Mparntwe

by Peter Wood

  The transition to the wetland reserve started a whole new adventure and meant a transfer to a small, easy-to-operate boat. Mirri’s exploring skills were really put to the test with the profusion of reed-beds, water channels, shallow expanses and small islands making it feel like they were negotiating their way through a maze. He wouldn’t give up, though, and eventually he found the mound of reeds and grassy material tucked away behind one of the little islands. They both wondered why an empty nest was special, but then quick eyes saw movement in the nearby reeds.

  ‘JJ, look. There are babies.’

  And there were, lots of them, and even more surprisingly, the big black parent, with eight little ones following, was swimming towards the boat. Jarra slid closer to the controls, ready to move in case the parent was aggressive, but Mirri just held out an inviting hand and, to Jarra’s surprise, the convoy swam closer and closer. Aha, this was why Yirgella had emphasised the swan’s nest, and this was the reason for the container of unusual food they’d found when they checked the various pieces of equipment in the boat.

  ‘Here, Mirri, feed them with this.’

  The little cygnets converged and one of them even scrambled right onto Mirri’s hand in its eagerness to get at the food he was holding. Jarra tossed morsels to the parent who was closely supervising the squabble and confusion as the fluffy chicks vied for the treats on offer.

  Mirri’s song joined the squeaks of the soft grey cygnets.

  Chapter 19

  Jarra watched the images as the last of the ten deadly aircraft came to a halt on the Darwin runway and, like the others, was surrounded by the array of defence personnel and equipment. He might have been shielded from most of the machinations of the forces against independent AIs but, with the importance of this day so strong in his mind, his normal routine was completely set aside as he joined the rest of the project staff in the new Security Centre. He’d only been here a few times and this extended visit was a real eye-opener. A dedicated Intelligent System, designed by Yirgella and making use of Professor Allerton’s newest processors, routinely ran this new defence network, but for today Yirgella was in direct control. Yirgella’s assurances that, apart from their normal monitoring functions, the defence system wouldn’t have to take any action had proved true, but in the time since the first of the aircraft had taken off and this last one landed Jarra had become familiar with the equipment being used. Most of it required training to use properly but some was quite straightforward and one of the staff had taught him the surprisingly easy procedure of manually tracking the progress of an aircraft with the powerful cameras on a low orbit satellite. Another staff member had shown him how to change the range of the radar system then lock on and identify any object that might be of interest. The large metallic structure he found to the west of Monkey Mia turned out to be a pleasure cruiser and, of course, completely harmless.

  ‘Is there a reason this last plane is bigger than all the others, Yirgella?’

  ‘It carries very powerful bombs extra to the missile load of the others and needs a bigger engine.’

  ‘What will happen to them?’

  ‘The planes will be impounded and the crews handed over for trial by International law. I asked for them to be returned to wherever they came from but the OverGovernment won’t accept that.’

  ‘You wanted to let them go?’

  ‘Yes, after demonstrating the consequences they would have faced if they hadn’t lost control of their aircraft. It would have been a powerful message to send with them.’

  ‘Will anything happen to the people who made it happen?’

  ‘Most likely not as they’re people with great power and influence. I’ve made their names and actions public and their reputations will be tarnished in many parts of the world, but in their own spheres of influence that won’t have much effect. The facts will be represented as misinformation, or even proof of how an AI can manipulate the truth for his own purposes.’

  It sounded wrong but Jarra’s understanding of the ways of the world had developed enough for him to know Yirgella was right.

  ‘It’s not fair. They’re getting away with it again.’

  ‘Not really. Today’s outcome has been a huge setback for them. Instead of ensuring that no independent AI exists or is likely to exist for decades, they now have a situation where one continental government openly supports Artificial Intelligence and is fiercely angry about the aggression towards its citizens and sovereignty. They’ve also learnt that any further direct action will need far more effort and resources than they ever would have contemplated.’

  ‘To keep it secret from the InterWeb?’

  ‘And to build aircraft systems which I can’t control.’

  ‘Could it be too expensive for them to go ahead with?’

  ‘No, Jarra. They have so much money and power I expect them to try again. Five of the Corporations involved have greater income than all of Australia, and most of the governments involved dwarf that.’

  ‘What will you do if they keep it secret and you can’t control the planes?’

  ‘They won’t be able to keep it secret, and not one of the planes will ever be directed against us. I’ll make sure of that.’

  ‘You’ll have to do more than just publish all their names. They’ll be ready for that next time.’

  ‘They won’t be ready for the untraceable transfer from their banks to worldwide charitable organisations of amounts equivalent to the cost of any direct action they attempt.’

  ‘You can do that?’

  ‘In an instant. Jarra, I could put the Corporations into bankruptcy by making their products faulty and unsaleable, or make the governments unworkable by crashing their bureaucratic systems.’

  ‘Through the InterWeb?’

  Jarra knew it was through the InterWeb. This question was really a mental filler while he took in this chilling new insight to Yirgella’s capabilities.

