Free WE by John Dickinson

who I was. I thought. I was not a … a …’
    â€˜Slave?’
    â€˜Slave, yes. I was not a slave. That is one point.’
    â€˜That was your perception. But—’
    Paul hurried on. ‘I know. You say I could not “consent”. Of course I did “consent”. I came. I did not fight.’
    â€˜Neither did any of us,’ said Lewis dryly.
    â€˜Lewis – the World Ear is a tool! A’ – he fumbled for the words – ‘a communications tool. It is not even a computer. It is—’
    He broke off, still hunting for words that would not come. Lewis supplied them.
    â€˜It is simply a fusion of earlier technologies: the internet,mobile telephone, computing, look-up displays and speakers that resonate against the earbones – a useful device and no more. Is that what you want to say?’
    â€˜Yes. A machine. We built it. We switch it on. We control it. It is not a brain. You cannot build and switch on brains. They are because of—’ He stopped again, frustrated. ‘I am bad at this!’ he hissed.
    â€˜For someone who could barely speak only a few days ago, you’re doing very well. And the word you want is “Evolution”. Generations of adaptation and feedback from the environment – that’s what makes a brain. Yes?’
    â€˜Yes. And not everyone has a World Ear. Only half, when I left Earth.’
    Lewis bowed his head. The wrinkles ran like little waves at his neck. His cheeks were hollow.
    â€˜When I left Earth, Paul, it was just under thirty per cent. So it had doubled, nearly, in ten years. It has been another eight years since then. Judging by the downloads that came in while you were on your way, I should say that coverage is around eighty per cent and increasing. Of course there are still rejectionists and isolated communities. There are people who would die rather than accept the World Ear. But they
will
die, and their children or their grandchildren will accept it. A rejectionist community on Earth has no more hope of long-term survival now than did the Stone Age jungle tribeswe were still trying to preserve at the start of this century. Before long every capable adult will be participating in these networks. And the We is being fitted to children at around their first birthday. Generations are growing up with no need to speak, Paul. What will that do to their evolving brains?’
    â€˜The
We
?’
    â€˜The We. W-E. World Ear. That’s what we call it here. Although when we say “the We” we really mean the thing that is created when billions of brains are all linked by the World Ear.’ He pulled a face. ‘You can imagine why it’s happening. With simple self-training programs designed for children, the World Ear can allow an infant to begin communicating at a basic level within a few months. How long does it take a child to learn to talk? Do you know – I’ve no idea! I’m looking forward—’
    He checked himself and shook his head. For a moment he simply floated, bouncing lightly upon his toes, staring into the air. His face was set. Then he began to skip gently around the room.
    â€˜You are looking forward … ?’ Paul prompted. He was intrigued by Lewis’s momentary loss of concentration.
    Lewis ignored him. ‘May says that when you first spoke with her, you could only answer “Yes” or “No”. Do you remember?’
    Paul shifted in his seat. ‘I was not used to talking. As you said.’
    â€˜Of course not. You had to simplify your messages to the very essence of what you wanted to convey. But that only makes it clearer. After half a lifetime within the World Ear your habit of thought was almost binary. You received the input, assessed it and signalled yes or no. You will be doing the same now, as I speak.’
    â€˜Yes. And I am signalling “No”.’
    Lewis’s mouth twitched. ‘And that’s