by Rabia Rahou
I would ask until I filled all my brain with those ultimate answers that will then stipulate more complicated questions and paradoxes. But it would totally be worth it. That short moment of total enlightenment before the total insanity is golden.
The fourth solution, the easiest and the most logical one, I kept it until the end because it will close my story here. All my memoirs and meditations will be unfinished as the writer would have decided to check out. By ending my own life, destroying my own consciousness, I could resolve all the problems at once. Every problem we meet in this existence is subjective, meaning it exists only when we sense it, as one needs to be alive to experience a problem. All problems cease to exist when we sleep, they disappear as if by magic, but they come back when we wake up. Therefore, one can assume that ceasing to exist will destroy all the paradoxes as, by definition, I will not be there to witness them. Consequently, they will never affect me, as there will be no more me. Such a wonderful idea! Finally, a good reason to leave my meaningless and tormented life in a kind of a sacrifice for the gods. I could end all my problems by simply swallowing this cyanide pill in my hand. I am watching it, admiring it, loving the idea of the final rest.
‘Out of nowhere, Oina appeared suddenly in my delirium like a flash of memory. Oina… how could I leave knowing that she will be struggling alone against the powerful First Citizens? They will destroy her world without a doubt. Left alone, she will be destroyed by pain, knowing that I committed suicide. How can I do that to her?
When the drops’ effect disappeared, I looked at the clock; it’s bedtime. Through my bedroom window, I could see the grass moving slightly with the breeze. A gentle touch of the moon caressed the leaves lightly, adding more sense to the existence better than any supercomputer on the planet. I could feel some tranquility. Life is mostly tranquil and peaceful. Why do we always make it so complicated? Why do we feel the need to create if everything is already created? Would the impulse of domination persist if we dominated everything? I closed my eyes slowly, and I thought that I should go with the second solution. I will destroy that bloody machine, and the plan has already been assembled by my best buddy, the giant salamander.
The first purple rays with a light breeze caressed my face gently. I slowly rose from my bed and admired the sunrise with serenity. Today is the big day, supposedly...
Dismar just parked the limousine next to the door, gave me the carrot juice, the sports papers, then said, “Sir, it’s done.”
“How long you think it will take them to fix it?”
“The guys did a good job. They have excellent skills, and, in my opinion, at least a week.”
With a smile, I said, “Are you sure we can’t recruit them? They are indeed a special force.”
“I am afraid, no, sir. No uniform would fit them, and we have no regiments of mice, either”
That made me laugh out loud. What a nice way to start a day!
Chapter 10
The Religious Regime, the Bamos
“The virtues dictated and imposed by a religion are only burdens on the believer, as the way of happiness should be explained, not imposed.”
~ Loman
T he Bam kept its first place as the biggest and the oldest religion in the world through a violent history of persecutions and wars, as the tradition dictates for all the monolithic religions. The historians agreed that it started as shamanistic rituals performed around some unknown phenomena which occurred fifteen thousand years ago. The holy book of the bam mentioned that in the first chapters, “In the beginning, the Skylights brought the First Supreme.” The scientists ridiculed this supernatural hypothesis as they traced back and found some cosmic events that did happen around that period – the passage of the Comet Jona coincided with a full eclipse of the Sun. Those two phenomena created what was evidently interpreted as “supernatural” when a shower of meteorites that detached from the comet fell to Earth. An AI astronomic simulation revealed that over a decade ago. Based on a full scan of the Valley of Mira and with the help of a geological AI, anthropologists uncovered many murals and paintings of the shamanistic rituals which dated back to that first sighting. Those rituals evolved with us and transitioned from magic to facts as we shifted from a hunting group, developed a language, and discovered agriculture. All that gave a huge boost to the Bam as it gave the people more reasons to need spiritual help to guard against such meteorological events. Even today, the Bam is still providing guidance to our superstitious citizens.
Of course, our regime banned any debate about the origins of the Bam and created an official version. It was presented to every child early as the truth, completely disregarding any new discoveries. You would be risking your career or even your life and the life of your entourage if you doubted the regime’s version of the origins of the Bam. It’s considered particularly foolish if you backed your disbelieve on the AI discoveries. The regime could unleash its revenge on you and expose you as a traitor of the nation and that you are, in fact, manipulated by the demons – maybe you are already one of them.
It is unwise to show doubts or any sign of disbelieve, even if the holy book is a poorly written sci-fi novel that narrates a story of Bamos, the First Supreme, who was sent to this planet by some unknown forces. Those forces control the known and the unknown universes. They are the “Light Beings” described in the Bam, and they are both a collective of beings and a single entity at the same time.
