Chapter
10
unlike Penelopī
, Durgā was
real.
But
Jack really wanted
to meet Penelopī .
Dīpaka had
given him a
picture of her
Avatar.
She
wore American Jeans.
The
beat up kind, where
you could see
her knees.
She
had a snug-short
sweater,
showing a
couple of inches
of mid-drift.
Her
breasts were small,
unlike the
other females in
Maya Manas.
Short
cropped fluffy black
hair.
She
was wrapped like a smartly
done birthday present.
A
birthday that surely
must come.
Binā was
already in the
game.
Cap ,
earphones and goggles
on ,
fetishly moving
the mouse here
and there.
--------------------
Abha OK
Jack , time to
rock n roll.
J
How does my cap look ?
A
Let me see.
Seems fine.
Remember , I’m new
to skull caps too .
J
So , what’s our
plan ?
A
We always enter
the game at
the train station.
We instantiate
in the lobby.
We can
head off into
Katmandu
Or travel
to another Hub,
Our membership
lets go to
all 98 hubs .
To go
to another Hub
one just
gets on the
proper train here
at the station.
Yazmin and
I bought us
an apartment.
So let’s
go there first.
J
Sounds good. Let’s
go
----------------
the train
lobby was brilliantly
colored.
lots of
animated advertisements.
marble
was the stone
of choice
flashing signs
pointing to 97
other trains.
stuffed with
people, going here and
there.
the outside
had no sun
but it felt
like noon.
Virtual Katmandu was
beautiful
More modern
, some high-rises
many colorful
store fronts.
-----------------------------
Agni look Oki ,
a TV store,
and there’s a gun
shop.
Oki and there,
a solitary yurt
saying ‘ Swami ‘ .
This is
far nicer then any game
I’ve played .
bing
!
Yazmin
where are
you guys at
?
Oki
walking to
the apartment.
Yazmin
I will
meet you there.
-------------
O
We have an
apartment on the 12th floor,
It
has a nice
view.
A
This place is
so real ,
but something
is missing.
O
I know . When
you touch something ,
you can’t feel
it .
A I
wonder if we
can eat and
drink.
O
I don’t think
so .
But
I’ve read that
you can have
an orgasm .
A Let
me know on
that one.
O Players must
have built all of
these buildings.
And
payed for permits and
what not.
A
I wonder if
we bought our apartment
from a Player ?
O
I suspect so.
They said
we can sell
the apartment when
we’re done .
This a
real economy with
real money
A
Is this our
building ?
O
Yes. Lets take
the elevator.
---------------------
at apartment
Agni
How do you
open the door ?
Oki
After it learns your
voice , you
say , Door
open.
----------------------
The apartment
was oval in
shape , no sharp
corners .
It was
like being inside
an egg shell.
one large
room , with one
large window and
a door.
It was
completely bare ,
except for
a small wood
table against the
wall .
Straw colors .
---------------------------
A
We need a
Monitor.
Y I
think that we
can get one
with our smart-phone.
What size ?
A
80 or 90
inches please.
-------------
moments later
a 90
inch monitor appears
on the wall.
-------------
Agni So how
does this work ?
Monitor Say
Xbox on .
Agni Xbox on.
Oki Wow , this
is incredible.
Xbox Who do
you want me
to be ?
Oki You can
be a person ?
Xbox Yes
Agni How about
Scarlett Johansson .
Scarlet How’s this
look ?
Agni O yea .
Oki You are
such a pig .
Scarlet Isn’t he ?
Agni Is that
sarcasm Scarlet ?
Oki Thank you
Scarlet .
We would
like a gun .
What do
you recommend ?
Scarlet The
Ruger 357 seems
to be popular .
Bullets are
very expensive here .
Agni OK buy
one and 5
bullets .
---------
A Ruger
appears on the table
Yazmin goes
over and picks
it up
---------
Yazmin
Wow , this
is cool .
Scarlet , what
happens if you
get killed ?
Scarlet
You are kicked
out of the
game for 20
hours .
and fined
200 rupees
Oki What happens
if you kill someone ?
Scarlet
You will make
enemies .
Yazmin
Can we get
street cams on
the monitor ?
Scarlet
Of course ,
What would
you like to see
?
Yazmin
All four direction
at 24th and H .
----------------------
the monitor
displays four screens
-------------------
Agni Which street
does Penelopī live
on ?
Yazmin
The screen on the left,
up 24th .
Agni I’d like
to find out
which quest she
is on.
Then , I’d
like to meat her
there.
Oki I’m a
little uncomfortable doing
this.
