"David Marusek - The Wedding Album" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marusek David)

"He thinks heтАЩs still human and can cast proxies whenever he likes," said a Benjamin.

"Not even humans will be allowed to cast proxies soon," said another.

"There are 619 calls on hold," said the medallion. "Seven-hundred three."

"For pityтАЩs sake," a Benjamin told the medallion, "take messages."

Anne noticed that the crowd of Benjamins seemed to nudge her Benjamin out of the way so that
they could stand near her. But she derived no pleasure from their attention. Her mood no longer
matched the wedding gown she still wore. She felt low. She felt, in fact, as low as sheтАЩd ever felt.

"Tell us about this Lolly test," said Benjamin.

"CanтАЩt," replied a Benjamin.

"Sure you can. WeтАЩre family here."

"No, we canтАЩt," said another, "because we donтАЩt remember it. They smudge the test from your
memory afterward."

"But donтАЩt worry, youтАЩll do fine," said another. "No Benjamin has ever failed."

"What about me?" said Anne. "How do the Annes do?"

There was an embarrassed silence. Finally the senior Benjamin in the room said, "We came to
escort you both to the Clubhouse."

"ThatтАЩs what we call it, the Clubhouse," said another.

"The Ben Club," said a third. "ItтАЩs already in proto-Simopolis."

"If youтАЩre a Ben, or were ever espoused to a Ben, youтАЩre a charter member."

"Just follow us," they said, and all the Benjamins but hers vanished, only to reappear a moment
later. "Sorry, you donтАЩt know how, do you? No matter, just do what weтАЩre doing."
Anne watched, but didnтАЩt see that they were doing anything.

"Watch my editor," said a Benjamin. "Oh, they donтАЩt have editors!"

"That came much later," said another, "with bioelectric paste."

"WeтАЩll have to adapt editors for them."

"Is that possible? TheyтАЩre digital, you know."

"Can digitals even enter Simopolis?"

"Someone, consult the Netwad."