Usually we write in our blogs about the features of various complex technologies or talk about what we are working on ourselves, share insights. But today we want to offer you something special.
In the summer of 2019, the famous author of science fiction works, Sergey Zhigarev, wrote two stories for Selectel and RBC, but only one was included in the final edition. The second one is right in front of you:
The sunbeam playfully jumped into Sophia's ear. From a warm touch, she woke up and, anticipating a wonderful new day, tightly closed her eyes, as her grandmother taught, so as not to miss a single beautiful moment.
Sophia opened her eyes and stretched sweetly, slipping on the silk sheet. From the corner came the chirping of a bird.
“Sophocles,” the girl called, waking up, drawing out her name. Remind me what day it is.
A large, gray-feathered owl sat on the bed next to her.
“Today is the best day of your life, Mrs. Sophia!”
The pet awkwardly climbed on top of the girl to see her face.
“Today is your wedding day with a wonderful lover, Mr. Andrey.
Oh yes, my Andrew! The girl smiled and stretched dreamily again, so that the owl glided over the thin, translucent peignoir. - My dear, my betrothed Andrey ...
- Guests are waiting for you on the island. The wedding ceremony will begin at sunset. Sophocles and Andrew's pet took a long time to coordinate the day and time of the ceremony. - In the rays of the evening sun, you will be so beautiful ...
- Yes! Sophia lifted her chin proudly and immediately felt the owl's claws dig painfully into her skin through her peignoir. — Oh, Sofoklik! Well, stop your scratching.
The snow-white curtains of the bedroom, obeying the timing, opened even wider, and sunlight filled the space.
With a heavy hoot, Sophocles flew to a high bird perch in the corner of the bedroom.
— Sensors indicate that the weather is ideal for a walk in the garden. I recommend doing a little exercise before breakfast. This is good for your digestion.
Sofia obediently, albeit with visible reluctance, got out of the soft bed.
"I've marked the appropriate route with green lights," Sophocles said.
- Red lines mark the area where your presence is undesirable. A wild bee swarm has appeared in the garden, and the agrobots must take action.
Sofia nodded in agreement.
Take an umbrella with you, just in case. Better yet, I’ll send a drone with you,” the owl added judiciously.
Sophia returned from a walk flushed, with a blush on her cheeks. The drone set her a fast pace. After all, Dr. Watson monitored the girl’s health and believed that cardio was useful for her.
Sofia threw off her clothes and went to the bathroom. Warm streams of water pleasantly undead body, and the girl relaxed. From sweet dreams about the upcoming wedding, she was distracted by a quick clatter. Sofia turned around. Sophocles sat on the bathroom floor and looked at her attentively, his head bowed.
The girl playfully threatened the owl with her finger, and Sophocles coquettishly covered his eyes with a fluffy wing. Sophia drew the curtain.
Breakfast was made up of her favorite foods, with no calorie restriction. A few months before the wedding, the girl spent on a very healthy and somewhat debilitating diet, but today Sophocles decided to pamper her.
After a few hours, Sophia became worried.
— Sofoklik, look at my account. Sort messages by recipient. Name - Andrey, nickname - Favorite. What is the time of the last message.
'The last audio message from the intended addressee was received nine hundred and thirty-three minutes ago, at twenty-three hours forty-two minutes UTC. Plus three hours local time of the sender.
This was their common habit. He and Andrei wished each other good night, and more pleasant dreams, and many more sweet tendernesses.
Sophocles, send Andrey a high priority message: “Darling, where are you? Today is our day. I miss you, I'm worried about you." Request delivery and reading.
The pet carried out her order without delay.
In the body of a white owl, view bubo scandiacus, there was an electronic filling: a powerful neuromorphic processor and algorithms trained to fulfill any whims of the owner.
Pets appeared on the market as child's play, guides through the digital world, dressed in the bodies of animals. When the children grew up, it turned out that their toys are ideal in the role of personal assistants. And soon there were almost no people left on Earth who would not use their services.
After a few seconds, Sophocles replied:
- Andrey's pet is blocking incoming calls.
Something bad could have happened to her fiancé. Like with her parents when Sophia was little. She almost did not remember mom and dad, all that remained of them were memories of gentle touches and static photographs in old-fashioned frames. Sophocles, who became the official guardian of the girl, helped her survive the tragedy. But the fear of sudden loss seemed to stay with Sophia forever.
- Check his vital signs.
This information was open, constantly updated data, and it was impossible to hide or falsify it.
- All indicators are normal. The location of the object is hidden according to the Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man.
— Get me an air taxi to the island. I think he is waiting for me there. Something happened to him.
— Ma'am, now all the taxis are busy. The next one will be free in two hours, and in three hours the wedding carriage will be served to you. But in any case, I don't think you should go," Sophocles remarked suavely. I don't think he deserves you.
Sophia paced the living room, wringing her hands in desperation.
“Maybe, in dealing with you, Andrei only followed the strategy developed by his pet,” Sophocles cleared his throat awkwardly, like a bird, “in order to… uh… seduce you. And when it came to the wedding, I decided to leave you like a boring toy.
“Then, if only he is a man, let him tell me personally, and not cowardly hide behind his pet. Sophocles! Sophia said with growing irritation. - Give me access to the network!
"I can't, mistress," Sophocles lowered his voice. One very important controller is temporarily out of order.
— Sophocles! Don't you dare lie to me! Immediately open direct access to the network!
- Mistress, you are already an adult and should understand that not all of your wishes should be fulfilled by me. Here I am…” New, sharp intonations appeared in the owl's voice, which Sofia had not heard before. - I have been asking for a long time to transplant me into a new, strong, anthropomorphic body! But you ignore me...
Sophocles screamed furiously.
“No, mistress, I will not let you out on the net while you are in such an agitated state. I won't let you make mistakes you'll regret.
Sophocles laid a wing on the girl's hand, and Sophia felt the soft, soothing owl feathers caress her skin.
“Ah, Sophoclicus, I feel so miserable, so useless. - The girl, having exhausted the supply of mental strength, could hardly hold back her tears. - What should I do?
“Mistress, your safety and well-being are my highest priority. Right now, the first thing you need to do is calm down.
Sophia nodded imperceptibly.
- You need to sleep. Sleep is the best medicine. Sophocles looked at her tenaciously with an owl's unblinking gaze. “Tomorrow morning we will decide what you should do.
The pet put the house into manual control mode and turned off the lights. The room was plunged into twilight, cut through by a beam of light from the bedroom.
- Drink some water. The pet pointed to a glass half-full of helpful home.
The girl took a sip. The water was too warm and somewhat tart. The unfamiliar taste seemed to make the liquid slow, viscous. Drinking took effort.
Sophia sat down on a soft and surprisingly supple maroon sofa. Sophocles disconnected from the house's water supply, making sure that the first aid kit was dosing drugs exactly according to the recipe prepared long ago by Dr. Watson, the planetary medical AI.
Soon the girl closed her eyelids, her body went limp.
After waiting a few minutes to be sure, Sophocles connected directly to the sensors implanted under Sophia's skin and checked the girl's vital signs.
His pet slept sound, undisturbed sleep.
Sergey Zhigarev, specially for Selectel
Source: habr.com