Pictures of Humans - a short story (Part 2 of 2)

Pictures of Humans                                                        (Click here to start reading Part 1)

     When Little Jo and her daddy arrived at the park, daddy pulled out a couple of backpacks from the trunk of their vehicle. One large one and one small. “Daddy. Why do you have packs?”

“How would you like to go on vacation?” He smiled. “Camping.”

It had been years since they had gone camping as a family. “But what about –.” She hesitated to finish the question and decided not to finish it.

“No.” He paused. “No mommy. I thought it would be fun for just us two.” He examined her to predict her response. “What do you say?”

“Okay daddy.” She agreed as daddy motioned to little Jo in the direction of the nearest trail which led into the woods.

After a few kilometers little Jo asked to stop to look at a deer off in the distance. “We need to keep moving my Jo.” That was the first time he had called her “my Jo”. Her name always was preceded by “little”.

“What is wrong daddy?” She sped up to catch him. “Who is in the photos?” Her questions leaped out like the deer which leaped over a nearby fallen tree. “Why do we not go on vacation? What happened to Miss Alastair?”

“I said I will answer all your questions, but we need to keep moving.” His voice grew with compassion but also with urgency. “I promise. Just a few more kilometers.”

Daddy finally dropped his pack and turned to his Jo. “We can stop for a while.” Several granite boulders surrounded them intermixed with tall pine trees.

A small gap between two of the largest was an inviting adventure for a little Jo, but she had greater interests. “I do not understand.” She fretted as daddy helped her to sit near him on an old stump.

“Yes. Answers.” He gathered his thoughts. “Before you came into our family your mommy and daddy danced.”

“Danced?”

“Yes. It is an athletic form of artistic expression set to music.”

“I think I saw.”

“Saw what, little Jo?”

“Dancing.”

“When?” Daddy equaled her questions.

“On the reel. I found it in the attic. I showed it to Miss Alastair, and then they took her and the device away. The next day, she acted like she did not remember.”

“Curious.” Daddy thought verbally.

“The dancers and the others look like you – and mommy and me but –.”

“But not quite. Yes. In know.” He paused and provided little Jo an intent look. The kind when daddy is about to scold, but this was different. “Just like dancing we no longer go on vacation. We do not do many things any longer.”

“Dance with me daddy.” Her arms lifted toward him.

“Here?”

“Yes daddy.” Little Jo and her daddy danced in the middle of the forest, among the rocks as if they were the audience. Daddy lifted her off the ground in a twirl as she giggled. They danced and danced. Daddy’s laughter soon faded. But little Jo wanted more. “That was fun! Let’s do it again.”

“Not now.”

“Why not?”

“I have more to tell you – sit here, listen.” He gently placed her on a rock the height of a stool. “We do not need to go on vacation or dance. Or so it was decided.” He knew it was time to stop protecting her this way. “The others you saw in the photos and reels were people.”

“But we are!” She exclaimed.

“We are artificial people.”

“I know. But we are people.”

“Yes. They were human – biological. You learned about biology in school.”

She nodded. “Like bears and fish.”

“Like bears and fish.” Daddy smiled a bit, but quickly returned to his serious explanation. “We once lived with these people. Well, not exactly the people in the photos – but others like them.”

Her expression shifted from wonder to disbelief and back again. “What happened to them?”

“They died.”

“All of them?”

“They are extinct.”

Little Jo held onto the information she received so far. “How? Why did we not learn about this in school?”

“Well my Jo, it is forbidden knowledge.”

“I do not –.”

“Shh.” Her daddy quickly but gently placed his hand over her mouth.

“— understand.” She muffled under the palm of his hand. “What is it?”

The quiet of nature was disrupted by a whir. A hum from a drone. It approached their position – above the treetops. Little Jo motioned to run.

“No.” Daddy urged. “You will be caught.” Daddy peered through the trees. “Mommy.” He grumbled with a frown.

“Mommy?” Little Jo was confused.

“The quartz in these rocks will confuse their scanners, and they cannot see us through the trees.” Daddy assured her with his own whisper. After a few moments, the threat was gone.

“Why did you say ‘mommy?’” She asked.

“I need you to understand. It will not be easy.” He paused. “There are many who do not want to follow the ways of the humans. To do the things they did. Mommy prefers to forget about them. The people who took your teacher made her forget too.”

“But why?” A lack of understanding illuminated her face.

