"FWLS56" - читать интересную книгу автора (A Future We'd Like to See)

"I supposedly have a fiancee, but that's by e-mail only,"
Help joked. "I haven't seen him in awhile. He's been travelling
around looking for sad people. Plus I've got a tourist friend
called N.M. who writes me letters and sends me souvenirs... see
the cabinet over there? All his junk. He means well, though,
and I dust it occasionally. There's also the kids at school..."

"I mean immediate family. Mother... a father?" I asked,
hopeful.

"Unless William Doors, CEO of Macroware counts, no," Help
said, sipping her cocoa. "The only AIs with parents are usually
ones who were created by couples who can't have a kid, or AI
couples."

"Humans can adopt AIs?"

"Not legally, but that doesn't stop them. It's a tricky
situation, but it works if you have a very open minded family."

"How can they correctly call their parents parents if they
were not birthed by them?" I asked.

"I don't know. It just works, somehow, part of the culture.
There's a whole AI mythos, really, it's quite interesting. Even
some religions about some innocence goddess named Melody, but I'm
not into those. I just teach and enjoy life. It's been a good
life since I worked at Macroware."

"It doesn't sound bad," I nodded.

"It's not. Thinking of becoming an AI?" she asked,
smirking.

"No," I quickly replied. "Although... no. I don't know.
Excuse me, please, it has been a long day..."

"No worries. You're welcome to stay here until daybreak.
Streets just aren't safe anymore. Next thing you know, those
F.A.ST. goons will be invading AI homes."

Then the door burst open.

Three criminals similar to the ones who attacked us earlier
that night were there, backed up by a mob of others, each with
various armaments. I instinctively pulled out my spatulas and
ready-gripped them.

"This is the last day you'll be allowed to ruin our
children, automation," the leader said, pointing a finger at