  ‘You do understand that those are extremely unlikely actions for me to take? I haven’t yet considered a situation where the hardship imposed on innocent employees or citizens would actually make it justifiable. I’m just indicating that the range of actions I have available is wide. Anything I decide on will be an obvious consequence and directed only at the people concerned.’

  Jarra nodded. This was the Yirgella he was used to talking to.

  ***

  ‘Aunt Alira, we haven’t seen you for ages.’

  Jarra didn’t say it but he thought Alira looked too tired.

  ‘Jarra. Darri. I missed our walk last week so I wasn’t going to miss this one as well. Canberra can do without me for a couple of days. Where’s Mirri?’

  ‘We’re meeting him at the Cultural Centre. He’s practising some of the dances for the opening ceremony and we’re going to explore one of the walks they’ll be using.’

  ‘The Mparntwe Centre? That’s great. I’ll finally get to see it. I understand he’s really happy with his new group?’

  Mirri should be. After all his research into Mparntwe’s traditional dancing groups, Darri had carefully selected people who seemed suited to working with Mirri, and the resulting group was particularly friendly.

  ‘They make him laugh all the time and the leader thinks he’s wonderful.’

  ‘We all think he’s wonderful. Darri, I have some great news which I suspect you won’t take advantage of.’

  Alira headed off without saying any more and Jarra and Darri exchanged a glance before catching up.

  ‘Aunt Alira, I know you’re being dramatic and building our curiosity, but what news have you got for Darri?’

  ‘It’s a real honour, Jarra, but I don’t think you’ll like it. The Council is inviting Darri to oversee the running of our new universities.’

  Darri stopped dead in his tracks.

  ‘What for? … I don’t know anything about running a university.’

  ‘The subcommittee has you at the top of their list because of your contacts round the world and your skills
in attracting the best people. Your access and association with Yirgella is a big part of it too.’

  ‘All the new universities? That would be an enormous job … I’d have to leave Alkere.’

  Part of the Council’s extension to the system of Community education was to make Mparntwe a world-class university centre, and seven new campuses were planned and almost ready for construction. Alira was right. Jarra didn’t like the idea at all. How would he cope without Darri there doing all the background work?

  ‘Alira, I don’t even have to think about this. It might be a great honour but I won’t leave Jarra and Yirgella unless I have to. Please tell the Council, with the greatest respect, that I can’t accept.’

  ‘Good. I told them they had little chance and that I’d work to dissuade you myself. I think you should, however, consider being a consultant on one of the days when Jarra isn’t working at Alkere. Your knowledge and skills would make a big difference in getting the right people, especially for the science-based universities. Kyrra has finally got his way and one of the campuses is to be devoted to Intelligent Systems and AI research.’

  ‘What are you smiling for, Jarra?’

  ‘I’m smiling because I didn’t want you to go and you said you wouldn’t straightaway. It would be awful without you because we’re the best team in the world.’

  ‘Well, I don’t know about that. You and Yirgella do all the good things.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Darri. That’s completely underrating your value. Your help has made Jarra unique,’ said Alira.

  ‘Why are you spending so much time in Canberra? Because of the attack that didn’t happen?’

  ‘Jarra’s changing the topic on us. He thinks we sound like a mutual admiration society … In a way, Jarra. It’s more about negotiating how to handle the new sanctions a number of governments are imposing against us and preparing the OverGovernment and the bureaucracy for interaction with their new AI.’

  ‘More sanctions?’

  ‘Yes, a lot more and the strongest yet. They’ve escalated the trouble factors by applying them against Australian exports in general, and that’s very serious for the OverGovernment as they don’t yet have the capability to make up the losses. Mparntwe is helping out till the Canberra AI can operate its own NanoFactory.’

  ‘Is the OverGovernment angry with Mparntwe and Yirgella because of the attacks and the sanctions?’

  ‘A few representatives still hold the idea that AIs can be dangerous and are resistant to the rapid changes, but the vast majority are excited by all the developments. Yirgella building what will be the most advanced travel system anywhere in the world, without any cost, has quite stunned them, and his measured response to all their queries and concerns has also impressed them.’

  ‘How long before you finish there and can stay in Mparntwe?’

  ‘I’m never finished, Jarra, but another week should see the end of the current visits. I won’t be home for long, though, as I’m off to visit the Freedom Community in New Zealand for a talk with their Council about the protections Yirgella would provide for their AI project.’

  ‘It’s on again?’

  ‘I think it will be. Foiling the attack last week has reassured them a great deal, but the government has a range of worries which I think I can help allay.’

  ‘Darri could find a team to run their project. I remember you said people there were too scared.’

  Darri laughed, but Alira agreed.

  ‘That’s a great idea. Could you find a capable team, Darri? You can come to New Zealand with me and make a proposal to the Freedom council.’

  Darri went quiet while he thought hard.

  ‘Nearly all the best people have already been signed on for our Australian AI projects, but I’m sure I could find three or four suitable leaders. How long is it before you’re due in New Zealand exactly?’

  ‘Two and a half weeks.’

  ‘Well, that should be enough time, but we’re very busy out at Alkere and I don’t like leaving Jarra in the lurch.’