The entire holy book is about Bamos. He protected the lost souls from the demons. His heroic actions are narrated from page one right through to the last one. The book ends with a nice promise to the true believers, as they will reunite with the Light Beings for a sweet, forever life with their beloved ones – of course.
Of course, It is a very persuasive religion. It simply answers our most fundamental question: What is the meaning of life? This was the meaning that no scientist, philosopher, or artist could come up with. The Bam presents it in a wonderful and poetic narration that perfectly suits the average person’s low intellect. This book is taught at an early age to every child in the empire and is included in every educational system, no matter how sophisticated it is, as true facts. This is done because it is thought the best gift you could give to a young person is guidance, and what’s guidance without purpose? Therefore, following the way of Bamos, imitating the First Supreme in his Supreme actions, his virtues, intentions, and goals, will guide you through your life here in this world.
Economically, the Bamos Empire was always prosperous, thanks to having the best plains coupled with the biggest lakes on the planet. They do power the largest agricultural industry known in history. We were and still are the feeders of mankind. Of course, the geographical advantage was never associated with the success of the empire. Instead of that, the regime always glorified Bamos, the First Supreme, and the direct descendants in power known just as the “Supremes.” They are praised for the stability of the empire. Thanks to the Supremes, this nation never starved as they have always followed the path of Bamos. This “fact” is prominently shown in the propagandized posters at every intersection and down all the main streets.
The main dogma is not the bam but it’s the dominance and the conquest, of course. The official speech of every new Supreme is the same, “This nation is prosperous because it's for the true believers, those who put all their faith in the Bam and the Supremes, and because this nation is the Truth and the Salvation for all of mankind. We have the obligation to lead other nations to prosperity by spreading the virtues of the Bam to the people of world. Only when the people of the entire world become true believers, can peace emerge in a constant state, and every nation will then prosper as the Bamos Empire is and will always be.”
Banume, the Supreme, kept the tradition of adding the “Ba” prefix to Supremes’ names when he rose to power. Nume was his name back then when he agilely climbed all the ranks of the party from Communal Secretary to regional First Secretary, to East Provincial Administrator, to the Capital Vice A
dministrator, then Administrator, to the Party Special Minister, to the First Minister. Then, twelve years ago, he was voted as the Supreme. The Supreme then has a mandate for five years, with a two-term limit.
He broke the constitution to keep the power even when I was fighting fiercely to prevent that. I couldn't organize an uprising to save the empire from this dark age because the population was on his side. They adored him, and some of them even worship him. I thought these dumb followers deserved that, but I never thought that he would be able to have even the highest and ferocious ranked generals would eating out of his hand, like docile pets. I kept only the Secret Service out of his influence, and then, just hardly.
Banume the Supreme was and still is a very mystic man. He always writes his speeches by himself even when he accessed the Ultra-Power. His first speech as the Supreme was so intense and discerning that kept all the people, not only in Bamos but all around the world, were entranced. With so much calm and self-confidence shining from every word he uttered, along with his enigmatic face and the way his lips opened and closed so perfectly to form the audibly smooth and harmonious words with no interruption or hesitation, he left the world enraptured and enlightened.
Sort of enlightened, anyway, as no one really knew what the meaning of most of his phrases like, “as our fathers walk along our path, they watch for us as we walk along their path, we watch for them,” or, “every creature is as important as the light that traveled the universe to reach it,” and the phrase that always ends his speeches, “for our echoes in the different worlds, peace, and harmony”. No one really understood that. The doors opened wide for speculations and interpretation, as in Bamos there was no doubt that Banume was the reincarnation of the First Supreme. And even the churches introduced some of his phrases in the old book of Bam, not by his order either or by the ministers of propaganda, but by the church itself as a conviction.
Politically, every month, the party reunites all the ministers of the state. The entire system focuses entirely on an issue with each session. Everyone is a Minister of Health in the Health Session, and everyone is a Minister of the War in the War Session, and so on... The Bamos way of governance is indeed complicated and entangled, but very well oiled because it’s formed by generalists rather than specialists. Our success rate in resolving issues is the highest in the world. Even the League couldn’t match us.
Just few days before the beginning of the summer’s sessions where the ministers discuss the party’s achievements before the closure of the party’s political year, Banume, in his garden, meets with the closest and the brightest states’ ministers. This meeting is held on a Saturday. Surprisingly, I was invited too. No one can speak directly to the Supreme. One must quietly formulate a short sentence and let the First Advisor pronounce it.
In a small circle, Banume, touching the heads of everyone surrounding him, solemnly said, “This light and many more welcome you.” Then, he took his place in the corner surrounded by white tulips. He sat on a chair, cleaning some flowers for a bouquet, probably.
