The Greenworld Part 3

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Precept C

The precepts bring safety

***

“Z,” T said as they descended, “remember the precepts. Even this is the labor. This is our labor- to show you this place that sustains the canals, the meeting houses, the fields. We labor to live and this too is life.”

“This too is life?”

“It is life indeed. Do you remember the other cities before the turmoil?”

Z21 thought a moment, “no, I only remember this City. Wind. Fields, but there were others… weren’t there?”

“Yes, many others. There were many places and many things to see and learn. The next extractions are the methods of preserving those places.”

Z21 glanced down the stairs. A brighter light was shining up at them. As they came to the base of the stairs, the air changed, and the path opened to a massive cavern. There were lights high above that shown as bright as the center, illuminating plants and moving things that Z21 could not recognize. Trees grew thick around the paths, and the canal flowed straight and seemed to cascade over a ledge. In the center of the area was a structure that seemed to reach from the base to the sky.

“The center…?” asked Z21 gazing at the beauty of the world they entered.

“Yes, but to ascend we must descend,” Said T, “This is our living library of species: birds, mammals, insects, fish, all manner of living things.”

“Why here and not above?” asked Z21.

N nudged T and Z21 forward and answered:

“Five humans can maintain a place as this; five hundred would destroy it.” N looked around at the hidden world, “We tried this in the City, in the first trials on the Citizens, but, even with the nodes, The Citizens took to killing the birds for sport and communing with tamer species…” N sighed, “Death and disease have no place in the City, so, for now, The City and these creatures are kept separately preserved.”

Z21 gasped. A creature had approached them and had nuzzled the hand. Z21 recoiled and the creature sat and stared, a pink tongue lolling out of its mouth.

“What is it?” asked Z21, feeling a slight stir of memory.

“It’s a dog,” said M, striding over to it. “I call her Dog E.” M knelt beside the dog and stroked her cheeks. M reached to Z21, “come close and touch her.”

Z21 placed a hand out and the dog licked it. Z21 smiled, “They were common in the Old world, weren’t they? I feel like I remember them.”

“Very common,” said Q, “there’s a calmer creature lurking around somewhere that’s far less likely to lick.”

Z21 petted Dog E and felt the anxiety lift for a moment.

N cleared his throat. “The ADM is waiting for us. We still have some way to go.”

Z21 and M stopped petting Dog E and turned to follow N, Dog E followed close beside.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Precept E

The precepts are right and good

***

Z21 looked at the space with wonder. Bright birds rested in the trees and animals rummaged in the undergrowth. As they passed a small path that led through the trees, Z21 saw a brown creature.

“What is that? Another kind of dog?” Z21 asked.

“That’s called a ‘deer’,” said T, “It eats grass and plants. There are many kinds of things here to see- if the ADM allowed, we could linger and learn a great deal.”

“But the ADM has called,” said Q, “and we must go to the central library- by the precepts, T, we have a labor to complete.”

T sighed and led Z21 towards the center. They came to a flight of stairs which cut straight through the growth along the canal. Z21 could see out over the final extraction.

“This place-” said Z21, and the eyes gathered traces of water, and there was a sense of warmth in the chest.

“It is beautiful, is it not?” said T, pausing to let Z21 look over the trees towards the pool of water near the base of the center. Dog E sat by Z21’s leg. “This is the world we labor to preserve. The citizens keep a system for agriculture, while we labor to preserve these various creatures and plants. Grant you, our main task is to keep the paths clear; nature takes care of itself.

“But the purpose here is the same above: to preserve this remnant and restore it to the outside world.”

“When the ADM deems the time,” said N. They continued down the stairs towards the center. They passed through the trees and came to another ledge. The ledge dropped to a deeper canal that encircled the center, and bridges extended from the ledge to large doors.

“This is the center…?” asked Z21 gazing at the tower in front of them, “I’d forgotten it was built so deep.”

“As you see,” said T, “The part of the Center you see above is only a part of the mechanism. The surface levels hold the machinery to keep the City running, but these sub-floors contain the rest of what we aim to preserve.

“We have quite the climb ahead of us; it’s one-hundred and seventy-six feet from this base to the surface. I hope you’ll find the things we keep here interesting.”

Z21 paused as they approached the bridge to the center, the stomach felt tight. Z21 felt an urge to turn and run back towards the first extraction. N stood close behind and gently nudged the back. Dog E had stopped some feet away from the bridge.