Yazmin I’m
not. we’ll find
her for you.
Then what ?
Agni Do
whatever you want.
Have some fun.
How come
my Avatar looks
so much better
then
yours.
Oki
You got an
expensive custom one.
We got
the cheap generic
ones.
Agni
After you girls
follow Penelopī around
for awhile,
Please get some better
Avatars.
Ones with
good facial expressions.
Oki
OK, it’s your
money .
Scarlet
There’s someone approaching
your door
Agni
let them in
Scarlet not
here. At your
real apartment
Agni
I’m out of
here. See you
girls later
------------------------------
at real
apartment
knock knock
Jack Hello please
come in
Nepalese
woman thank you
My name
is Aruna
I work
for Dick.
J
Nice to meet
you. Beer ?
Ar white wine
maybe
who is
that ?
J
They are my
associates.
Don’t mind
them.
They are
in a computer
game.
Here is
your wine, I
only have a cup
Ar A
cup is fine.
I’ve
been following Durgā.
I’m here
to give you
a report.
J
great
Ar you
know , Because of
this girl,
Dick has
you by the
balls.
J
yea, I’ve worked
with the CIA before.
I’m OK
with them.
Ar Well
, good luck
with that
Your girl
hangs out at
a cyber-café named
‘ And Or ‘
It smells
of ganja and
has about 20 terminals.
when they
are not wearing
goggles,
they are
talking about Ali .
and what
she knows or
does not know .
It must
be the name
of the Main frame
or some
person in Maya Manas .
J Do
you know what
quests they are
on.
Ar nope.
Good news
for you though.
She does
not seem to
have a boyfriend.
J
That’s good.
Ar I
have seen her
smoking ganja,
and
I’ve heard her
use an occasion
cuss word.
They’re a
fun group.
They laugh
a lot.
I
like her.
J
When is she
at the And
Or.
Ar almost
every morning and
leaves in the
afternoon.
you can
run into her
walking north
on Janak Marg
, about 8:00
in the morning
J
Do you think
I’m a pervert ?
Ar Yes,
but my husband
is one also.
I’m
OK with it.
J
You’ve been a big help.
thank you
Ar Sure, contact
Dick if you
need more.
And buy
your ladies some
better wine.
This stuff
is crap.
--------------------------------------------------------
at book
shop
Jack
Hey Dick
Dick
Hey Jack. Just
made a pot
of coffee.
Help yourself.
Jack
Thanks, Aruna came
by and gave
me a report.
I appreciate
that.
Dick
No problem
and I
got rid of Durgā’s fiancé
, by
the way .
J
You killed him ?
D
No. We forced
him to marry
another woman.
J
ohh yea
So Dick ,
how’s the spy
business ?
D
Never a dull
moment around here .
Have you
got anything for
me ?
J
Yes, Do you
know about the 98 Hubs
?
D
Of course
J
hum then you
know about Chamling Lake
D
I was stationed
here to monitor
18 hubs.
12 in
Tibet , this one
in Katmandu and
5 in India .
J
So my
meeting Sergei was
no accident .
D
No , and a good job
making that friendship.
We’ve never
made it into
Evolution before.
J
I wouldn’t say
that I’ve made
into Evolution.
I
like these people.
and will
not endanger them.
D
No worry. We
don’t care about
them.
We just
want to monitor
the machines and
their owners.
J
The only thing
I can say
now
is that
they have some
very smart people
working there .
D
Yea , That is a problem .
Take is
slow. It’s best
not to push
things.
J
So now, I’m
a spy ?
D You were
from the start.
Remember the
plane delay .
and the
cab driver that
took you to
the restaurant.
Just at
the time when
5 And Or
club members were
having lunch.
J
So it was
no accident that
I met Durgā ?
D
That was serendipity.
We thought
Stephanie was a
better chance .
J
So you want
me to spy
on the And Or club ?
D
Yes sort of . But
we don’t expect
you to betray
them .
J
You do want
me to lie
to them though.
D
Yes , but
we expect you
will tell Durgā eventually .
It’s important
that we talk
about that before
you do.
Do you
have a problem
with any of
this ?
J
Not in the
slightest. This is
fun.
Does Rebecca
know ?
D
No. She thinks
you are photographing
military stuff.
J
How about Badal ?
D
No. And he
must be keep
in the dark.
J
I hope to
meet Durgā tomorrow.
Do you
have any instructions ?
D
No. Enjoy yourself.
We don’t
care about the
And Or Club.
We just
want information on
the machines.
