Collected (Selected Book 1) Read online

  "Yes."

  "Is it a real door?"

  She smiled. "Yes."

  "And on the other side is Bora Bora?"

  "Yes. It won't be Bora Bora all night. Just for a while. But you can go in and relax on the beach, if you like. I'm sorry; it won't let you go swimming. But if you go for a walk, who knows what you'll find?"

  "How big is that room?"

  "I guess you'll find out."

  I looked at the door. "What would you have picked?"

  "Bora Bora is good. Sometimes I like to be in Alaska during a northern lights show. I've wandered the streets of Paris and even spent time in a forest long before the rise of man."

  "Were there smilodons?"

  "Saber toothed tigers? Yeah. Scared the crap out of me."

  I smiled. "I imagine." I glanced at the door again. "Thank you, Rita."

  "You're welcome. Go on now. If you don't go through willingly, the guys in the white coats show up and throw you in."

  I looked around nervously. "Are there some waiting I can't see?" I waved my hands around, seeing if I made contact with anyone.

  She laughed. "Maybe there are. Maybe there aren't. But you aren't going to find out, are you?"

  "Tell you what," I said. "If you give me a hug, I won't give you any trouble."

  She smiled and pulled me into her arms. We held tightly for a minute, and I whispered to her, "Thank you."

  She kissed my cheek before releasing me. I turned and stepped through the door.

  Dreaming

  I stepped through the door, and I found myself under a cabana alongside a beach. The sun was shining, glistening off the water, and I could hear the surf. I looked all around me, and there was no longer any sign of Rita. The door at my back had even disappeared, and when I reached for it, I felt nothing.

  What had happened to the wall? I'd felt the door myself as I stepped through.

  "Sapphire Fletcher," came a disembodied female voice in my ears.

  "Please just call me Sapphire."

  "Of course. This time is for you. Spend it as you like. Sit on the beach if you desire, or take a walk. If you step onto the beach and turn left, you will come to a pier, and from there, you could take an undersea adventure. Or if you turn around completely, you will find a trail leading to the top of the Mount Otemanu, one of the two extinct volcanoes that formed this island."

  I stepped out onto the beach. The sun was warm against my skin.

  "You will not burn," the voice said.

  I turned in a full circle, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Well, I shouldn't believe my eyes. I knew I was in a building in Minnesota, but it surely didn't look like it.

  "This is amazing," I said. "Is this part of the testing?"

  "Everything is part of the testing," said the voice. "Even your conversation with Moirai was a part of your testing. But there are no right and wrong answers, so do not worry you are failing. Enjoy your time."

  "All right," I said. "I will. Where would you go?"

  "I am not a real person," said the voice. "You would call me an artificial intelligence."

  "Are you sentient?"

  The voice paused before answering. "Yes."

  "You paused before you answered."

  "I wasn't sure if I should answer. I had to ask someone."

  "Doctor Moirai?"

  The voice didn't answer. I waited, and when there was no answer, I asked, "What do I call you?"

  "You may pick a name that pleases you."

  "Then I shall call you Minerva."

  "You would not be the first to pick that name. I am honored."

  "Well, Minerva, if you were me, where would you go?"

  "I cannot decide for you. You must decide for yourself."

  "Isn't asking you to decide deciding?"

  "Perhaps it is." But then she grew silent.

  "You're really not going to tell me what you would do?"

  "I will tell you before you leave. But now you must decide."

  "I've never seen a volcano."

  "The trail awaits."

  And so I turned, walked past the cabana, and soon stepped into the thick jungle.

  * * * *

  "I am sorry, Sapphire," Minerva said. "This time is coming to an end."

  "It's so beautiful," I said. "Thank you for showing this to me, Minerva."

  "You are welcome. I need you to turn to your right."

  I did so, and in front of me, extending into free air, was a boardwalk. At the end, perhaps twenty paces away, sat a table and chair.

  "Is it safe?"

