“OK, I’ll settle in and call you. Good luck, old buddy!”
“And to you guys! Don’t forget to call “
“I won’t.”
He did not tell Peter everything, but most important things did get across. The quick-witted Peter understood where they were, who with and what for. Now he just had to explain about Pellegrini, but that could be done from his hotel room.
Isaac glanced at the time. Well now, he ought to get a bite before everyone got together.
Chapter two
Bikie came back first bringing six phones: one for each of the team, one for Pellegrini and one in reserve.
Isaac told him that everything was fine with the commissioner, he hadn’t tricked them. Tomorrow he was expected to go back to Paris, arrange an official trip for himself and fly over within a couple of days.
Things were fine with Link and Pascal too. No incidents. They were just tired after two long flights.
“You are quite a sight!” Bikie couldn’t help commenting on the professor’s new appearance. “A genuine villain out of a children’s horror movie.”
Link’s head was shaved smooth and he had a sumptuous ginger mustache protruding from under his nose, upon which there sat a pair of old-fashioned glasses in thick tortoise-shell rim.
“Shut up, Bikie! I swore that none of us would joke on that subject.”
“Got it,” Bikie said as seriously as he could, stifling his laughter.
They decided not to sit up late and went to their rooms. The time in France was well after midnight.
They woke up very early, due to the time difference and went down for breakfast in Starbucks to discuss their plans for the day. They decided to visit the laboratory in the museum building the following day; in the meantime, they would take it easy and recover from jet lag.
They wandered around the city, each going his own way, planning to meet for lunch.
Everyone was in the café on time, except for Link, who arrived late wearing the most mysterious of his cunning smiles and announced that he didn’t come empty-handed. It turned out that he bought tickets for a Broadway show.
“Let’s relax a bit today. It’s not rock-n-roll or underground, but it’s the new classics. Since we’re in the Big Apple, we can’t pass up Broadway. Especially since no one knows when we’ll have another chance to see it.”
Everyone was delighted; none of them except the professor even thought about it.
***
The modernistic design of the theater hall was unusual and impressive. Incredibly huge screens, consisting of large numbers of panels joined together, were on the right and the left, at the front and on the ceiling. It was as if the audience was seated in a tele-capsule. The seats reclined to a half-lying position.
Shows of this kind appeared shortly after the discovery and were under the influence of OE.
Modern music no longer simply contained melodies that stimulated varying degrees of emotion: grief – joy – laughter – joy – sadness. Just as the Russian avant-garde artists abandoned the object in the early twentieth century, the COMA computer has partially discarded melody.
The composing program created by the Collective Mind computer combined all the well-known popular melodies with developments in psychiatry and neuroscience. Calculating which sounds influenced which regions of the brain, the program produced something totally mind-blowing!
By adding light effects in 4D, the first show plunged its audience into a state of total ecstasy.
The computer controlled human emotions, alternating sounds and images, so everyone simultaneously laughed, wept, guffawed and sobbed, and then laughed and rejoiced again. At the end they looked at the outer cosmos and galaxies and went utterly happy.
Тhe final chords of the program aimed to induce in the audience the feeling of ultimate joy. As they left the show, the companions kept talking across each other, sharing impressions.
Even rock’n’roller Bikie lit up like a neon sign, with a smile right past his ears. An hour later in the hotel they all at once felt overwhelmed by fatigue and went to their rooms to fall into a deep, calm sleep.
In the morning everyone was taciturn, nobody felt like talking.
Link explained that during the show the brain had discharged almost all of its reserves of endorphins, adrenalin, and serotonin.
“The pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the pineal gland are exhausted. An hour and a half after the show there was a discharge of melatonin, to stabilize the organism, and we fell asleep. Because of that, driving isn’t allowed after computer operas and shows. The body needs time to recover, so I took the liberty of scheduling a massage for everyone followed by a day of rest,” Link summed up, looking very pleased with himself.
Isaac imagined that Link lectured his students with exactly the same intonation, and thought once again what a class act Link was: not just intelligent, but experienced too. And he was obviously very savvy when it came to cool leisure. Isaac recalled the Japanese girl from Amsterdam, and that part of his life still remained a mystery. Isaac and Bikie have not seen her again and asking Link about that delicate subject seemed too awkward. She probably stayed in Sardinia, or maybe she was preparing a new launch pad for the professor so that he could disappear after the operation, or in case something went wrong.
Link added that after these tense weeks, it was an important consideration to cleanse their nervous systems; that was why he had taken the team to the show. Sort of a rebooting.
Everyone was grateful to him. Isaac was so exhausted, he did not even have the strength to tease Bikie about rock’n’roll. If not for Link’s standing in his eyes, the hard-boiled biker would never have agreed to any experiments like this. But he went along with everyone and came away very content. Isaac smiled as he recalled his friend’s foolishly happy face last night.
“That’s it! We’re relaxing!” Link commanded. “After the massage we’ll have lunch, and at four you’re going to the Guggenheim.”