“The only way back to the surface is through the center,” said N, “and the ADM is waiting.”

Z21 took a stiff step onto the bridge and walked forward. Impulsively, Z21 gestured for Dog E. The dog stayed where she was and wagged her tail apologetically.

“The animals avoid the center,” said T, “but we cannot.” There were no rails on the bridge and the height made Z21 dizzy. The bridge led to a doorway that seemed to be covered by dark flaps. As they approached the center Z21 glanced back at the extractions and noticed yellow orbs lining the walls of the canal.

The orbs were arranged in tidy rows and columns on the walls of the canal. Lines of the orbs dangled from the bottoms of the bridges, and Z21 could see a dark shape inside each one.

Z21 stared and felt the heart beat faster, and the stomach grow tighter,

“What are those?” asked Z21 pointing.

“Those?” said T, pushing back the flaps to the center and guiding Z21 inside “those are the past, the hope and the future of humanity.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Precept P

The precepts are wonderful, therefore keep them

***

The hope and future of humanity? Thought Z21, blinking as the eyes adjusted to the dim light in the Center, what are those things?

Z21 looked around the room, where the library of species had been illuminated from far above by bright sun-like lights; the room they entered was lit by dim, green-hued lights set into a low ceiling. A low whir and a noise like breathing emanated from around the room.

“As are these,” said T, gesturing to tidy rows of tanks on either side of them. The tanks were set into the floor and angled from the wall so that there were ten rows of seven tanks radiating from the center of the room. Z21 felt a surge in the stomach and the legs froze. The tanks held shapes that looked like citizens; bronze skin and white hair suspended in a liquid.

“These are the blanks,” said T, “when a citizen needs replaced, a seed, one of those orbs you saw outside, is pulled into a tank where it is grown to this blank state. The blanks can become anything: any race, any sex- it’s possibilities are magnificent.” T frowned, “The citizens are grown only slightly beyond this to ensure a holistic genetic make-up,” T smiled at Z21, “a bit of waste, really.”

Z21 stood trembling, staring at the blanks.

“You understand now,” said T, “don’t you? You are a vessel to preserve humanity. You carry the genetics, the physical information, of the old world.”

T looked to M, who was following N to a doorway in the center of the room.

“M,” said T, “Remember this: ‘In the Citizen lies the world.’ Protect the world.”

M gave a brief glance behind but continued with N. Q gave a gentle cough behind them.

“N will not stop,” she said, “The ADM is waiting, remember the precepts and obey.” She continued then paused in the doorway. “Come,” she said then disappeared through the door.

T smiled at Z21, “We’ve only the labor, and still they feel there’s no time for anything. Take a deep breath, Z. You are made in the image of humanity, carry yourself with pride and look with open at eyes at the history unfolding before you and the future which I aim to restore.”

T led Z21 to the doorway. Through the arch was a dual staircase which wound its way up and down around a central pipe.

“This takes water to the central Light and supplies the canals,” said T as he led Z21 up the stairs. “The water flows from here and through the extractions in a constant cycle of purification. The waters also sustain the orbs you saw, and the Blanks. Were you to descend these stairs, you’d find two more levels of blanks, and above us are five more rooms.

“Most of the tanks are blanks, but there are a few within the lower rooms that contain original Citizens that we saved from disintegration. When we’ve passed all the Blanks, we’ll reach the library where we’ve kept information from the old world. It is a long climb to the Room of Light, where the ADM dwells.”

T was leading Z21 up the stairs as he talked, “Come, we have a long way to ascend before we are complete.”

As they passed the next level Z21 glanced through the door and noticed that there were markings on the tanks: a letter and some numbers.

***

The ADM moved from screen to screen, checking the various Citizens to ensure they labored effectively. He paused and examined a citizen that stumbled in the field. ADM felt the citizen’s experience through the node- there was a sense of anxiety, a pain in the ankle.

ADM sent a soothing frequency through the node, then issued silent orders to the Citizens of Maintenance to retrieve the injured citizen.

In the early days of the Citizens, The ADM had needed to replace citizens on an almost daily basis, but the refinement of time lead to only occasional problems.

As he labored, ADM half-listened to T’s explanations. He wished Z21 had the node, so he could know more precisely what the Citizen thought of the information. But he’d get plenty of information when the citizen was analyzed.