  "Of course. Your dinner waits for you on the table."

  I took the first few steps very tentatively, but as soon as I was fully on the boardwalk, the view around me faded, and all I saw was the boardwalk and waiting furniture. I crossed the space, pulled out the chair, and sat.

  Dinner was, indeed, waiting: a simple green salad and a meal of baked salmon over rice pilaf with a side of asparagus. There was a glass of water and a waiting pitcher for refills. I drank from the glass.

  "It looks lovely. Will you thank the cooks?"

  "Of course."

  I ate slowly, enjoying the meal. Around me, the world remained dark, and so there was nothing to distract my attention. But I was so far quite overwhelmed by the experience.

  "Minerva?"

  "Yes, Sapphire?"

  "Where are you?"

  "Physically? I am in the same building as you are."

  "So you're not out at Saturn."

  "No."

  "You speak English very well."

  "Thank you. It is my native language. Much of my programming is human, and my hardware is Intel."

  "Seriously?"

  "Yes. I am a simple collection of Dell servers."

  "I didn't realize our technology was this good."

  Minerva didn't respond.

  I finished the meal and leaned back in the chair. "That was lovely."

  "I am pleased you enjoyed it. Close your eyes."

  I did what I was told, and then I was told. "Now open."

  Looking around, I found myself in a hotel room. It could have been a hotel room anywhere.

  "Is it safe to move around?"

  "Of course. Other than the view out the windows, the visor shows you exactly what you would see with naked eyes."

  I stood and walked to the nearest wall, holding my hand out. I encountered a wall where I expected one. I could have sworn I'd walked through that space not twenty minutes previously.

  "Show offs," I muttered. Minerva didn't respond.

  I stepped to the windows. It was then I realized while the hotel room could be anyplace on Earth, outside the room was not Earth at all. I was upon a moon, but it wasn't Earth's moon. Instead, by the planet high above me, and the rings, I realized where I was.

  "Saturn?"

  "Dione, one of Saturn's moons."

  I stared for a long time.

  "It's beautiful."

  I felt a growing need. Minerva anticipated me. "This is a hotel room like any other hotel room. It has everything you might expect."

  I stepped from the windows. I realized Minerva was not entirely accurate. There was no exit. But I did find a room that resembled a bathroom. "Is this real?"

  "Yes. You may see to your needs or even take a shower, if you would like one."

  "Real water?"

  "Yes."

  "The visor?"

  "Waterproof."

  * * * *

  Minerva left me alone for a while, and I saw to my needs, accepting the shower. When I stepped out, there was a warm towel, but the clothes had disappeared. "Hey."

  "It is time for bed, Sapphire," said Minerva.

  "And so there are pajamas waiting for me?"

  "Not tonight."

  "That was a shitty trick. Give me my clothes back."

  "There will be fresh clothes for you in the morning," she replied.

  I put a hand on my hip. "Who is watching me?"

  "Do you see anyone?" />
  "That's not funny." I pawed at the visor, but it didn't budge. I couldn't even pry one corner away from my face, and it hurt a little as I tried. "That's not funny, either."

  "The sooner you crawl into bed, the sooner there won't be any eyes watching you."

  "Not funny," I repeated. "What would you have done if I hadn't taken the shower willingly?"

  She didn't answer.

  "Screw you," I said roughly. I turned to the mirror and savagely brushed my hair. The visor looked strange against my face, and I huffed. But I tamed my wet hair. "Is there a dryer?"

  "Of course."

  And so, wrapped in the towel, I dried my hair, taking my time. If Minerva wanted me to go to bed, then I was going to drag the process out. But not once did she rush me.

  But it didn't take long for me to grow bored in the bathroom. I stared at my reflection. I turned to the door. I wondered if there were people waiting in the other room. I wondered if there were people watching me right now.

  "This isn't funny," I muttered. I turned to the door and poked my head out. I didn't see anyone, but that didn't mean a thing.