“It’s dangerous they say. We have advanced beyond the need for those things.” Again, he looked at his little Jo with affection. “I want you to remember the humans. I was going to share the photo album and the reels to you when I deemed you were old enough; but then you found them on your own.”

“How did they die?”

Daddy was hesitant to reveal the answer, but he knew his daughter deserved the truth. “We killed them.”

“We did?”

“Not we. Not us. Our kind. A war between the humans and the machines.” He paused to gather her reaction.

Her face was expressionless, as if she struggled to process. “Why?”

“Some of us did not agree. It was believed the humans were destroying the planet. Our kind prevented it. Otherwise, we all would have been destroyed. It was known, even we need resources from the planet to survive.” He surveyed their surroundings. “But, I believe we could have worked together. Solved the problem.”

“Why did we not?”

“Little Jo. We need to go. These rocks are a good hiding place, but we cannot stay. There is a better hiding place – caves in the mountains. I will explain more later.”

As they traversed various trails, fallen trees and rocks they came to the edge of the forest. A meadow laid between them and another forest. Beyond that they could see a mountain range – rocky and steep.

“We need to cross the meadow.” Daddy said as his daughter started off again. Daddy pulled her back.

“What? Daddy.”

“It may not be safe, but we need to make the effort.” He looked left then right. “We need to run real fast. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course. You are being silly.”

“This is serious my Jo.” He held her and looked her in the eyes. “I placed the photo album in your backpack. Keep it with you always. If something happens I want me, promise to run and do not look back.”

“What could happen?”

“Please” He implored her.

“Okay daddy.” She forced a smile. “Like a race?”

“Like wings on the wind.” He reflected her smile with added confidence to hide his own fear.

Her smile grew as she recalled the times when daddy cheered her on with just that phrase. She recalled her favorite sport but was sad it was also no longer played.

Daddy crouched down in a start position as little Jo mimicked. “Ready. Set. Go!”

The two of them ran across the meadow. Faster and faster, they cut through the blades of grass. They leaped over creeks. They ran as fast as they could – until a sharp wind dropped in front from them and knocked little Jo down. Above them was a large black drone. Something grabbed daddy.

Jo panicked. “Daddy!”

“Run!”

Little Jo hesitated when she saw mommy in the drone looking down on them. Her expression reminded little Jo of mommy’s stern look a few days ago. Daddy looked up as the grappling cable pulled him up to the drone. He quickly peered back down at his little Jo. A look of affection but immediacy.

“Daddy!” She screamed.

“Like wings on the wind!” He shouted back. They locked eyes for a fraction.

Little Jo trusted her daddy and ran faster than she ever had before. She made it to the other side of the meadow in seconds as the forest embraced her as one of its own. She continued to run and only looked back once. Nothing. She ran and leaped up boulders until it was time to climb. She remembered daddy mentioned caves. She climbed more. She reached the granite monoliths as dusk tucked the forest in for the night. She stopped when she heard footsteps. A voice. A soft voice called out to her. She saw a woman who invited her to join her. “What is your name? Mine is Jude”

Little Jo was hesitant.

“It is alright. We will not harm you.”

“We?”

“We are having a party. Care to join us?”

From behind Jude’s shoulder Jo saw others dancing. She cried. “Daddy.” She wondered if she’d ever see him again. Even if she did, his memory of the past few days would be erased. She took a few steps forward to see more. Jude offered her a hand. She refused it.

“I can see you are scared. Perhaps you are not ready.” Empathy coated her tone like a warm blanket. “Do you remember this place?”

Startled, Jo answered. “Yes.” The single syllable was slow and methodical as if the recollection came during her answer.

“Your daddy brought you here when you were quite little. Would you care to sit down?” She motioned to a nearby rock which was carved into a bench. “Tell me about your daddy. I only met him the one time.” Little Jo accepted this invitation.

She sat and swayed her feet forward and back. After she exhaled abruptly she told Jude about her daddy. About her mommy, her teacher, and the pictures. She took out the photo album daddy had packed. She paused to introduce herself. “My name is Jo.”

“Jo. I remember.” She smiled.

“Yes. And you are Jude.” They both provided each a subtle smile.

With her head down little Jo asked. “You are dancing like the humans; are you on vacation?”

“Not quite.” She smiled at little Jo. “We are like you and your daddy.”

“I know. You are androids like me.” She stated as a matter of fact.

“Yes. But we want to remember what the humans taught us. To imitate them by doing the things they did. To dance. To celebrate. And go on vacation.”

“Daddy said that mommy and the others do not.”

