A moment before immortality. Juriy Tashkinov

      ISBN 978-5-0062-2845-0

      Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

      Collection of fantasy stories

      «One moment before immortality»

      Flat Earth Heretic

      – So you claim that our planet is spherical.

      Bishop Tiard took a sip of oil from a plastic bottle and smoothed the unruly spring on his metal face.

      – No. The earth is a geoid. It’s a little flattened.

      The droids in red cassocks standing around laughed in unison. When the laughter died down, Tiar spoke again:

      – And where did you get this «wisdom»?

      – In one ancient scripture that remains from the civilization of People. It’s called «Geodesy course for students of construction specialties»

      – Heresy is your book. Yes, some droids are of the opinion that there was another civilization before us. But where is the evidence? Where is at least one fossil microcircuit of an organism that would be different from ordinary droids?

      – People were not a silicon-iron life form, but a carbon one.

      – Did you also read it in one of the ancient books?

      – Yes. Previously, the entire planet was covered with carbon plants, and under the oil oceans there is water, which old organisms used instead of our oil.

      Another burst of laughter.

      – You know, Luther, this has stopped even amusing me. You’re an engineer, you should be setting an example for other droids, but instead you’re causing chaos. And you are guided by fairy tales. These «scientific» books of yours were once read to children at night, or told as scary stories so that children would not get into mischief. «If you go for a walk at night, talk to a stranger, the same thing will happen to you as to a student in higher mathematics class.» Don’t look at me so surprised, Luther. I was also young, and read all sorts of «ancient wise books left over from past generations» «Art is a play of colors and a fragment of the human soul» – how can there be art without calculations? What a soul – I mean the central processing unit, but there is no art in it! «There are thousands of luminous balls in the Universe, and our Earth revolves around one of them» – how can the Earth rotate if we wake up in the same place, and the sun appears and disappears? With such heretical thoughts one can go so far as to come to the conclusion that the Great Church is not located in the very center of the Earth! «Humans evolved from monkeys. God created them in his own image and likeness» – how is this possible! Were the droids assembled by monkeys? Scripture indicates that the Creator assembled two people – a man and a woman, from original parts. Sent a current through our veins. Where is the evidence of your carbon life?

      – Your Eminence, may I show you my creation?

      The Beast entered the room and most of the priests flinched. In outline it resembled a droid, only the skin was not metallic, but pale, and somehow too soft: touch it and it will destroy it. The eyes did not shine with diodes: white, with black insides, but they did not emit anything. Tiar winced: he had seen similar pictures in ancient books.

      – What is this?

      – My creation. From petroleum products I built long chains of molecules, according to the books we inherited from People.

      – Is it reasonable?

      – Not yet. This creature is capable of performing calculations, but so far it has only the beginnings of artificial intelligence. Perhaps later it will be possible to achieve real intelligence.

      – And it also requires oil and electricity?

      – No, it eats synthetic food made from oil. And he drinks,» Luther cleared his throat, as he foresaw the reaction of those around him. – And he drinks water.

      Tiar took a sip of oil at the wrong moment, so he choked. And the priests standing nearby hit him on the back.

      – Executioner! Bring the execution weapon!

      No sooner said than done. A couple of minutes, and a vat of clear liquid stood next to the meeting. The monster grabbed a handful of the execution liquid and began to drink greedily. The droids looked at each other: when will it fall in agony? But Luther’s Creation continued to enjoy the water. But Tiar had read about such creatures in old books. Really. Indeed, the oceans used to be filled with the liquid of torment. Aren’t they covered in oil? Were droids really created by humans and not by the Creator? But then the Church is wrong? We cannot allow anyone else to see this engineering monster.

      – The earth is flat, Luther. Once you admit this fact, we will simply put you in prison, and when you come to your senses, you will continue your research. Anything other than the creation of these monsters. Yes. and you must destroy this creature. Otherwise we will force you to drink water.

      – The earth is flat, Your Eminence.

      One day, an enlightened time will come, and the droids will be able to accept the truth. Then they will lose wisdom and pollute the oil oceans with water. Then the droids will again believe in a flat Earth, although many will already have time to fly up to distant star points in the sky. And they will see with their own eyes the Earth-ball, from the height of the flight of a drone-bird. Perhaps one day people will gain real intelligence and destroy the droid civilization, replacing their stupid ancestors. But Luther will not see this – he will spend his life locked in prison. But there is one thing that will never be taken away from him: the idea that the Earth is round and revolves around the Sun.

      Endless boredom

      Igor stood on the tile, and the red number «99» appeared next to it.

      – Yeah, it’s time to go in for sports. When I return home, I will immediately go on a diet and run every day.

      Each step along the long line, the number next to each tile, is like a reminder of a promise that will never be fulfilled. But Igor couldn’t shake the feeling that every passerby was greedily spying on his weight on the touch floor and giggling maliciously.

      After the midday summer heat, there was a pleasant coolness inside the station. The music of Tchaikovsky that flowed from the ceiling hardly drowned out the squabble of those waiting for their train. It smelled like disinfectants. The robo-policeman looked reproachfully at Igor, and he covered his nose with a medical mask.

      – Can I pass in front of you? – came the timid voice of a guy with shifty eyes. – I just have to ask.

      – Where are you going without a queue, you damned one? – the woman in a knitted scarf shouted loudly. Although, not a woman: both debaters are ordinary droids. Tickets for the VIP carriage are sold electronically, and those standing here should «fully enjoy» all the joys of buying a ticket in a live queue. Apparently, this should help increase the number of VIP clients. Although, those who can afford a VIP usually get to the desired point by alternative transport. For the average person, little has changed in the last three hundred years: while someone buys tickets for a round-the-world cruise to Proxima Beta, most still stand in line for a ticket to the therapist, and then line up again at the door.

      People slowly moved towards the treasured window, behind which sat a robotic operator.

      – Hello girl! I booked a ticket…

      – Your passport! – a sharp mechanical voice. He handed over a plastic card. The robo-operator incredulously compared my profile with the image in the 3-D photograph. Of course, machines have long surpassed us in almost everything, but the developers left some habits inherent in people of different professions. Apparently, in this way, according to the developers, robots should seem more humane, but this price of verisimilitude is too high. – Igor Vasilyevich Negodyaev?

      – Yes it’s me.

      – Keep your