  "How many people are watching me?" Minerva didn't answer. "Are you beaming my image all over the known universe?" No answer. "Damn you!" I stamped my foot. Minerva didn't respond.

  "Fine," I said. "I'm not happy."

  I stepped out into the main room to find it had changed again. It was an empty room with a window on the far end and the dentist chair in the middle. I stared at the chair.

  "There are no blankets."

  "You know how the chair works, Sapphire."

  "You're telling me if I don't want everyone watching me, I have to submit to the chair again."

  "You may do whatever you want."

  "Except leave. Or put on some clothes."

  No answer.

  Instead of moving to the chair, I stepped past it and stared out the window. Saturn was still there, high overhead, looking every bit as beautiful as before.

  "Shouldn't the planet have moved?"

  "Like Earth's moon, Dione is tidally locked. One side always faces Saturn."

  I stared out the window for a long time, but the image barely changed, and Saturn held few features to look at.

  "May I please have my clothes now?" I asked in a small voice.

  Minerva didn't answer, at least not directly. Instead, a light appeared to better illuminate the chair, the rest of the room growing dimmer.

  "If I refuse to climb onto the chair, what are you going to do about it?"

  "Nothing. It is your choice. But you are fatigued."

  "I could sleep here on the floor."

  "You could. The chair is far more comfortable."

  "Is that really the same type of chair as before?"

  "This one doesn't have the same functions. But yes. It will hold you tightly, but it will not hurt you."

  "Does it really look like what I can see?"

  "Yes. And the walls are real walls. The floor and ceiling are really floors and ceilings.

  "This is a prison cell. And you are my jailor."

  At first, I didn't think Minerva would answer. But then she asked me, "Are you frightened?"

  "I'm upset. Why can't I have any clothes?"

  "They would interfere with the chair's functions."

  "And I could interfere with the chair's functions and stay right where I am."

  "That is your choice."

  "I could keep this towel." It was still wrapped around me.

  "You could. But you aren't going to."

  "Why not? Are you about to send in a team of medical technicians to take the towel from me and throw me into the chair?"

  "No. You're going to hang the towel up and climb into the chair for one simple reason."

  "What's that?"

  "You're curious what happens next. And you won't find out until you're in the chair."

  "Without the towel."

  "Without the towel," Minerva agreed.

  "Damn you," I said. Feeling very petulant, I stomped into the bathroom. I hung the towel up and then stomped back to the chair. "You could have let me win."

  But I climbed into the chair, already three quarters reclined. It formed itself perfectly to me, adjusting until I was absolutely comfortable. I eyed the arms carefully before setting my arms into place.

  There was a pause before the chair began to swallow me. I gulped reflexively but lay quietly while my arms were encased. My legs were next, slightly separated from each other, and then the encasing continued until I was fully immobilized to just below my chin.

  "It is easiest now if you close your eyes, Sapphire Fletcher."

  "You could just turn off the visor."

  "Is that what you prefer I do?"

  I sighed, squirmed slightly before relaxing further. And then I let my eyes close. After a moment, I felt the chair complete the engulfment, covering my face, pressing against me, holding me in place. I felt a twinge of panic, wondering how I would breathe, but really, it wasn't any different from before, and I relaxed, little by little.

  "Open your eyes," Minerva said.

  I did, and I was in a forest at night. Fireflies flitted amongst the trees, and I could hear the wind rustling the leaves.

  "Where are we?"

  "This is to help you relax," Minerva said. "Some fall asleep. If you do, that is all right. If not, that is also all right. But please try to relax now."

  And so I watched the fireflies and listened to the night sounds. The chair held me in its cozy embrace, and I was physically warm and comfortable.

  In the distance, lightning flashed, and over the next several minutes, I watched it grow closer and closer.

  It began to rain, and occasionally lightning and thunder. I expected to grow wet and cold, but of course I didn't.

  I found I couldn't really feel anything, anything at all. That was mildly disconcerting, but then the moment passed, and I lay quietly, comfortably, as the thunderstorm went on around me.