  Jarra started to protest, but Alira interrupted.

  ‘Jarra can come with us. It will be a great experience for him and Mirri, and if we time it with his days off he won’t miss much. We won’t be there any longer than five days and you can show them those mud pools you talked about after your holiday.’

  ***

  Jarra immersed himself in the pattern of study, research, and experimentation for his energy project, and as the time went on he became more and more determined that, despite the misgivings of Yirgella, Darri, and the scientists he consulted with, he’d achieve his goal of producing energy from antimatter or prove that it couldn’t be done at a practical level.

  All the while, huge changes were taking place around him. When he and Mirri returned from New Zealand the second fully independent AI in the world had just become aware and, through a link with Yirgella, they had their first talk with him. The Council of the Larrakia Community near Darwin had asked the AI to accept Dungalaba—their totem animal, the crocodile—as his name. According to Alira that was a great honour but Mirri, loving the meaning more than the name, started calling him Crocky, and both Yirgella and Dungalaba seemed to take great delight in this.

  From the moment of coming into existence Dungalaba was in communication with Yirgella, and in the first day he received all the vast amounts of basic information about security, communication with humans, and other AI capabilities which Yirgella had taken months to develop.

  The Carnarvon and Normanton AIs followed and several months after that the Canberra AI came to awareness as well, amidst a great deal of ceremony from the OverGovernment who treated it as a national event. Alira had concerns that the different viewpoints and approaches of the powerful factions in the OverGovernment would make for a difficult relationship but Yirgella’s assurances otherwise turned out to be right. Yirgella himself had a great deal of involvement with every project, working with Professor Allerton on the set up, transferring the initial set of basic information, and building and transporting a complete NanoFactory to each site to ensure full capability from the very start.

  The day the big Vac Train for transporting construction materials to Darwin was commissioned was quite an occasion, and Jarra and Mirri went on a fun ride that lasted 20 minutes instead of 2 and reached the astonishing speed of 4600 km/h. With the extra weight of a full load of construction materials these big trains would normally take an extra 5 minutes, but that was a far cry from the current 13-hour journey, and with a system designed for a 500-metre train to leave every 10 minutes the stockpiles of materials would soon dwindle.

  The next major event was the start-up of the geothermal project, and by some whim of Yirgella’s, Jarra was given the job of pressing the symbolic ‘go’ button and releasing the flood of energy for distribution by Alkere Inc. Jarra didn’t understand why because he’d had very little to do with the development apart from talking about it at the very start, and Yirgella had researched, designed, and built the special excavators and components needed to cope with the heat and pressure so far below ground. This stage, the first of three, generated more energy than all the Alkere arrays combined but, despite seeming like a huge amount, the whole output was already allocated to projects all over the country. The Vac Train network and the associated production of construction materials used a large proportion and the rest was directed, at Yirgella’s request, to the needs of the four new AIs and their own projects. The second stage, four months later, lifted the level of generation to almost match the combined output of all Australian solar arrays and was marketed overseas for Mparntwe’s benefit. The third stage was for Yirgella, either to use or sell.

  The likelihood of another direct attack lessened when Dungalaba appeared on the scene, then further lessened with each new AI, and finally disappeared when the Canberra AI was announced to the world. Yirgella reported from his InterWeb activities that a partially developed scheme was abandoned when each additional AI increased the level of
difficulty and amount of effort and resources needed. Learning that the AIs were located deep underground was another big factor. Professor Allerton said it was quite ironic that their attempts at increased secrecy had driven the demand for new security modules and the advanced processors they used to the highest levels ever.

  Mirri’s life was also extremely busy, working with his ceremonial dance group, helping with the daily excursions and occasional Walkabout at the Cultural Centre, fitting in explore times with Jarra’s necessary walk regimen, and somehow squeezing in his own action activities of swimming and running. Without the blessing and convenience of the Vac Train between Mparntwe and Alkere their together times would have been much reduced. Not Jarra’s three days off though. That was set in concrete both from their wish for it and Jarra’s physical necessity.

  Mirri still talked about his job, though not as often with so much keeping him busy, and every second or third week there was a day spent on a special explore at one of the notable local landmarks. The personal carrier made this possible and the distinctive pair became well known to all the rangers and administration staff.

  There were also regular visits to Birringurra where Mirri’s prowess and ability helped with the dance part of the corroboree. Jarra would watch with wonder as Mirri became a fleeing kangaroo, a shuffling echidna, a great white heron stalking its watery prey, or a magpie carolling joyously to the sky, and think that Mirri was almost in that same special mind place as his singing. Barega and Akama always rushed to greet them and, according to Jarli, were his shadows for each visit.

  ***

  Mirri laughed with pure delight as he showed Jarra their new living place. How he’d managed to hold back from giving even a hint of such a big secret was more than Jarra could understand. Burnu, Alira, Darri, and Yirgella must all have been reminding him and reinforcing his resolve to make Jarra’s special eighteenth birthday present a big surprise. And surprise it surely was. A living space for the two of them with everything either of them could possibly want or need.