OK. Bosch continued playing with the communicator.
Looking at the endless blue of the ocean in the window, her eyes not setting on anything, Elena noticed Bosch returning to his seat.
Bosch, I'm sorry, may I ask you for advice, please. Do you mind?
Come on.
I didn't order a transfer to the hotel. I thought I'd get there on my own. Can you tell me the best way to get to Baltimore from the airport?
I can. It will be better and faster on the shuttle. 5 minutes on the road.
Oh, I see. Thats great. I booked a room in a hotel in the city center, on the Patapsco. The station is in the center of the city. Do I get it right, Bosch?
Yes, as far as I remember.
Yeah. And that is just what I do. I'll take your advice and go by shuttle. Thanks, Bosch.
Anyway, I live there nearby. I can give you a lift to the hotel.
Oh, come on, Bosch. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I don't want to be a burden.
I wouldn't offer it if you were a burden. Bosch was looking at Elena with the same blank or perhaps a little bit stiff expression on his face.
I'd really appreciate it, Bosch.
OK.
Elena came up to the automated security and customs control desks, where she had to answer a number of standard questions:
What is the purpose of your visit to the United States of America?
Tourism.
Please give some details on the specific purpose of your visit.
I am planning to visit a number of historical sites related to Edgar Poes life in Baltimorethis is my main goal. And, of course, my program includes a trip to Washington. I hope to see all the iconic sights in the capital, from the White House to the National Gallery of Arts.
How long are you planning to stay in the U.S.?
One week. I have a return ticket for Friday, end next week.
The frame around the perimeter of the rack lit up green,
Welcome to the U.S. You may pass on.
Elena noticed a tall black man in a silver jacket in the airport lounge.
I started worrying that you'd changed your mind, Bosch. You have such a remarkable appearance, it helps. Elena looked at the braids. You are very tall. One can easily find you in such a crowd.
Can we make it less formal. Eh?
Good. I'm for it, Elena smiled. Could we have lunch together? I'm a little hungry. And you?
OK.
Are you in no hurry now?
There is time for lunch. Dont you worry, Elena. If I was in a hurry, I wouldn't be here anymore.
Great.
So anyway, Bosch, may I ask you what you were doing in Spain?
I have a factory near Madrid. Met with new leather suppliers. I had to check on the samples and see my managers.
What's the leather for, Bosch?
My company specializes in leather jackets.
Wow, that's great! I see, your jacket is very cool!
Well, at least, its different. It's important to me. To make my things different. And what do you do for a living?
I am an accountant in a small manufacturing company. The factory does plastic windows, doors and the like.
Sounds boring.
I love my job, Bosch.
It's important. I agree.
How's your burger?
Delicious, Elena. Thanks for asking.
Sitting in a restaurant on the first floor of the airport, Elena and Bosch slowly continued with their lunch, moving on to desserts and coffee, paying no attention to a series of service announcements lost in the infinitely large international terminal of Dulles Airport. Everyone around was hurrying on business. Parents with restless children were obviously aiming at a resort vacation, judging by the bright shorts and the same cheerful shirts the whole family was wearing, which did not quite fit the beginning of the autumn season in any way. Formal business suits, whether of businessmen, lawyers, or maybe politicians, were supposed to emphasize their important social status and gave an unambiguous answer to everyone aroundwe are busy people, we should not be distracted by any trifles. A couple of young girls, carefree and not hiding fatigue, sailed towards the exit from the airport, seemingly after a long flight.
Are you ready, Bosch? Let's go to the hotel? Elena blushed.
Bosch looked at her:
Well, let's go.
Bosch's personal capsule took passengers to downtown Baltimore via an underground highway in ten minutes. After walking around the city, the couple finally arrived at a hotel on the Patapsco River.
Will you come up? Elena asked without apparent embarrassment.
OK.
The Bell
Hi! You are looking great, honey! Well? Tell me! I cant wait to hear your story, entering the factory office, Susan began to question her friend straight from the doorstep.
I don't even know where to start, Sue, smiling broadly, Elena handed her friend a small box wrapped in a stars-and-stripes paper.
What is it, dear?
A gift for you. A small souvenir from America.
Wow! We love some surprises, Susan shook the box. What is it there? Tell me!?
Open it and have a look.
Well, okay, then, the friend started tearing up the package.
Having dealt with the box finally, Susan almost screamed.