Continuing to clean the flowers and not looking directly at the group assembled, he said, “Another wonderful day passes on this small world. We are doing our activities, as usual, pretending to care for each other and for our people. When, in reality, everyone here is thirsty for power, craving for total control over the entire universe and beyond.”
Everyone is in discomfort as Banume says what he wants when he wants, and when he hurts, he does it with cruelty. Although one must say that most of the time, Banume is extremely kind and generous.
The First Advisor announced the subject of the meeting: “Supreme, today we are meeting your Grace to announce that the Amians made a scientific breakthrough.”
Banume, slowly reviewing his plants, said, “Send them our congratulations.”
I said to the First Advisor to explain that this breakthrough is a weapon. He then addressed the Supreme, “The Head of the Secret Service, Minister loman, wants to advise you that this breakthrough is a weapon.”
Banume replied quietly, “Weapons...again...?”
I had to break protocol on this one, and I addressed him directly, “Supreme, I am afraid that we have no defenses against this new one.”
He replied, “Build a new defense.”
“It may be not possible,” I replied.
Banume kept quiet and remained lining up the tall flowers against the short ones. I asked the help of our technology expert, Minister Oranu, and through the First Advisor said, “Supreme, they successfully built the final stage of intelligence, a higher consciousness.”
Banume replied, staring at me and with certitude, “As we are the Light’s beings, a lower consciousness cannot create a higher one. That is paradoxical.”
I am preparing myself to talk again, but I am not sure if it is a good idea. We interact rarely now since I opposed him against his edit allowing him to rule for life. Then, we had almost the same power, but now he is a prophet, and I am what? I even don't know why he kept me in my position as he could have thrown me to prison for high treason just for being a non-believer, a crime punishable by a life sentence. Instead of that, he gave more power and moved me to the state’s intelligence agency of which I am now the head. He then upgraded it to be the most powerful institution in the empire.
There was an uncomfortable silence for almost a good twenty minutes. There were small talks here and there, but everyone seemed to be reserved. I finally decided to talk, “ Supreme, the agency conducted deep research on that matter. We covered every aspect of the Amians’ breakthrough and all the persons involved. We did provide that in a report to your advisors.”
He replied, “We read it, and we thank you for the meticulous work, although we always knew that the First Citizens are childishly planning to control the world. Our experts and all the AI predictions always mentioned that, didn’t they?
I said, “This time, they may have a good chance.”
He turned to me, annoyed, and then I quickly whispered to the First Advisor to speak for me, “…but with your wise guidance, we know this will never happen... just as we advised in the report. We must strike now before they turn on the machine and...”
Banume abruptly cut off the First Advisor, saying, “They could build another one in a week...”
No one wanted to speak after that. We kept silent. We were perplexed, desperate for an answer, or at least an approach to this existential threat. We were all hopelessly waiting for Banume. We waited, patiently, for him to complete his bouquet of flowers. Slowly, one flower at a time, he assembled the flowers by size, shapes, and colors, forming a harmonious pattern that engenders a unique smell of hope.
He finally spoke, “These flowers, in their own world, own their destiny. They decide to open and close when they want and smell however they care to. I have no power over them at all. Still, in my world, I own them, and I can throw them into a fire anytime I want...”
He took a moment watching our faces one by one, keeping us waiting like starving captives begging for food. He then continued, “The Amiens are building the ultimate AI. They will choose the shapes and the colors. Probably they will do a thing or two with it. It will probably hurt us temporarily. We have absolutely no power over that, but after that...” he paused, and then he started talking very quietly in some sort of gibberish, closed his eyes for a moment, and then said, “My friends, I am afraid that this meeting is our last.”
We looked each other. What does that mean? The meeting is becoming bizarre...
He continued, “For decades, they collected all the data of this world through their AI products. With that data, they probably by now have succeeded in generating an exact copy of our world in a simulation. When that simulation is turned on, they will know what kind of strategy we came up to counter them. The machine will know our behavior and thoughts. It will know about all our meetings in its world that it has played in infinite times. That’s why, from now on, I will give directives separately to each one of y
ou. It will not make sense to you, but it is the only way. You must believe...”
He took a knife and started to clean the flowers from their thorns. He then said, “One cannot see the world through a slice of time. It won't make sense. All the slices must be aligned together, all of them.”
He nodded his head to the first advisor meaning that this meeting is over. As all the ministers left in silence, Banume made a sign to the First Advisor to keep me.
The First Advisor pulled me to the side and whispered, “Minister Loman, the Supreme wants you to stay for a brief moment if your agenda allows that, of course.”
I shook my head politely in a sign of acceptance and submission. Banume was finishing the bouquet of flowers and making the last touches when I approached him quietly, He said, “This bouquet is for your wife. Congratulations on the newborn.”
