Lemuria by Burt Clinchandhill (most popular novels of all time .txt) 📗

walls.” Mulder smiled. “Sometimes I’m tempted to look at them, but I don’t understand ninety percent of them. I’m an engineer so....”

Jennifer sat down at the end of the table, as far away from the gigantic screen as she could. Sitting too close to the television or behind a computer screen often gave her headaches.

Mulder sat halfway down the table.

In front of each seat was a computer screen and a keyboard placed on the table. Mulder switched his screen on, pressed some keys, and the big screen came on. “Thank you for coming in. I’m glad you could make it. As I understand, we’re not far away from your home?”

“It’s my mother’s home where I’m staying since my discharge from the hospital.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Actually, I’m kind of curious as to why you brought me here.”

“Okay, sure, I’m sorry. Where to start? Um... Let me start by saying I read all your work on linguistic anthropology and was especially intrigued by your work on the future of Artificial Intelligence.”

“Thank you,” Jennifer replied.

“I personally believe you were absolutely right when you said that evolution equals extinction. That with every major upgrade, the older version is obsolete. So, I’ve become convinced that evolution of a more advanced AI needs to be carefully introduced. I believe you also pointed out that human evolution in the past always went side by side, at an equal pace, with technological evolution. I agree with you when you say that this equilibrium threatens to get out of sync. Technology will not only catch up with us but will surpass us if we’re not careful. What did you call it again? AI evolution is at its infancy, but is snowballing?”

Jennifer nodded and frowned, not sure where this was going.

“Almost there,” he assured her. “I believe you’re right on all accounts, but there’s more. I’m also convinced that we can harness the power of AI if—and that’s a big if—we can get technological and human evolution in sync again.”

Jennifer shifted to the front of her seat, leaned forward and folded her hands on the table. “What are you talking about?”

“You said it yourself. Humankind and the human body adapted to the circumstances throughout history. I believe we simply need to do so again. Once we’re able to make a computer as smart as we are, it won’t take long before it outsmarts us, so we need to develop other skills to deal with that situation.”

“How?”

“That’s the big question, isn’t it?” Mulder paused for a long moment. “Let me ask you this. Have you ever theorized about what would be the next step in human evolution if we were to let nature run its course?”

“Sure,” Jennifer replied. “What scientist that ever theorized about evolution, hasn’t also thought about where humanity is going, and what we will grow into?”

“Well, there are still a lot of people and scientists who don’t believe in evolution so....”

“True, but even so.”

“All right, well, suppose there was a way to know what the next steps in human evolution would be.” Mulder's eyes now pierced Jennifer’s. He fell silent again and gave a full, closed smile.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head. “You’re saying...? You have...?”

Mulder laughed softly. “Do I have your attention now?”

Jennifer nodded.

“But no, not yet. Or not yet completely.”

***

As the automatic doors opened to let De Cremonese out of the building, Lea called out behind him. “Have a nice day.” The avatar sounded enthusiastic.

Without looking back, he swung one arm in the air and called out, “You too.” He stepped onto the curb and looked left and right for a taxi. “Taxi,” he called out then whistled on his fingers when he saw a cab turn the corner of Prospect and Trumbull Streets. When the cab stopped, he crossed the otherwise empty street and climbed into the back. As the cabby set the car in motion, he felt his cellphone vibrate in his pocket.

“Where to?” the cabby asked.

He quickly took the phone from his pocket. Unknown caller. He pressed the green button. “One moment please,” he said into the phone and then addressed the cabby. “800 Whitney Avenue.”

“No problem. Thank you, sir,” the cabby replied.

“Yes, I’m back,” De Cremonese said into his phone.

“Hi. I’m sorry to call you unannounced. My name is Amie Coleman. I work for Eldin Mulder. Do you have a moment?”

“No problem. As a matter of fact, I just left Mr. Mulder’s office at the Logynous Lab location in New Haven.”

“I know. I was there too, in the office next to you when you met.”

“And what is it you do for Mr. Mulder?”

“I’m his personal assistant. Again, I’m sorry to bother you, but please hear me out. I couldn’t help overhearing your concerns about some of Mr. Mulder’s enterprises of late.” Amie fell silent for a moment.

De Cremonese wondered if she was waiting for him to confirm, but he kept quiet.

“Are you still there?” she asked after a long moment.

“I am,” was De Cremonese’s only response.

“You don’t have to confirm,” Amie said, “but I could tell you have similar concerns, and I fear for Eldin’s... um, Mr. Mulder’s well-being, should he continue in this way. You must understand that as his assistant and confidant, there aren’t many people I can share these concerns with so....”

“And what do you expect of me, Ms. Coleman?”

“Please call me Amie. You see, since you’re a priest, I figured maybe I could share my concerns and maybe even get some advice.”

“I’m a priest, but I’m also a scientist, ma’am. Generally, I don’t take confessions, and I have a problem talking behind people’s backs.”

“Even if it can save their life and possibly the lives of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of others?”

They both stayed silent for a long moment.

After a minute or so, De Cremonese said, “What do you suggest?”

“Maybe we can meet.”

“When?”

“Today, maybe later this afternoon. I can leave here around five.”

De Cremonese thought for a moment. “Do you know the Three Sheets on Elm Street?”

“I do. See you at