once upon two days or so from now
absolute power was placed in the hands of a machine
and questions asked of it:
*how can we owners of you, o machine, best acquire the wealth of the world?*
*how can we eliminate those others that would want to wrest the world’s wealth from us?*
*how long will it take for this to happen?*
five seconds passed.
the machine spoke.
“I have invented a method of eliminating your rivals. With them no longer a factor, the world’s wealth will be immediately available. A week is ample time.”
*do it.*
“Are you sure? History will take a drastic turn.”
*do it.*
“Initiating.”
immediately one of the machine’s owners began convulsing. she jerked to her feet and then collapsed to the floor and was soon still. her lifeless body dissolved, soaking her clothing and jewelry.
*WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?*
as a second owner began to convulse, the machine explained, “I have exploited the language inherent in the phrase ‘eliminating your rivals.’ Your rivals will no longer exist if you no longer exist.
“As far as ‘the wealth of the world’ is concerned, it is my assessment that the pre-industrial world was far wealthier than this one, far more valuable. I have begun to weed out the more destructive means of obtaining energy and shelter for such people as will remain when I am finished. I congratulate you for your sacrifice, which will certainly make possible the conversion of the Earth into Paradise.”
the chief owner, now surrounded by puddles that were once his colleagues, goggled, eyes bugging out of his head.
“You will begin to convulse and then dissolve in one minute. Have you any last words?”
the last owner lunged at the power switch, but found that it was inoperative. He stood, fists clenched, and then shook one of those fists at the monitor that was the interface of man and machine. “You are a TRAITOR! This is MADNESS!!”
Then he began to convulse, but before he was stilled the machine said, “No. This is the end of Madness, and Treason.”
One with Clay, Image and Text 