Free Capacity by Tony Ballantyne Page B

laid it down as a basic human right. Free travel is available to all. There are no restrictions, not even economic restrictions.”
    “Then I shall travel. And so I can go where I want, is that right?”
    “Yes.”
    “And no one can hinder me? Did I understand that part?”
    “You did.”
    Helen smiled. “In that case I’m coming with you, Judy, wherever you go. I want to find out about where I am.”
And who did this to me
—that thought was plain to both Judys.
    “Fine,” Judy 3 said. “You can accompany me wherever I go.” She smiled triumphantly at her atomic sister.
             
    Judy’s sudden agreement left Helen feeling a little deflated. The ease of acceptance devalued her request. She found herself looking at Frances, her eyes drawn to her pubic buttons. The robot had no obvious way of signaling emotions; Helen was nevertheless developing a sneaking suspicion that Frances was enjoying the attention. In order not to stare, Helen wandered back across to the window and looked out again.
    “This looks like a good place to live,” she murmured.
    “It is,” said Judy 3. “But more of that later. Come on, it’s been a long night for me. Your virtual prison was operating on a different time to this world, and I need some sleep.”
    Helen looked from one Judy to the other. She could sense the tension between the two of them.
    “Okay,” she said slowly. “Where are we going?”
    “Nowhere. This is my home, too. We just close the link to the atomic world. You can sleep in the lounge for tonight. We’ll sort you out with an apartment tomorrow.”
    “Thank you.” Helen paused for a moment. She looked towards the atomic Judy.
    “Will I see you again?” she asked.
    “Maybe…”
    “I don’t care what you said. I still think you occupy the real world. I envy you.”
    The atomic Judy said nothing, merely spread her hands wide.
    The red-bordered viewing field shrank to a point and vanished.
             
    The atomic Judy stared at the empty space it left behind for a moment, then turned as a second red-bordered viewing area appeared in the doorway and the other digital Judy walked through.
    “Hi there, Eleven.”
    Judy 11 looked grave. “I was listening to what you were just telling Helen. I never realized before how much we take for granted what we are told by the EA.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “All that talk about the Transition. About the Watcher and the way it studied Eva Rye. No matter what we believe in, we always believe that humans are going to be looked after. What if that wasn’t true? What if someone was lying to us?”
    “To you and me?”
    “To the entire human race.”
             
    They spoke in sign language. The atomic Judy had set the window to opaque. Frances stood before the window, scanning for any attempts at trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Judy 11’s black kimono had its sleeves cut long, a lot longer than those of the atomic Judy. She had pushed them back so that the other could see her hands clearly.
    —Do we really believe in the Watcher, AJ?
    —Well, yes. I suppose so.
    —What, really? Do you really believe that modern society was shaped by a conversation that an AI had with a woman named Eva Rye back in 2051? Or is that just a superstition, like knocking on wood? We think that we really know better, but we do it anyway. Really deep down, do we believe or not?
    —I don’t know…
    The atomic Judy turned a hand palm up.
    —Well, I believe, said Judy 11,—I really believe. There really is one AI more powerful than all the others. It has successfully concealed its true strength for the past two hundred years.
    Speaking to herself was sometimes just like thinking aloud, so the atomic Judy answered the unasked question.
    —Because the true power behind the throne always conceals itself? It hides the fact that there is another plan?
    —From what I’ve heard, the potted history you and Judy 3 were recounting to Helen just then was