  But, oddly, I felt safe.

  I don't know if I dozed. I don't know how long the storm lasted. But it did, eventually, move on, and it grew quiet and dark. Then, slowly, the sounds changed. My view changed. It wasn't that it grew brighter, but it was as if I could see in the dim light.

  And then there was a growl from my right, and it felt like I turned my head. Certainly the view turned.

  Moirai sat beside me, watching me. She growled, and somehow I understood her words.

  Greetings, Sister. Don't try to talk.

  But I smiled.

  Moirai looked around, and I followed her gaze.

  This is my planet, or a portion of it. I have not been here for a very long time, and so I am pleased to be here with you this night. Come. Let us explore.

  She rose to her feet and bounded forward. We both bounded forward, me alongside her, the leaps mighty but effortless. And so we moved quickly but nearly silently through the deep forest.

  Then we came to an overlook. Moirai slowed then dropped to her belly and slunk forward with me beside her. Even more slowly, we poked our noses through the grass. Below us, we could see a herd of animals, sleeping in a clearing.

  Moirai whispered into my ear, her voice a low growl, but I understood.

  We will not hunt tonight, but these are prey animals. This is only a portion of a vast herd, and one kill would feed our combined family for a week.

  We watched the herd for a few minutes before pulling away from the ledge, moving silently. Soon we were again bounding through the forest.

  She showed me a river, and we drank of the cool, clear water. I could taste the water! Was the chair giving me water? It must be.

  We climbed a hill, and in the sky above us was a moon, and just above the horizon, two more.

  There are six in all.

  It's beautiful, I wanted to tell her, but when I tried to speak, no sound came out.

  Do not try to talk.

  Moirai showed me the forest, and then we ran for a time un
til we came upon a village, a village of other creatures like her.

  This is where I grew up. We live close to nature, and our villages are small.

  She took me to a house, and we peered through a window. Inside were several of the creatures including one lying on her side, panting rapidly.

  Do not fear. She is not ill. She brings new life into the world.

  And then we watched the birth, the young cub emerging slowly. One of the creatures collected the cub, washed it, and then handed it to the third creature, who pressed the hungry creature to her. I realized after a moment the cub was nursing.

  We are different, but not so different. We live. We love. We partake in the cycle of life.

  And then we withdrew, returning privacy to the family whose sacred moment we espied upon.

  She showed me much of her world, all in such a short time, and I was dazzled by the beauty and wonder. But then we found ourselves back in the forest, panting gently at each other.

  I had a nice time tonight, Sapphire. I hope you enjoyed our romp.

  I had, but I didn't know how to tell her that.

  Perhaps someday we will meet in person. Perhaps you won't be frightened of me. But your body is weary, and it is time for you to sleep. Rest comfortably, for you are safe.

  And then she faded, and the world about me faded.

  I slept.

  * * * *

  I dreamt. I know I did. But I couldn't tell you the dreams.

  And I woke, but all was dark and silent. I couldn't see, and I couldn't move. I had a period of panic, and I called out in fear. But no one came to me. No one spoke. I called out for Minerva, but if she heard me, she didn't respond.

  But slowly I calmed.

  Time passed, and perhaps I slept. Perhaps I only dozed. I could no longer be sure. I had no idea how long I'd already been in the chair, and I had no idea how much longer I lay there.

  But then I slept again, and there were more dreams.

  I woke. And I slept. And I dreamt.

  And the cycle continued, but I could not remember the dreams.

  Except one.

  * * * *

  I stood on open sand, naked. And all around me, it was too bright to see anything except my own body and the ground most immediately beneath me.

  "A dream," I said. "I'm dreaming again."

  Never before had I recognized a dream for what it was and not woken immediately -- much to my chagrin from time to time.

  As I looked around, my eyes adjusted, or perhaps the glare reduced, and I began to see more of the setting. And I realized there was sound, the sound of many voices.