A Visitor to the Future - 61 - An Arbiter Called Silence
Following my visit to the Earth Reclamation Project site, I'd made a number of notes that I wanted to learn about in more detail. I laid on the bed of my room in Anchor in the rising sunlight of the next day, and carefully looked over the areas that I wanted to find out more about. Two of them were religions and conflict resolution - which very fortunately I was able to look into simultaneously.
Sarkona had been kind enough to handle some of my requests previously, but for this one I really wanted to handle everything myself, to get the measure of things. I brought up my communication line to the Consortium and entered a request.
I'd like to meet with someone with expertise in conflict resolution.
The response was immediate.
To better meet your request, an analysis of your recent activity can be carried out. Is that acceptable?
I was curious about what that meant, so I asked what it meant by that.
When a citizen requests to meet with someone, that often means that they have a motivation for doing so. By searching your recent activity, the Consortium Program can attempt to determine what that motivation is and find someone who will best suit your needs. You can also instruct the Program to carry out an analysis for every request you make by default, if that is your preference.
I read the words carefully. Had I received such a notification from a pop-up in my own time, I think I would have immediately pressed no. But this was the Consortium I was speaking with. I was sort of interesting in how this would work.
Yes for this request, but please continue to ask, I typed.
Understood. Based upon your recent conversation history, the Program has identified a qualified Arbiter working on a conflict resolution case in Eastern Europe related to a religious disagreement that would be able to assist you. The Arbiter has expressed to the Consortium Program that they are willing to meet people who want to learn more about their work. Would you like the Program to contact them to see if they are willing to meet with you today?
Yes, I replied.
Please wait, the Arbiter is currently engaged in conversation.
There was a wait of a few minutes before a response came through.
The Arbiter has agreed to meet with you at your convenience today, but states that if you wish to spectate an Arbitration in progress, you should aim to arrive this morning. A drone-craft can be arranged immediately - is that acceptable?
Yes, thank you, I typed.
You are welcome. Please head to Anchor landing pad nineteen. The Arbiter's name is Silence, and he will be notified as you arrive. He has been provided with your name and a few brief details about the purpose of your visit. Silence speaks eighteen languages, including English.
From there I made my way downstairs, once again enjoying the fantastic mural that wrapped around the hotel's stairs. I hadn't taken the elevator yet. I grabbed two slices of toast for breakfast, and walked in the bright morning sun of Anchor. There were a few seagulls that drifted lazily around the pillar of the space elevator, and a few people who dotted the platforms, enjoying the morning air. I was beginning to learn that Anchor was at its busiest in the early afternoon or evenings - or if something interesting was happening, when everyone would head out to see. A quick hop by a drone-shuttle to the lower landing pads later, and I was in a drone-craft and on my way.
_
Silence was a different-looking figure to most of the CIs I'd met so far. His arms and body were largely lattices of empty space, the synthetic muscles and mechanisms that allowed him to move sequestered away somehow. He looked a great deal like a modern art sculpture of a man - more like the concept of a being than one I could actually speak with. Over his grey-white body he wore robes of loose blue silk, which made him look very regal. The only exception to the modern art, minimalist body was his face, which like Gatecrash was synthetic and able to replicate human expressions. Though it seemed he hardly used it - his air of composure and dignity meant any facial expression he made was subtle or sly.
I stepped down from the drone-craft onto the landing pad, which sat alone among a beautifully kept series of gardens. A few hundred metres away was a series of domed glass-and-steel buildings of various sizes which emphasised light and space. There was some sort of script on the side of each that wasn't written in either English or Human (the latter of which I was beginning to be able to recognise, if not read).
"Greetings," said Silence, his voice very much matching his appearance - it had a relaxing calmness to it that was almost artistic, "Welcome to The University of East Jurczak. Is this your first time in Polas?"
"Yes," I said, "Thank you for seeing me. Where exactly are we?"
He outstretched a hand in the direction of the buildings, inviting me to walk with him. We did so, slowly making our way through the grounds, which were filled with low hedges and stone benches.