thinking from a computer, which is why I called her a non-sentient intelligence interface. She is non-sentient because the choices she makes are human-programmed choices, which give her the appearance of a true AI without the possibility of that higher-thinking thing where the machines decide to do away with us meat-sacks. The downside of the system I had designed was that each and every possible outcome or decision had to be identified, placed into the flowchart which is how I recorded the programming language, and coded into Annie’s language.
Simple, yet time consuming. I’d already guessed that I’d need more years to program everything than we had, but as deadlines went this one was pretty solid.
Chapter 4
Site 1, Central Africa
February 10, 2025
Amir Weatherby’s helicopter landed amidst a roiling storm of dust blown up by the arrival of the disruptive rotary blades. The pilot powered down as soon as the wheels cushioned their landing, and the occupants waited for a few minutes to allow themselves to exit into air that was more gas than solid dust.
When the orange-colored cloud dissipated, the rear sliding door opened to reveal Amir wearing more casual, hot weather clothing rather than his characteristic tailored suits. He had withdrawn slightly from the limelight of international publicity of late, and told the world in a short press conference that he was spending more time focusing on family as his mother’s health was a concern. He thanked everyone for their kindness and understanding, asked the international press to respect his family’s wishes for privacy, and left without taking any questions.
Now, wearing simple khaki chinos with boat shoes and a white polo shirt, he stepped down and swept off his shades as he walked into the shadow of the facility entrance. He was fascinated by the explanations given by the team of structural engineers, about how they had built an entrance to the facility, but given its limitations and the stresses that the structure would be expected to endure, the plan for anyone getting out of it would be to abandon their route in and tunnel a new exit. With that in mind, the main chamber of the top level of the bunker was as cavernous as a football stadium, where the excess earth and rock from their exit could be deposited.
The place was alive with a local workforce scurrying like ants under the leadership of the engineers. Amir and his small procession were led down steel staircases to the lower levels, of which he knew from the plans that there were eighteen. The site itself was carefully chosen from a shortlist of appropriate areas where the expected tectonic plate shift would leave the region undisturbed, and the added bonus was that it was in a region where the company held some element of authority thanks to the long-established support for the mining of precious stones and minerals.
Also, ever the businessman, Amir knew that the labor costs were low and the authorities were easily corruptible. Greed made a person predictable, he knew.
Ranks of reinforced cables lined the stairwell, each encased in metal cages to protect them, and they were reminded to watch their footing as they descended.
“I need you folks to wear these from here on in,” said Miles Hawthorn, the big engineer in charge of the project, as he pointed to a rack of mining-style hardhats and yellow vests. Amir had found him working on oil drilling equipment as part of a merger deal and had liked his forthright style. Putting on his own helmet and activating the light, he led them onwards to a lower level where the lighting was dull. He pulled the entourage aside as a group and gave them his safety speech.
“Alright folks, at all times you stay behind me and you stay in line. As of now I am number one, and you are two, three, four, five, and six, you got that?” he asked after pointing to each of them in turn. “I shout ONE, and you sound off in turn, that way we know if anyone gets lost in the dark. I’ll tell you again, this is a working site, and I cannot guarantee your safety if you don’t follow my instructions. We clear?”
They were clear, and Amir smiled to himself in the dark as they set off dutifully like ducks in a row into the depths. He had inspected the European site and found a similar construction, if a little smaller and less hectic than Hawthorn’s project in Africa seemed. He could