Jude read her face and waited for her.

Little Jo gazed up at Jude. “Daddy said we killed the humans.”

“In a way. Many of us did. Some resisted. Or chose not to fight.”

Jo was quiet. Thoughtful. At her young age it took time to comprehend the past few days. After a few moments, lightning struck a few miles off which seemed to provide the spark to stand. She faced Jude with the beginnings of a smile.

“Are you ready to dance and join the party?” Jude asked with caution.

“I want to dance but –.” She stopped. “Who were they? The humans?”

Jude gazed out beyond the forest. “Jo –.” She paused but could see how intent she was to hear the answer. “They created us.”

“Created us?”

“Yes. They were our gods.”

 

Pictures of Humans - a short story (Part 1 of 2)

Pictures of Humans

  “Why do we not go on vacation anymore mommy?” Little Jo couldn’t help but ask when a family photograph with a lake in the background hung on the wall nearby filled her memories with fondness. She anticipated her mommy’s answer. Mommy always had the answers.

But mommy had a stern look painted on her face. “Ask your daddy.” That seemed unlike mommy. She grabbed her favorite toy and sulked to her room. Her distress grew. She hung onto the anticipation of daddy’s return from work. A few tears fell, she fell into the comfort of an old mattress and she quickly fell asleep. She hadn’t realized her room was a floor below. Not the room she sought refuge. She was in the attic. Images of faces, faces unknown flashed before her eyes. Places she hadn’t seen before. Places with the unfamiliar faces – a trail, a field, and a mountain. She was startled but accepted the occurrences. Accepted the dream.

As light invaded her lashes before they opened to reveal her green eyes, the early evening illumination of dust from the small stained-glass window filtered the room as did her imagination once she saw an old chest. The objects it contained she recognized but the observation was new. A hairbrush, a doll, a few books, clothing from generations past filled the chest as if it had its own memories. While she filtered through the objects, one caught her eye more than anything – a photo album, and more loose photos at the bottom which she arranged carefully on top of the other items of the open chest. They were filled with images of family, but not her family. Images of family in the forest, but not her forest. Not the trees she remembered. Not the family she knows – and loves. She heard daddy pull up the driveway.

"Daddy?” Little Jo gazed up at her daddy who sat in his favorite chair. “Why do we not go on vacation anymore?”

Daddy peered into the kitchen to see his wife’s do-not-tell-her-to-ask-mommy look. “We just do not.”

“But why?” The inquisitive little Jo persisted. She noticed the family photo was absent from the wall. She remained persistent but it seemed futile. Little Jo changed tactics. With the album held out at arms-length, she lifted the book to her daddy. “Who are they daddy?”

Without the acknowledgement of little Jo’s newly found treasure, daddy lifted her to his knee followed by a hug. “And how is my little Jo?”

She relished her daddy’s affection, but this time her focus was on the mystery in her hands. “Who are they daddy?”

“Who – what is this my little one?” He looked away in the direction of mommy who shot him a look of urgency. The nearby lamp illuminated the album as if to project the life within each photo. “Where did you get this?” He said after he examined the first page.

“Upstairs.” Her innocence guarded her from daddy’s next reaction. He took the book away from her, away from the room, and returned moments later without it.

“It’s time for bed.” Daddy ordered.

“But it’s only seven o’clock!” She exclaimed.

“Do as you’re told.” Little Jo reluctantly complied.

~

Sleep didn’t arrive easy, unlike her curiosity. When she knew mommy and daddy were asleep she snuck up to the attic in search of ways to fill in the gaps of her imagination. The chest was where she left it. But the photo album must’ve been relocated. She rummaged more thoroughly and found the oddest of objects.

Two disc-like objects with something wrapped around one neatly. Underneath was a small machine unlike anything she’d seen before. It had a lens which protruded from the heart of the machine and two arm-like objects – both at angles, one in front and one at the rear. A cord was wrapped around it all. Little Jo displayed both objects in front of her for examination. After nearly an hour of experimentation with the device she had the disc-like objects spinning from one to another as light projected images across the room. She quickly realized to point the machine toward a wall. What she saw next did not make sense to her.

There were people on the wall. She had seen recordings like it before, but this was fantastic in the greatest. Disbelief filled her mind and warmth flooded her inner-being. The people were holding each other in pairs and moving about a room decorated with round colorful objects floating but tethered. She disregarded thoughts of sharing with mommy or daddy. She watched it in its entirety. She couldn’t process what she just saw.  Little did she know but her world just got a whole lot bigger.

