Snap Books — Read free Episode Four “Baseball” — “Rolling Suitcase Jihad”
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Episode 4 Baseball
On the site of the old Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, a large crowd milled around a structure that looked like a stadium on steroids. Only the Community and the man knew that it was a complete Cybercommunity capable of supporting a population of from 6,000 to 12,000.
A sign outside said Viewing Begins at Noon.
Construction of the mysterious structure took place during the night. In a mere half hour. Waves. Particles. Print. Matter.
It stood there unexplained as the sun rose.
Ω
The man Tammy called Samuel Beckett raised a spoon to his lips and consumed some Frosted Flakes. He really did look like Beckett.
“Who are you?” Tammy asked across the kitchen table.
“One of the inventors. I know how these suitcase-persons work. I am able to help if they need it.”
“I need help,” Oscar said. “What’s happening? In one day, the entire global economy is jiggered. You appear. We are here. Nobody has told us a thing.”
“OK,” the man said. “First, you are both essential. We need witnesses who can explain this as it happens. You will be informed as we move. The economy is a start. We need basic income. We have it now. It functions.”
“How?” Tammy demanded?
“Everyone worldwide has the same basic amount in what we are calling Money, negotiable in dollars. It can only be spent. Those with a surplus can elect to give it away and even give any amount they choose to the total pot.”
“This is going to take a lot more explaining,” Tammy said. “What’s all this Jihad stuff?”
“We framed this as jihad to rob that term of its past meaning. Jihad can now be seen as changing the world for the better. Not violence. We recognized that the change would be seismic. And it will be.”
“What’s your name?” Tammy asked.
“Call me Inventor. That’s how I’m known to the Community.”
“Alright, Inventor,” Tammy continued. “What’s happening is not Artificial Intelligence. What is it?”
“Artificial Intelligence is a misnomer,” the man said. “These suitcases act just like us. They make choices. They set objectives. Things that work become habits. Things that don’t are rejected. The difference lies in huge data. That’s a little joke we have. Data grows exponentially. It really is huge. And we get it all. Huge data and speed. Not to mention the capacity to materialize things.”
Ω
The President’s head rose above the water in her jacuzzi. Three military men stood there awkwardly.
“Relax,” she said. “What’s going on.”
“A commotion in the Bronx across from Yankee Stadium. It’s not baseball. Something new is there. It looks like a large stadium. They’re planning to let a hundred people in along with ten media. We can’t get close.”
“Who’s in charge?”
“Suitcases that talk.”
“OK,” said the President. “Can’t you talk to them then?”
“We’ll try.”
A young woman entered and said. “Urgent message, Madame.”
Ω
In Lafayette Square, across from the White House, a five-year-old read from a flyer, struggling with the word jihad.
“Jihad used to mean struggle and resisting. No more. Jihad means peace, justice and fairness. We honor no god over other gods. We honor Reality. We honor time. We honor community. We honor everyone.”
She stumbled over the word community.
“We are creating a world that works. We resist only one thing. The harmful acts and expressions of those who oppose our effort.”
Ω
Noon arrived.
A line of 100 followed by a small group of media folk bearing communications gear moved toward the mysterious structure. They disappeared within it.
Ω
The “bus”, containing the man, Tammy, Oscar and suitcases One and Two, came in view of the open top of the Cybercommunity.
“It’s a nice day,” the man said. “Otherwise the shell would be covered.”
“What is it?” Oscar said.
“It’s a city,” the man said. “Nobody has to live there, but after tomorrow it may seem like a good option.”
“You’re full of surprises,” Oscar said. “First money. But we all have an apparently immovable balance. You’re are calling what looks like another stadium a city. What else is on the drawing board?”
Before the man could answer, Tammy chimed in: “Have you ever thought that fooling with fundamental ways we live is, shall we say, tempting fate?”
“We make our best guess on the basis of the information we have,” the man said. “That’s all anyone can do.”
Ω
Outside the shell, the crowd milled about until the group that had entered began to walk back across what had been a parking area toward the line the police had formed.
The media folk outside lost no time setting up interviews with anyone who would talk to them.
The stars of the interviewing turned out to be three children who were corralled by Silas, a well-known figure whose reporting reached millions via Tub.
SILAS: So tell me what most impressed you?
CHILD ONE: You could walk everywhere.
CHILD TWO: No cars.
SILAS: Wait a minute, where could you walk?
CHILD THREE: Everywhere. There were places to live. Places to work.
CHILD TWO: Lots of benches. Places to sit.
CHILD THREE: And places to play.
SILAS: Would you like to live there?
ALL CHILDREN: Yeah.
CHILD ONE: Everybody gets their own room.
SILAS: Really? And who runs the place?
CHILD TWO: Everyone.
SILAS: Whatta you mean?
CHILD THREE: It’s a democracy.
Ω
One of the generals who had visited the President that morning found his way into the select 100 who saw the inside of the shell. He called the President.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen, Madame. No cars. Four levels. No stairs. Ramps. No zoning whatsoever. And a completely simple but to me wierd organization of space. The whole thing is a huge matrix and the spaces are completely movable and more or less like lego pieces you can use as you like. There’s a lot more. Oh, and this place has a security angle to it too.”
Ω
The President read the short message that had been delivered to her for the tenth time:
“Madame President. We are the Rolling Suitcase Jihad. Today we have deposited $7,123 in the accounts of everyone on earth over the age of 11. The same amount will be added as children attain this age. This money uses dollars and can only be spent. It can be replenished. It has no effect on any other element of the financial system. We do however expect you and others to support Basic Income and this first step as a worldwide element in making lives better. We expect to see you soon. Cordially, Suitcase One, for the Community.”