Anything else T had to say was of little importance. He didn’t need the node to know that T was aiming to disrupt the city. ADM could not understand the impulse; the city was peaceful and free of the problems of the old world.

The purpose of the City was to preserve life, and the life T was seeking would only lead to destruction.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Precept X

The Precepts give us life

***

They ascended quickly. N kept a brisk pace and Z21 felt the legs grow tired with the many steps. After some minutes, the staircase opened into a great room. The pipe ran through the center but all around were glass walls broken by massive shelves that extended far above.

The room held various display cases arranged at angles to the central pipe and N made his way through them towards the glass walls.

“This is the first level library,” said T, “and these are relics of the past ages.” As he spoke, they followed N towards the windows.

“Beneath each artifact is a manuscript detailing what it is, how it worked, and how to build it. When the time comes, it is my hope to restore these things to use- and perhaps improve upon them.”

T moved to a case near the window, “This artifact is one I particularly cherish. It is called a ‘music box’. It’s a very simple machine but it provides such a rich experience.”

Z21 moved close as T turned a knob on the bottom then lifted the lid. The box was made of wood, with glass balls inlaid on the sides. It produced a gentle, lilting melody.

Z21 felt a sense of pleasure in the mind, “It’s...” but there was no word.

“T,” came Q’s voice, “come on.”

T set the box on the case and let it continue playing as they moved towards the stairs.

As they came near the windows, Z21 saw the stairs continue up to a balcony that encircled the room. Through the glass, Z21 could see the extractions far below and an outside balcony that encircled the center. Various colorful creatures perched on the railings.

Z21 paused at the top of the stairs and gazed at the greenery far below. The ten canals gave off a gentle mist from their final cascade and the creatures ambled around. Z21 felt a strange sensation in the head and inhaled deeply,

“It’s ‘beauty’ isn’t it?” said Z21, “this place. The music box.”

“It is,” said T, “it’s nature undisturbed by humans.” He smiled out at the extractions below.

“But built by humans?” asked Z21.

T frowned, “Right. Let’s press on.”

Z21 felt the mind clearing, this is a purpose for living: beauty and communion. Life is more than precepts.

“T,” said Z21 as they ascended, “The tanks all have CALs, don’t they?”

“Yes,” said T, “and your CAL helps the ADM maintain harmony in the world. If, for example, Citizen Y3 keeps having trouble in the Labor then, perhaps, there is an issue with the tank, so the ADM can send us to calibrate and ensure the Citizens are maturing properly in their stasis.”

“If the citizen keeps having trouble?”

As Z21 asked this, they came to the next level of the library, the room was constructed the same with windows all around but in the center were shelves filled with small objects and a scent came to Z21.

“This scent,” said Z21, “it’s paper and information… right?” a memory stirred of sitting in a large chair, a warm beverage, a rainy evening.

“They are books,” said a new voice. Another white-haired citizen approached them from the aisles of shelves.

“Z,” said T, “This is my helpmate, P.”

“They excite your memory, don’t they?” asked P, her voice was like the trowels moving dirt in the fields, “you recognize that they hold a world of answers far beyond the City,” P laughed

“P’s labor is to maintain the Library,” said T, “she barely leaves it.”

“If the ADM allows,” said P, “you’ll learn that books are far better company than people.”

“If the ADM allows?” asked Z21, If the citizens keeps having trouble?” Z21 felt the stomach tighten again. N had come back to them and Z21 felt his hand on the arm.

“Yes,” said N, “our labor is preservation. You Citizens are vessels of preservation and that CAL in the Meeting House cannot be left empty; it is already filled, for the Labor must continue. Through the labor we follow the precepts; the precepts are for life, we labor to live and this is life.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Precept Q

The precepts are the labor

***

Z21 felt the room spin. A feeling of heaviness came into Z21’s chest, even as N moved the group towards the next line of stairs.

“Oh, what am I?” murmured Z21, not resisting N’s motion. The course of the day settled in the mind of Z21 and the question rose again in the mind, What am I?

P and T trailed behind them, and P murmured back, “You tell me what you are.”

Z21 glanced to the window and saw a reflection. A white haired, bronze skinned Citizen gazed back. A white cloth draped around the body. Citizen Z21 in a garment. Thought Z, no other Citizen wears garments though these five do. Citizen Z21 is a composite of genetics designed to preserve humanity and is alike to every other citizen.