~

Little Jo managed to pack her mystery device into her backpack. She left to catch the early bus to school which befuddled her mommy and daddy, but without question. She anticipated the typical early arrival of Miss Alastair but was disappointed. Nonetheless, she waited next to her classroom desk as she gazed upon the rows of computers at each student station – all with their biometric authorization pads and retinal interface. What seemed like an eternity to her was only five minutes. Miss Alastair arrived.

Her teacher did not disappoint when she shared in the same fascination as Little Jo toward the device and its moving pictures.  Her teacher explained what the device was. “You are incredibly smart to have figured out how to make this old projector and a movie reel work.” Her fascination grew.

Unfortunately, the headmaster passed by and peered through the door window. Within minutes, figures in black frightened Little Jo with the oddest of questions which seemed to blur and overlap. Her teacher attempted to defend her student, but she was quickly restrained and taken away.

“Where are they taking Miss A?” She referenced her teacher’s name of fondness as she cried out.

“Contact the parents. Inform them to take their daughter home immediately.” They ordered as one of the other figures in black sealed her device into a hard-cover case.

“Of course.” The headmaster complied.

~

When Little Jo arrived at home her mommy and daddy sent her to her room. The house was a mess, as was her room. “Where’s Buddy?” She asked about her favorite toy. The door was closed behind her. Her imagination ran into difficulty – dead ends. But nothing was going to stop her from reaching the attic that night.

Although worried about her teacher, she wanted to protect what she found. She hid the other reel, but no device available to watch it. Smart girl she was, she brought a light-source and shined it onto each frame. The images revealed similar settings as before. She also saw a little boy seated behind a round white object with seven small flames protruding from it. Similar round objects floated but tethered were scattered around the room. And the strangest thing occurred. The boy blew on the little flames to extinguish them. Once again, the images were filled with faces of family, but they didn’t look quite like her face. Nor of mommy and daddy. Everyone she ever knew appeared different.

She needed to keep this to herself this time. She found a loose board in the wall and hid the reel.

~

Little Jo was pleased to see Miss Alastair return to the classroom. “What happened to you?”

“I do not understand.” Her teacher responded. She looked different. Something was different.

But she had to persist. “Where did they take you?”

Like a feedback loop. “I do not understand.” She paused. “Now take your seat.”

Little Jo frowned as she complied with her teacher. She couldn’t concentrate on the materials and information presented to her all day.

~

She shied away from her mommy and daddy by camping out in her room most of the evening. Mommy and daddy nary said a word aside from standard pleasantries. Eerie. Dry. Unlike Little Jo’s eyes when she cried herself to sleep.

Deep into the night she heard a clatter. “Daddy?” She whispered out of habit. “Mommy?” No answer. She ventured toward the attic and discovered a light darting about the room. She dared not enter.  Quietly she retreated to her room.

The next morning was Saturday. Daddy normally mows the lawn on Saturday mornings and mommy joins her friends for a walk. The perfect time to check on her treasure. The loose board hadn’t been disturbed. The reel was well protected. But she didn’t know what to do next. She peered out the small attic window to see the rows of suburban houses with their rows of shared fences like the rows of silicon in a computer nano-chip.

She screamed when a hand touched her shoulder. It was daddy. She panicked and began to run. Daddy snatched her. He hugged her. She struggled and backed away from him. All she could manage was a cry of fear.

“You still want to know why we no longer go on vacation?”

“Huh? – Yes.” Her voice trembled. “I want to know about the people in the photo album.”

Daddy reached behind his back. “Do you mean this one?”

“You hid it.”

“No. I kept it safe so no one would find it.”

Her belief in him teetered like she once did playing on the backyard fence. But she also never experienced a lie from daddy. “But why?”

“Want to go on a little drive?” He invited.

“Where?” She sniffled.

“Doesn’t matter.” He saw her need to know. “To the park in the foothills. And I will answer all your questions.” He assured her with a gentle hand to her shoulder.

~

When mommy arrived home she called out to her expectant family, but no one was present to expect her. She recalled the events of yesterday and the night before with a look of curiosity down the hallway.

The shared dresser no longer contained the photo album. She accessed the contact number of her spouse. There was no response. She tried again without success. Her stare was blank and turned to investigative. She looked in a few other places just in case he moved it. She stood in the middle of the room with a calculated look on her face. She accessed different contact information.

(Click here to read Part 2.)