Ah-ah!, isnt it charming! Oh my God! What a beauty!
Quiet, please! Were going to be fired straight away! hushed her Elena.
Not both of us together! Someone has to do the job! Ah? That's it! reasonably objected Susan, carefully examining a small bell.
It's from the Washington Cathedral.
Elly, thank you so much! Its so beautiful! My collection will soon deserve a personal exhibitionBells from Cathedrals of the World! Would you come?
Well, of course. For sure. Just get me, Sue, dear.
I got it that everything was fine with the cultural program, Susan carefully put the bell down on the table. Is there anything else you could tell me?
Id say so, you also need to use the services of this travel agency. Su-san, this is something unimaginable. I had never ever had such impressions from trips
Elena, Susan, good afternoon, greeting the ladies, a tall dark-skinned man dressed in a business suit and tie entered the office. Whats the status of the report? Elena, I see you've had a good holiday. I am very happy for you. Now, as they say, recharged and back to work. The report for September will be ready, as I expect it, today.
Good afternoon, Gustavo. Thanks. Yes, I am very happy with my holiday.
I'm glad, Elena. Very good. What about the report? Id like to have some more information, please.
We plan to finish the work this week, Gustavo.
I need a final version, not a draft, by Friday. Early next week, we report on the results to the council, so, ladies, I ask you not to let me down. Agreed?
Of course, we will do everything by Thursday.
Good. If there are any problems, Ill be in touch. It is an important matter. So if
Got it, Gustavo. Thanks.
Well, that's done! Back to work then!
V-Tours
Good afternoon. Please come in. How can I help you?
Hello. A friend recommended your agency to me, Susan handed the manager a business card that Elena gave her.
Ah! Of course! Are you Susan? Elena Vega told about you.
Yes, that's right. I just wanted to understand first of all how your company works. Which destinations you may offer then. But for some reason I couldnt find any information on the internet.
Susan, please come in. Make yourself comfortable. Can I offer you water, tea or coffee? Maybe you prefer fresh juice?
Thanks. Water, no gas, please.
Of course. Just a minute.
You are right, Susan, given the unique profile of V-Tours, the experience that we offer to our clients, we really do not advertise our services widely. V-Tours relies on the feedback of those customers who have already experienced our service and are ready to share it with their friends and acquaintances. This is the way we develop our business, put up the number of our customers. In simple words, recommendations of our customers drive our development. So, as you can see, the reputation of our company is much more than just the budget spent on an advertising campaign. We are glad that your friend recommended V-Tours opportunities to you.
I got it. Good. But which way, in such a case, can one still understand in detail what exactly the specifics of your agency's work are? Why it is unique, as you are saying? Elena said that you will tell and show me everything.
Of course. After all, that's why you came to us.
The manager handed Susan something like a motorcycle helmetexcept that there was no recess, no cutout for the eyes. The front part of the white cast helmet ended, apparently, somewhere at the level of the nose. At the same time, it was very light. The interior upholstery stood out with a bright blue fabric.
What is it? Susan asked, turning the helmet in every direction
A working prototype of a neuro-communicative interface. To some extent, its functionality is similar to a virtual reality headset. Only in our case, virtual reality will seem nothing more than a primitive children's game from the last century. To understand what we are offering, you can put on a headset and we will give you a presentation. Make yourself comfortable in this chair. The entire presentation will take no more than two minutes. It will be more than enough to understand the capabilities and potential of this device. As they say, seeing is believing.
The silent grandeur of the Grand Canyon in Arizona was there, right in front of Susan. The bright sun was dazzling. Susan took her sunglasses out of her bag. The sky, so deep that one plunged into it in an endless and free fall. She was almost off the ground. Deep chipped channels reliably testified to the violence of the elements that once dominated there millions of years ago. But like everything with a seemingly infinite energy of life, the height originally taken in the battle with time, was given in. The inevitable and irrevocable course of time is truly determined by only one key law: the transformation and connectivity of everything. At the starting point the end of it is set up. Descendants should draw a conclusion from another lesson presented by natureeverything changes, and everything has a limit, regardless of our ambitions.