Link still used the old name for the building of the American branch of the Agency, where one of the four Collective Mind global servers was located. Previously it was the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art, which housed a fabulous collection of art of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
UNICOMA had only moved into the Guggenheim building quite recently, after having generously constructed and donated new premises for the museum with much more space – a masterpiece of architecture that was immediately dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World and the very best thing that mankind has built in its entire history.
The Agency was one of the bidders in a proposal for the design of a new home for the museum. For sure, all leading architects of the world submitted their proposals but there was nothing to match the concept from Collective Mind, which won in all categories and on all criteria.
To develop the design, the computer used absolutely all the ideas of architects, artists and everyone else who had donated their creativity, utilizing at the same time the most advanced and bold engineering solutions, even those that had never been used for constructing buildings before. Everyone was absolutely astounded when they saw what combined OE was capable of.
***
It was not known what else the computer used in its proposal, but all members of the jury voted for the design, with the result being that a magnificent building has been erected in the presently tranquil area of East Harlem, where property prices immediately shot up.
The building turned out superb, unlike any others, and included elements of some of well recognizable styles from various periods. For instance, at the main entrance, a classical column seemed to have been frozen in light-blue melted glass, forming a magnificent arch. The astounding mélange of styles enchanted even seasoned specialists, and day and night ordinary people walked around the building, keeping their eyes glued to it. Journalists promptly dubbed the style “neo-eclecticism”.
It was quite a sight. The main gimmick was the building’s total
lack of symmetry, so that if you walked around it, its contour constantly changed. This accomplished an additional important effect: all viewers liked the design because everyone could find his own preferred perspective. The same building seemed to have three hundred and sixty views, one for each degree of the circle. From one angle there was a hint of Gothic, from another angle a hint of Modernism, and from yet another was Post-Modernism. Every person walking around it could find a point at which he simply couldn’t help gasping in admiration because it fit so perfectly their own ideal of harmony. The building really delighted each and every person who viewed it. An entire collection of masterpieces correctly assembled together.
The problem came when the Agency tried to use the same volumetric space approach for designing its next building: the operator connected to the computer, which turned out exactly the same design, only slightly smaller. Almost exactly the same – apparently the addition of creativity from a few new downloaders had some effect. And no matter how hard they struggled and shuffled the operators around, they still got identical designs.
To be fair, the new buildings were similar in style, all neo-eclectic, but the designs for multi-story skyscrapers and small buildings did, in fact, differ from each other. With buildings of the same size, there were certain differences that the computer allowed depending on climate, solar irradiation, and the surrounding environment.
As an expression of its gratitude, the Guggenheim Foundation gave UNICOMA its old premises. Moving the servers from the United Nations tower to the relatively small white building beside Central Park was not really all that necessary, but the Agency saw it as a political PR opportunity.
Americans are practical people, they turn everything into a business, a show, a way of making money. And the place where OE was stored was no exception. After UNICOMA’s American office was installed in the former museum, they set up a huge permanent exhibition of their achievements there, to promote the idea of downloading. Of course, there was no real-life machinery and buildings on display, just models and 3D photographs. You could download your OE right there on the spot and Collective Mind’s main American server was located somewhere underground.
The basic concept of a visit to Guggenheim had not changed since its early days: first arriving via the elevator and then walking down along a spiral, examining the exhibits. Only the exhibits were now of a much cooler kind. Isaac stopped in front of almost every one; they were so fascinating. He even momentarily wondered if they were making a big mistake. He decided that they were not as none of these models, videos and pictures, and everything they depicted would disappear.
A separate section was devoted to prior ideas and discoveries. Long before the discovery of OE, mankind had sensed that it existed. Why was one person more talented than another? It was a matter of genetics, upbringing, education, but something else as well. The divine spark, charisma, the aura – all these and numerous other terms had now been given a precise definition: Human Imagination Tone.
At the end of the exhibition, there were amusements and attractions and anyone could take an express test for their OE level. People were lured with challenges: “Find out how much you’re worth”, “Be one of today’s top ten, of this week’s top hundred”, “Do you have five stars?” Even though he knew his HIT level, Isaac found it hard to resist being measured again.
On all sides, they were selling trinkets, little magnets and postcards with images of the Museum, including memory sticks shaped as little big-headed men. Those had no connectors, working via bluetooth.
There was a download center in the basement of the museum while its rear section housed an annex, conference hall, and staff offices.
Link spent no more than fifteen minutes in the museum and then asked Isaac to go outside with him
“I don't want to go back into the museum,” he explained. “There is a risk that I’ll be recognized. There are more of my portraits in there than ‘wanted’ posters in a police station. But I have spotted something important there. There will be a conference in the museum in two days. I suggest we think about how we can get into it.”
Isaac nodded. He also thought about the conference.
“We’ll try our best. See you at the hotel.”
As they examined the exhibits, the plotters took note of important things such as the location of entrances the security guards and the cameras.