By the precept of similitude, the Citizens are the same. Z21 is A1 and Y3. The Citizens are a creation of the ADM designed to keep the labor. The labor is designed to preserve gardens that the New Generation may inhabit the Earth. Z21 is a CAL for a blank that was grown in a tank and follows the labor. The labor is for life and that was life?

Yet now Z21 is no longer like the Citizens. Z21 removed the node and fell into the canal. Z21 wears a garment. Z21 knows the nature of the City and the Center. But not Z21, that blank in the tank doesn’t know but Labors to live and that is life.

I have seen a different life and remembered beauty. I understand the purpose of this City, and now I want to meet the ADM. I want to know the history, I want the New Generation to come. I want more than just preservation: I want life. I have desires. I have a purpose.

As Z21 thought, they ascended higher and higher. They passed another level of the Library and the windows showed a final area of the extractions then changed to stone walls. At this point they went from the perimeter of the center back towards the central pipe.

“This next level is at the level of the City,” said T, “but there is no exit. Seven more flights and we’ll be in the Center of the Light and the dwelling of the ADM.”

P nudged Z21 gently in the back, “What are you?” she asked

“I am” said Z21, “that I am.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Precept R

Keep the precepts keep the labor

***

P loved the books of the Library and the ADM found in her mind a sensation of moving through the tall shelves. Every bit of information stored by broad subject, then specific, then author.

Her mind was always curious and eager to find and classify. It made it easy to provoke her to press Z21 for just a bit more information.

“You tell me what you are” was the question P formed.

ADM waited, curious what kind of answer the Citizen would form.

“I am that I am.” Was the response.

ADM smiled, and watched the screen which showed Z21 and the group ascending. Without the node ADM couldn’t tell exactly what Z21 was feeling, but the response likely meant Z21 was starting to think there was existence apart from the whole of the City. It was an outdated thought, one that seemed to emerge when the node was removed.

Without the nodes, without the Labor and the precepts to guide them, the Citizens would take the knowledge of the library and quickly form ways to kill each other. T seemed to want to restore that old world. Perhaps it was time for T, the Node less Elder, to be stored in the library with the rest of Relics.

As for Z21, the citizen’s CAL in the City was already refilled. This defective Z21 would be examined, the tank recalibrated and the new Z21 observed closely while the old awaited reincorporation.

Doing this would preserve the City, for that was the labor of the ADM: To enforce the precepts for the keeping of labor, to enforce the labor for the keeping of life, to enforce the life for the hope of humanity.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Precept S

Communion for the precepts

***

N led the group along the final flight of stairs and through door set in the middle of a ten-sided room. On either side of the door were stairs which seemed to wind back down the center.

As Z21 entered, the eyes absorbed the room: there were screens on each wall, showing each of the ten meeting houses; along each screen were lights designating each citizen; and the ADM stood watching a screen where citizens frolicked in the communion.

Z21’s heart warmed, and the stomach lurched at the sight of the ADM. He looked much like the other citizens: five feet tall with bronze skin but the white hair was disturbed by a circlet around his head and a pair of wires that attached to a node in the back of his neck.

“Z21,” said ADM, “welcome to the Light.” The ADM moved towards them, “Tell me, what do you think of what you have learned? Of what T has told you?”

“I want to know more,” said Z21 “I want to understand this preservation and I want to see the New Generation exit the city and enter the world.”

“Does that preserve life?” asked ADM, “I’m going to take your hand, Z21, it is our labor to observe any citizen that comes here.”

“Does this count as life?” asked T, and the ADM took Z21’s hand.

The ADM looked at T, expressionless. “T, our purpose is preservation. The City as it is preserves countless centuries of knowledge, a world of genetics, a library of cultures. You’ve read many histories, and implanted many more; what life would we have outside of this sanctuary?

“Besides, I was asking Z21.”

ADM looked at Z21, “Does restoring the New Generation preserve life? You know that the purpose of this city and the precepts is to preserve life until the earth is suitable for human habitation.”

“I feel that what this city preserves is incomplete, I feel there is more to living- there must be a way for more citizens to enjoy beauty. A New Generation would bring new life and beauty.”

