BACKTRACKER by Milo Fowler (e book reader txt) 📕

society," Yeng admitted. "We do not claim tobe perfect in any way. We are on the path to purity, but it is a life-longjourney of sanctification."

Kuan, as seemed to be his way, was more direct. "Do not thinkfor a moment that we cannot, or do not, sin, Mr. Lennox. We are by nomeans holy in the manner you may be implying. Speaking for myself, it is a daily struggle toavoid the power of my flesh. I am often ashamed of the choices I make. But noone is perfect, no not one."

"Well, in that case..." The mayor chuckled, nudging theglasses of wine toward his guests. "Drink up!"

The monks nodded their heads, smiling politely, but their handsremained in the sleeves of their robes, held across their midsections. Lennoxdidn't blame the mayor for trying. He obviously wanted to keep tonight'sdiscussion from delving too deeply into anything too controversial.

"But back to your question, the one that started us down thisroad in the first place." Lennox didn't share the mayor's concerns."You mentioned the fact that SYNCorp provides most of the bodies that runthis place, as well as those who enjoy what we have to offer. I can't denythat. I don't have to. Our synthetics are hard-working, as are those who makeup the bulk of our clientele, wherever SYNCorp has them serving in the city'sworkforce. Their credit is impeccable, and they spend it like there's notomorrow." He almost smiled, musing, "Maybe there isn't, for some ofthem."

"They are replaceable," Kuan said."Ashland Solomon designs them that way, yes? The expiration date of eachsynthetic being ensures repeat business for SYNCorp."

Lennox nodded.

"And when these synthetics reach the date of theirtermination, they are known to experience certain...problems, is thatcorrect?" Kuan paused. "Fixations, or obsessions."

"They can get a little twitchy toward the end," Lennoxallowed, swirling his wine again and staring into the center of the darkcentrifuge. "We haven't experienced that at The Pearl."

"But it is a risk you accept?"

"What I'm saying is, they keep this place running. They keepit alive. Honestly, if it wasn't for them, The Pearl might not even behere."

"Don't be so modest," the mayor chided.

Lennox glanced up. "Do you see any zombies?" He paused."Of course not. They're all home tonight, Linked-up. Human vegetables forall intents and purposes. They could care less about their community, andthey're perfectly fine wallowing in HellTown's squalor. You asked me if thereis a place for them at The Pearl." He held Kuan's gaze, one of raptattention. "If they can get over their addictions and start working forthemselves instead of raking in government handouts, then of course they wouldbe welcome here. As I'm sure they would be welcome in your temple—orchurch..." he trailed off, uncertain what their place of worship wascalled.

Kuan beamed, glancing at Yeng who smiled just as jubilantly.Lennox couldn't help but knit his brow. What did I say? They look like twokids on New Year's morning!

The mayor groaned, but his outburst was tempered by anoverabundance of good humor. "I think I know where this is headed."

"We are very pleased to hear you say these things, Mr.Lennox," Yeng said, bowing from his middle even as he sat at the table.

"Yes," Kuan agreed. "Mayor Reeves was very wiseindeed to allow us this opportunity to make your acquaintance. While ourbeliefs may differ on a few issues, it is clearly evident that we share thesame disgust for the effect the Link is having on the citizens of ourrespective Provinces. Here, in NewCity, it is quite apparent that you desire toraise the standard of living to an unprecedented level, one that has not beenseen since long before the Plague." He paused and came up for air."Forgive me, Mr. Lennox. I was a fool to have believed that your plan—thisRevival that Mayor Reeves has explained to us—would not include theLink-addicts, the undesirables or zombies, as they are called. I should have known that there would be a place in your heart for theirrehabilitation."

"Yes," Yeng was quick to add, even as Lennox raised ahand to slow them down. "And we believe the first step toward thiscity-wide rehabilitation must be the removal of your interfaces. Coldturkey is the ancient Western term for it,I believe." He glanced at Kuan for confirmation.

"Cold turkey, yes," Kuan echoed.

"Gentlemen." Lennox relaxed his brow and put on a smiledesigned to keep them at ease. "I appreciate your beliefs. And I respectthem. It's this view of the Link shared by members of your sect—" Cult."—that is the most well-known among heathens such as myself. However, thesuggestion that we should somehow mandate the removal of our citizens' Linkinterfaces... It brings to mind another ancient Western adage you may befamiliar with: throwing the baby out with the bathwater." Hechuckled mildly, and the mayor was quick to join in. "Simply because apercentage of our human population is misusing the Link, this should in no waycause us to consider eradicating the past century's greatest global advancementin technology."

Kuan's brow creased. "Yet you said but a moment ago—"

"Granted, there are humans in NewCity unquestionably in needof rehabilitation. For them, perhaps cold turkey—" He winked atYeng. "—would be the most appropriate solution. But we'll have to leavethat to the doctors to decide, when the time comes."

"SYN doctors," Kuan said.

"Of course." Lennox held his gaze. "There are somethings I would never trust to a human. Medical care being one."

"Tell me, Mr. Lennox: Why is it that these synthetics are notallowed to have the subdermal implants? The plugs?" Kuantilted his head to the side as though he already knew the answer. He asked thequestion in order to make a point.

Lennox knew what he wanted to hear. "Because it woulddistract them. Their work would be impeded."

"Their work...which was once our work. Humanwork." Now it was Kuan's turn to smile pleasantly, even as his eyes held athinly veiled disdain. "But of course we do not need to work anymore, nowthat we have these magnificent genetically engineered creatures to do our workfor us, to keep our cities functioning. Instead, we can spendevery moment of the day living virtually on the Link while our bodies rot away,neglected. We can become zombies.The living