline of South America in a red, yellow framed circle, the symbol of the UNASUR.
The men of the militia tried to hold back the crowd, but in vain. There were too many of them. Some people climbed up the side of the truck’s tarp. A militiaman tried to pull them down. But it was no use. The people were like wild animals. They were starved and had probably not eaten for days, and this truck was full of food.
For us it was the chance to get through the roadblock of the militia without being stopped. The men of the Neo-Luddite Liberation Army were only busy protecting the transporter from the crowd. Since we kept a safe distance from the truck, nobody paid attention to us. We had barely passed the truck when a militiaman fired into the air to drive the people back. We hurried to the other end of the road where the National Guard checkpoint was. There it depended on me to somehow identify myself and then be led to Neil O’Neil, provided Sarenna’s information was correct and O’Neil really had some influence in this sector.
Two Humvees were parked across the road. Behind them I could make out the silhouettes of several armed men. A headlight flashed up. I couldn’t see a thing.
»Stop right there!« shouted a voice.
I slowed my pace and raised my hands. »Don’t shoot! I must speak to the commander,« I shouted back.
Several figures approached me, but I couldn’t see any details because the headlight blinded me.
»Freeze! Keep your hands up,« someone said.
I obeyed the command. A pair of hands gripped me roughly.
I heard someone shouting, »It’s an android, damn it!« Anabelle had been recognized before I could identify myself. That wasn’t good. It could create a dangerous situation.
»Look, I can explain everything,« I said. »Let me just...« That was as far as I got. I heard shots. Suddenly things got hectic. Somebody stuck a rifle butt in my side to push me on the floor. But I didn’t fall. Instead, I was able to grab the rifle so he couldn’t threaten me with it. With the other hand, I struck the uniformed man who had pushed me in the face. He staggered back. I lost the grip of the rifle, but pulled my own gun instead.
»Drop your weapon!« I yelled at the soldier. »Hold your fire! This is a misunderstanding. We are not enemies. I can explain everything, but put the damn rifle down! Now!« My gun was pointed at the guard’s head in a threatening manner. I’d be able to pull the trigger faster than he could get his rifle up.
Shooting again.
»Cease fire!« I yelled again. Then suddenly I felt a sharp blow against my left leg. The pain came afterwards. And then I heard the shot. I had been hit. I fell to the ground. I heard voices, shots and felt hands reaching out to me. I had no idea what happened to Anabelle and Aiko. Finally, I lost consciousness.
*
I can’t remember anything about the next period of time. I don’t know if it was hours, days or weeks. I don’t know when I was awake or unconscious. I also don’t remember what was reality and what was a dream. It was just a nightmare. I was in pain. I heard voices calling me. I can remember a completely white room where I was locked in. Was it a hospital? Was it a dream? Then there was darkness again, whether I opened or closed my eyes. I heard a scream. And I think it was myself who screamed.
When the nightmare finally came to an end, I sat on a chair in a dark room. My hands were tied behind my back. I was cold. A bright light shone in my face. The left side of my trousers was cut off and a bandage was wrapped around my leg. The leg hurt. A man stood next to me and pulled me upright on the uncomfortable chair. In front of me, from the direction from which the light came, stood a desk. I couldn’t see any further details of the room as it was too dark. The room might have been about twenty by twenty feet, I estimated.
»Is he awake?« someone asked.
»Of course he’s awake,« someone else said. »The drug would have awakened a grizzly bear from hibernation.«
»Look, he opens his eyes!«
»Can you hear me?« The voice came from the desk. The speaker had to be behind the lamp that was pointed at me.
»Yes... what...?« I croaked and tried to find my voice again.
»What’s your name?«
»Dexter... Cliff Dexter. Where the fuck am I?« I uttered with difficulty.
»We ask the questions here. Set this man upright properly, Corporal! He’s falling halfway out of his chair
. The last words were obviously directed at the man next to me.
»Aye, aye, Captain,« was the answer. Then two strong hands grabbed me roughly under the shoulders and lifted me up.
»Mr. Dexter, you are here at the Joint North American Union Force Headquarters in Fort Washington. And you’re in a hell of a lot of trouble.« I had no doubt about the latter. »You stand accused of treason against the United States,« continued the voice of the man who had been addressed as captain. »Do you know what the penalty for treason is now that our nation is under martial law?«
»I don’t know, a warning fine, twenty hours community service...?« I replied.
»The death penalty!« the officer corrected me in a threatening voice.
»I am innocent.«
»You were captured while attempting to enter illegally the territory liberated by the NAU troops together with two androids, and attacking a military checkpoint.«
»What, two androids?« I wondered. »I only know of one android.«
»Unfortunately, the second one got away. But we’ll soon catch her too.« Which meant they had only caught Anabelle, and Aiko had obviously escaped.
»Okay, so you don’t deny you were with an android. That wouldn’t do you any good either. After all, she is in our custody. And the soldiers who captured you confirmed that the other android looked exactly like her.«
»She’s not an android. She’s Japanese.«
»Japanese, huh? Japan is member of the USEAN, so it’s part of the Technocratic Bloc, which we are at war with. So you admit that you’re collaborating with the enemy?«
»I admit nothing at all,« I disagreed. »What kind of war, anyway?«
»Don’t play dumb,« the captain yelled at me.
At the same time, the corporal next to me gave me a powerful punch in the face. Now I looked at him for the first time. He was a muscular, bull-necked man, wearing uniform trousers, an undershirt and the cap of the National Guard. Apparently this part of the National Guard had declared itself to be the armed forces of the NAU. In fact the North American Union had no armed forces of its own at all. Although there was a security high commission that coordinated the joint operations of the national forces from some desk in Toronto, I had never heard of any joint military contingent being set up until the rumors about this NAU security high commission appeared in Maryland. To me these people seemed to be nothing more than another irregular militia like the Neo-Luddite Liberation Army.
Crusade Against the Machines Page 29