“Tell me, Z21,” Said ADM, “now that you remember our history can you say, if released and allowed to relearn, that these humans would continue to preserve themselves?

“T, you’ve read the histories, and scanned the inventions of the ages, you know that humans are incapable of preserving what our founders established in me. I am the one that guides the way, I keep the light, I preserve the Truth. None live but through the purpose in me.”

Of the Five, all but T nodded in agreement.

“Can’t I have a purpose as well?” asked Z21. “Of what I’ve seen, it’s…what beauty isn’t. Aren’t we meant for more than preservation? Have we not eyes with which to see beauty? Mouths to taste delight and bodies to experience life?”

“And minds to create destruction,” said ADM, “look around and I will you show the history of the world that drove us here- if you believe that this City of Life is not beautiful, then witness horror; the Turmoils that drove these precepts.”

The screens around them turned dark, and images splashed all around, humans of various shapes and colors running from bright orange blasts and people collapsing. Buildings falling over and humans in thick clothing and objects in their hands that cast bright lights.

Z21 raised a hand to the mouth.

The ADM let out a sudden gasp and the images halted as the ADM collapsed the floor.

T stood over the ADM, the circlet dangling from his hand.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Precept O

Speak only the precepts, for they bring life

***

Z21 stared at the ADM laying motionless on the floor. N took a step forward then collapsed along with P, Q and M. The nodes on their necks flickered red and the panels around the walls all turned red.

Z21 stared at T, unsure whether to run, to fight, or to talk.

“What have you done?!”

T flicked the circlet, “They will all be alright. This moment was written centuries ago- the ADM is the directive, but most of the City is purely automated and doesn’t require his direction. He simply analyzes the data as it comes and regulates it.”

T locked eyes with Z21.

“We feared the computer would determine preservation to mean sustaining the city- the outside world has been ready for our habitation many decades, what we’ve lacked is a genetic build that would suffer the trauma of removing the node; an oversight of ours when we created the ADM. What I’ve lacked for the last ten years is a mind to help me decide what fate to pick for this city- should we inhabit the earth and subdue it? Or should we stay here and let the ADM regulate us until he falls to pieces?”

“What kind of choice is this?” Asked Z, “We can survive and remain, or we go out like a new plague. Can we avoid another Turmoil?”

“Who can say? Who says there aren’t others out there already, other survivors that have already flourished and established cities of their own? If they are suffering, we have resources to aid them.”

“Others… when I left the meeting house, I saw a shape in the entrance. Could that have been an outsider?”

“I’m sure the ADM would have noticed and purged it- the node must have caused a glitch in your vision.”

“If there are others, would this knowledge help or would it give them weapons?”

“That is the decision passed on to me, but one I don’t want to make alone. It has been lonely being the only free mind, but, at last there is a choice. If we reconnect the ADM, we will be reincorporated and remade with genetic copies to fulfill the labor; if one of us wears this circlet and accepts the node we should be able to initiate the Restoration. The labor is for life, so which path is living?”

“What kind of choice is this? I feel that this is peace, that humans have achieved something great, and yet in my chest I feel an urge to know more: I want to see the outside world again, I want to see what wonders are in the libraries below, I want to see the creatures rise from the extractions, I want to bring this information to the world.”

Z21 looked at the ADM, “What must I do to bring this life?”

“Do you mean to do it? I’ve meant to from the beginning.”

“I’ll do it- you’ll be able to help if something goes wrong, and if it goes well you can better guide me and the New Generation.”

Z21 moved to T and turned around, “do it.”

T placed the circlet on Z21’s head, small tines pricked the scalp, then T aligned node to the back of Z21’s neck,

“It’s been a pleasure, Z.” He said as he implanted the wires.

The shock erupted through Z21’s neck and there was only a dull tick as the other wires followed into the skull. A rush of information surged through Z21 and there was a sense that Z21 understood the whole of the City. Z21 felt a sense of control, that a mere thought would direct the City.

Awake, Thought Z21, the voice emanating through city Awake, let the nodes teach the citizens the true history, let the nodes teach them what lies ahead. Awake, citizens! And rise City to the New Earth!”

There was a great tremble as the shield around the City expanded, pushing centuries of debris away, then a great light appeared above them and a rush of air swept through the City.

The citizens, slowly awaking, marveled at the fading light of the center and shielded their eyes as they stepped out into the sun.