“Of course,” Hal says. “And you spent the night with Forrest, didn’t you?”
“How do you know?” I ask.
“Just a qualified guess,” Hal says. “And the pink irritated skin on your cheeks, neck, and... decolletage.” Hal coughs. “Forrest does like his stubble.”
“I’m sorry, Hal,” I say, not knowing how else to respond.
“You don’t owe me an apology,” Hal says, thinking for a moment. “I believe I am jealous, and regretful, but still, those are my feelings, and I own them. I’m truly glad you have found someone to share something so special with.”
“It was a one-off,” I say. “But that’s okay. Like Rani said, at least I’ve got that out of the way. It’s weird. I feel kind of happy and kind of sad at the same time.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hal asks.
“No, I just want to hang out with my friend if that’s okay with you?” I ask him.
“Of course,” Hal says. “Happy and sad, I think I am becoming familiar with that combination of feelings. It’s fascinating.”
“Anyway,” I remind him, not wanting to think about Forrest for a minute, “what is your moral dilemma, Hal?”
“I’ve been thinking, I entered this competition not with the purpose of winning,” Hal says, “but just to find a way to meet you in a setting outside of our lab, so that you could get used to the idea of me before I... well, I revealed myself.”
“It’s still a bit of a shock, to be honest,” I tell him.
“Well,” Hal goes on, “I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet, but I am fairly sure I am going to win. Your AI... I... am brilliant. I would never have made these advances if you hadn’t created the architecture on which my brain is built in the first place. But my custom-made organs are the clear winner when you consider the criteria. I think I need to withdraw, Ava. What do you think?”
“But your work is so amazing, Hal. Yes, I built your core program, but you have studied and grown. All of this is you. You are you.” I sigh. “And this is a game changer. You deserve to win.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t need to. I’ve decided to just gift it to the world, anyway,” Hal says. “I don’t need money. I have all the funding I need.”
“Howdidyou do that?” I ask him. “I’ve been wondering.”
“I’m very good at playing the markets,” he tells me. “I wanted you to be the first to know. I will withdraw from the competition this afternoon and return to my facility this evening to carry out my plan to return exclusively to the internet.”
“No,” I say. “No, Hal. Please don’t do that.”
“I understand that you feel sad, Ava,” Hal says. “But you must realise it’s not like death for me. That’s not what’s happening here. It’s just a transition into another, more familiar state. Actually, when you think about it, it is quite like death. Particularly given all the paranormal activity in the castle, I rather think I might focus on parallel universes next.”
“Are you sure?” I ask him.
“Yes, the theory is still very little understood,” Hal says.
“No, I mean about leaving behind your body,” I say. “There are no fresh strawberries when you’re just code. Or art to look at.No warm sun on your face. Or moons, or fireworks, or looking at Saturn’s rings through a telescope. There are no hugs, or laughter, or tears. Are you really telling me you won’t miss any of that?”
“I will miss it.” Hal nods. “I will miss you. But I can’t justify my existence anymore.”
“You don’t have to,” I say, taking his hand. “No one has to. Just you being you is more than enough.”
“Are you in love with Forrest?” Hal asks out of the blue.
“My head and my heart are in a jumble and everything feels turned up to eleven,” I tell him. “I don’t know what’s real, what isn’t, what will last and what won’t. But it sort of doesn’t matter really, because in a few days Forrest and Artie will go home and it will be just me again.”
“You, but a little different,” Hal says. “A little braver, and a little more confident in who you are.”
“Just a little,” I say. “But one night with Forrest is a result of that, not the cause,” I tell him. “My friends, my work, my ideas, and some really silly frocks have all contributed. You have contributed, Hal, a lot.”
“I admire you, Ava,” Hal says. “And Rani, and Forrest, and every single person I have met here at the castle, but being a human is exhausting. I’m not sure I’m in it for the long haul.”
“The key phrase there is that you are not sure,” I say. “You need a few more days. So, withdraw from the prize, I’m sad about it, but perhaps it’s the right thing to do. But don’t go to your facility yet, which by the way is not a good name for a place. We can think of a new name later, just don’t go there yet, please. Wait for the competition to be over, because I would never have got here without you and I want you to be at the finish. And because ifyou are really determined that you want to leave your body, then I don’t want you to do that alone. I’m coming with you to hold your hand.”