Susan shudderedthe silence was cut by the call of a faithful predatory guardian assigned to keep order in the canyon gorges. Looking around, disoriented by the flow of her own emotions, the newborn tourist noticed a bird soaring high in the streams of warm air rising from the crevices. Stepping back from the glass fence on the stone ridge, she turned her gaze to the bright brown observation deck. The morning sun, generously flooding everything with its rays, has already heated the rocky surface. Susan was alone on the observation deck. In the distance, a little lower, there was one capsule in the parking lot which apparently brought her there. She turned back towards the canyon, trying to memorize everything in all the detail and absorb every little aspect. Coming closer to the glass barrier, Susan looked down over the fence. The earth began to rapidly approach
As though waking up, Susan got back to her senses. Around her was nothing. Void. All black. Realizing that the headset was still on, she carefully took it off.
Oh dear What is it What's it? Susan looked around, trying to get over it. I where am I?, Susan turned her head in complete confusion.
Susan, it's all right. Look at me. You're safe. It's all good. You're right where you were. It's only been a few minutes. We are in the office of V-Tours. Here, take it, please Drink some water.
This is something amazing. I can't describe my feelings. I was there! In the Grand Canyon in Arizona! I was there physically, feeling with my skin what was happening, breathing in the air
Yes, it's a fantastic experience. And on the other handwhat do you remember? It's like you've just been to Arizona in the Grand Canyon. Like a tourist who reached his destination on the journey. It was perfectly natural. You were just there.
Susan burst into laughter:
I can't believe it! How did you do it?!
It's just a revolution in travelling Perhaps not only travelling. In short, Susan, thanks to the recommendation of your friend, you have experienced a new development that will change the world beyond recognition. Soon, it wont be long till we live in a somewhat different world. We don't even know how. We yet haven't realized the full potential of this technology.
My God! This is some kind of fiction! I was there!
The system of neuro-communicators built into the headset scans the biorhythms of your brain, makes an electromagnetic connection and puts you in a state similar to stasis. This is when your body is in a complete blackout. Your sense of reality, all your receptors are completely blocked, but the brain activity is as high as ever. At this moment, our system works in such a way that you, your brain cannot distinguish the real from the unreal, being in a state of pseudo-stasis. It would take you one day to get to the Grand Canyon from Madrid. Not to mention how much effort and time it would have taken earlier. Now all what is needed from you today is to sit in a chair with a headset on. I cannot but note that this development would not have been possible without the defining role of the PAX artificial intelligence. And all the calculations and assessment of what you have seen is done in the cloud by the power of the system.
Some kind of virtual reality!
I would say, Susan, this is a new reality or, at least, an alternative reality.
It's getting a little scary. I'll tell you what.
This is partially the reason why we are in no hurry to make our capabilities known widely. It is already obvious that this stage of active testing is coming to completion. And it will be pretty soon. Let me get down to business anyway. Where would you like to spend your holidays, Susan? What are your preferences?
Before: Politics
A small entity cannot absorb a large one. Or is it possible? Who knows, who knows. Which of these two can come out the winner? Who has a character, who hardens it, and who just happened to be born bigger, Robert stared at the fish in a fish tank in his office, twirling a can of worms in his hands. Aquatic inhabitants, who not for once had witnessed important meetings and negotiations in the home office of the owner, were used to receiving encouragement for exemplary behaviour in the form of a daily portion of live food. But that day something changed. There was no reward. Whats wrong? the fish were asking a dumb question, looking closely at the changing shadows behind the barrier of their habitual habitat. Today, friends, you have to figure out who is a wolf and who is a sheep. Who will rule and who will serve. Today we have to dot all the is. And its time for you, my devoted protégés, to pay your bills. No free ride. Have taken something, be ready to pay. Sooner or later. Robert tapped the glass of the tank with the knuckle of his index fingerthe fish scattered in different directions. Lets see who wins this time! he closed the can of worms without throwing them any, and put it in the bar fridge built into the base of the tank.
See you tomorrow. Or maybe goodbye, Roberts lips twisted in the semblance of a smile. He went to the bathroom, next to the office, to clean himself up before leaving.
Damn it! Just now I could have failed miserably! returning abruptly to the office, he took a pen from a pencil glass and a block of stickers on the table and wrote in a flamboyant hand: Do not feed! RR No, not like that! Bad! Robert looked critically at what he had just written. He sat down at the table and carefully wrote on a yellow sheetDo not feed! Stressing the instruction, he added: RGR. Leaving the office, he stuck a sticker on the wall of the fish tank and slammed the door behind.