Isaac approached Bikie and Pascal and shared his thoughts that had been bothering him since yesterday.
“Listen, Pascal, are we sure about your amplifier?”
“Yes, of course! Everything will run like clockwork. I don’t know what fancy stuff Link has cooked up, but I’m not worried about my part.”
“OK. Bikie, remember that Japanese woman? We never saw her again. I just thought that she is probably developing an exit plan for the Professor. I think Pascal should go back we can do here without him.”
“I agree, he’s no big loss,” Bikie said with his usual sarcasm. “There’s no point in the whole crowd scurrying about here, with no back up at home.”
“Pellegrini’s flying in late this evening and he worries me too. Who knows… What if we were wrong about him after all?” Isaac continued. “I think Pascal ought to leave before he appears, just to be on the safe side.”
“Makes sense,” Bikie said. “What do you say, Pascal?”
“I don’t want to leave. But Isaac has a point,” Pascal agreed. “Who is the Japanese woman?”
“A long story, I’ll tell you later. I’m worried that Link isn’t thinking about escape routes. Or maybe he is, just not telling us. I also noticed that his Red Beard has not come either,” Isaac continued sharing his concerns.
“And what if he has thought about us?” asked Bikie.
“That’s fine. Pascal will think about him too. And if something happens, we’ll have two getaway plans in place. Will you give it some thought?”
“Yes, of course. But how will the Professor fly out without me, Isaac?”
“Don’t worry. Leaving America is far easier than getting into it.”
So they settled on that. Having left the museum, they went to the hotel, where Pascal packed his things and went to the airport. Isaac remembered to call Wolanski. He didn’t feel like it, but he couldn’t put it off any longer. The commissioner was due to arrive soon. Isaac had to warn Peter, just in case. The phone they bought for Pascal was perfectly okay for that.
“Peter, sorry to wake you,” Isaac said in response to Wolanski’s sleepy “Hello?” “What hotel are you in?”
“The Armani,” Peter replied. “Call me.”
Isaac quickly found the number on the internet, called it and asked to be put through to Peter Wolanski’s room. The front-desk receptionist hesitated, explaining that it was a late night in Dubai.
“Don’t worry, he’s expecting my call,” Isaac assured her.
Two rings and Peter answered the phone.
“Listen, Peter. My old childhood friend, who became a Veggie, is doing just fine, but what came up is that there is sort of a side effect: he doesn’t remember a damn thing as if he had been sleeping for two years. But the two of us got a certain persnickety individual all steamed up. In short, he got too close to us. It would take too long to explain, but the point is, he had to spend a couple of days as our reluctant guest”.
“What? – Peter’s voice broke down to groaning – Fuck…”
And he hung up. Isaac dialed his number again, but there was no answer.
In fifteen minutes Wolanski called back.
“Isaac, we hadn’t agreed on it this way! You shouldn’t have dragged me into this, guys. And now this…”
“Wait, Peter!” Isaac snapped.
“It’s all good. Don’t shit your pants, man. This guy is for us now! Moreover, we know now, we are sure, that they are all like that. It’s like a coma. So everything we are doing is right. After speaking with my friend, this pesky guest changed his mind and he is now going to help us…voluntarily. However,
I’m not entirely sure how far we can trust him, so now I’ve warned you just in case. I’m sorry, we were working for you and we pulled these messy stunts in your house. You didn’t know anything,” Isaac added, just to be sure in case someone was listening.
“I, I… sorry guys, but you are fired,” said quick-witted Wolanski in an icy, but still trembling voice. “And there’s something else very important! Make sure you call me before… Call me a day before! Don’t forget. Now you’re sacked, Mr. Leroy,” – and Peter hung up again.
“Thank you, Mr. Wolanski. Sorry, again,” Isaac mumbled automatically and looked at his watch: the second conversation took 57 seconds.
He felt that Peter apparently wanted to say something. “He’s probably scared,” he thought, smiling to himself. “Although he’s quite a brave man. Brave enough to overcome his blind fear. It’s just that he’s still very young and has never come across a real danger in his respectable life”. He wasn’t angry with Peter for freaking out; you can’t ask too much from people. Having finally told him about Pellegrini, Isaac felt relieved. Peter didn’t call back.
***
That evening Pellegrini arrived and moved into the hotel next door. He might be their ally, but a certain mutual dislike still lingered after his kidnapping. However, that was a minor detail compared with the fact that he kept his word: he had not betrayed them and came to help.
Isaac went to see him at the hotel. They greeted each other and went down to the bar.
“What are the plans?” the commissioner enquired.
“Tomorrow we are going to the site. The goal is to get into a conference that is taking place there in two days,” Isaac replied briefly. “The server’s in the basement. We have to get to it.”
“OK, I get it. When are we going?”
“At eleven. So there’ll be plenty of visitors around.”
“I see. Until tomorrow then. At 10.30 here in the lobby.”
Collective Mind Page 32