-----------------------------------------------
Janak Marg
ring
Binā hello
Abha here comes Durgā
start walking
now.
Binā OK bye
It’s time
to start walking
Jack
Jack Let’s go.
and please don’t
look at her.
Let her
spot me
Durgā Hey
Jack , is that
you ?
J Yes , hello
D How are
you doing ?
J I’m
fine.
Durgā, this
is my associate
Binā.
D hello
B hello
D Come with
me and have
a cup of
tea.
----------------------------------------------
cyber-café
Above an old wooden gate
On
sun bleached wood,
in green letters
a hand-painted sign saying
‘ And Or ‘
with a simple drawing of a keyboard was hanging loosely.
Walking through the door into a dark
narrow alleyway,
after about 20 steps, a door opened
on the right,
and three men came out.
A blue green light from inside the
room outlined their clothing.
They passed quickly,
knocked quietly on an unmarked door
opposite.
It opened, and they entered.
The cyber café door remained
open.
A young woman at a desk nearby was
writing in a small book.
Behind her, several rooms were
visible.
Bundles of wires hung from the walls
and ceilings.
Some tables had wooden partitions
surrounding computer terminals.
Chairs were scattered
throughout.
Durgā you
have grown a
goatee
Jack
I had a
beard but Binā’s daughter
talked me into
this
D and faded
genes
you’ve changed
J I have.
i
used to be
in the army.
but
now, it’s a
pleasant life as
a book smuggler .
What kind
of place is
this ?
D it’s an
online internet café .
About 30
of us hang-out
here.
We
are gamers.
There are
98 main-frames in
the world
Each working
to become conscious.
We are
working to make
sure,
that they
don’t go to
the dark side when that
happens.
J
I know something
of this.
I was
just at Chamling Lake.
We brought
back Buddhist manuscripts
on mules.
D
Really, how cool
I’ve been
there many times.
I know
Arias.
J
Wow, this is
crazy.
I saw
the main frame and
met several people
there.
D
Yea , this is
crazy.
Who did
you meet ?
J
I met Sergei
and Zofia
.
Zofia is
her avatar name .
I will
see them again
next week.
D
I don’t think
I know them.
But you
never know .
You should
go online and
join the
game.
We could
meet-up and I’ll
show you around.
J
I will. What
is you Avatar
name ?
D
Penelope and my
smart-phone number is
55-324
So when
you get in the
game, call me.
J
Sure
B
What are you
doing with these
main-frames ?
You know,
to keep them
from the dark side.
D
Let me have
Stephanie explain.
She’s an
American but will
only speak Sanskrit.
Stephanie ! come
over here.
Explain to
these two what
we are doing
online .
S
Hi guys.
It has
to do with
memory integration.
We believe
that yes, memory
is located in
the brain
but also
located in the
culture’s information matrix.
It is
something like Jung’s
Collective Unconscious.
An information
fabric that spans
our culture.
It
is location less but
has boundaries.
Today human
memory and Computer
memory have merged.
B
What the hell
are you talking
about ?
S
Google , Facebook
etc.
J
Sergei said that
Consciousness may be
separate from the
brain.
So that
means it is
evaluable machines too.
D
We are hoping
for that too.
We don’t
know how they
can wake-up without it.
But our work is
to make the
machines curious.
Curious to
the whole memory
matrix.
S
Not just to
corporate memories.
J
I thought rich
people were building
these machines.
D
It’s about 50 - 50 .
for instance ,
Microsoft owns
one in Redmond,
And Paul Allen
owns one in
Seattle.
B
Have you girls
been there ?
D
Many times. I
like Seattle.
J
Have you two heard
of a group
called ‘ Evolution ‘
D
No. Are they
involved with the
machines ?
J
Yes, but I
don’t know much
or in what
way.
I
will see them
next week.
Should I
ask them something ?
D We
should think on
this.
Let’s get
together before you
leave.
J.
Yes, in 2
days is perfect.
D
Good, meet you
here in 2
days.
-------------------------------------------
back on Janak Marg
Jack
Oh yea
Binā looks
like you scored
boss.
-------------------------------------------------------------
They think
we are hackers
who get together
and party .
---------------------------------------------------
Zofia Have
you meditated ?
Jack
A few times.
It was always
too feminine for
me.
Surrender , submit
, gratitude
A masculine
approach would be
more interesting to
me.
Conquer , win
, rule
stuff like
that .
Zofia Check
out the Rig Veda .
----------------------------------------
Gamers
know this. ( looking for a
word to call a computer gamer)
-----------------------------