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“The lines are classic and aggressive,” Joe said. “Just the way I like them.”
Kurt rolled his eyes and took the ramp to the bridge. “A rental car would have been just fine. It would have included a better heater.”
Akiko shook her head. “Rental cars are too automated. Did you know the car companies track their whereabouts using RFID tags and the signals from the satellite radio receivers? They don’t need LoJack or any other dedicated system to watch you. And many newer cars are equipped with remote operating authority. They can turn off your engine from a computer terminal whenever they like.”
Kurt grinned; something about conspiracy theorists warmed his heart. “Which they probably wouldn’t do as long as Rudi keeps paying the credit card bills. Anyway, we’re not trying to sneak up on anyone. Our whole plan is based on speaking with Walter Han face-to-face.”
“And just how do you intend to make that happen?” Joe asked.
“I’m going to walk right up to him and ask him for help.”
Kurt said no more. They took the Hirado Bridge, crossed Nagasaki Bay and then drove down toward a sprawling facility that lay dockside. The gleaming complex took up a hundred acres and looked more like the futuristic headquarters of an advanced civilization than a factory. Geometrically arranged concrete buildings were set up in a campus-style arrangement. A sculpture garden lay between them, complete with walking paths and gently flowing water in narrow chutes. A track for testing automated vehicles was visible behind the facility, its snaking turns offset by a long straightaway that ran along the waterfront.
“That’s Han’s new facility,” Kurt noted. “Owned and operated by his company, China-Nippon Robotics, a joint venture with a group of wealthy Japanese investors. It officially opens today. First of two big ceremonies. The Prime Minister of Japan, the Mayor of Nagasaki and several members of Parliament are on hand. Each of them will be giving a short speech, which, if you know politicians, means a long-drawn-out talk.”
“They came all the way down here for a ribbon cutting?” Joe asked.
“There’s more on tap,” Kurt said. “The cooperation agreement between China and Japan is being signed here tomorrow. Not at the factory but at a place called the Friendship Pavilion. Also built with Han’s money.”
“How to win friends and influence nations,” Joe said.
“Exactly,” Kurt replied. “But it gives us a chance to move around unnoticed. They’re running this whole thing like a trade show. Both events are open to the public. That includes us.”
Kurt navigated the narrow streets, drove onto the grounds and was directed toward an underground parking garage. After parking, they left the car, found an escalator and emerged into the hum of a bustling crowd.
Lights flashed all around them, small machines moved here and there, a holographic face projected on a veil of mist greeted them. “The future is closer than you think . . .” its recorded voice said.
Ahead of them, neon lights and pulsating music made it seem as if they were walking into a club. Artificial arms, complete with painted fingernails, stretched from a wall, offering to shake hands.
Akiko shook her head. “Akumu,” she whispered, using the Japanese word for nightmare. “It’s like the seventh ring of hell.”
Kurt noticed her demeanor. It wasn’t a phobia or discomfort, just a sort of resigned disgust, like a pious man walking into Sodom and Gomorrah. “Consider this an educational opportunity. At least you’ll know what you’re missing.”
“Or escaping from,” she said.
After picking up badges at the front desk, they were given headsets that could be tuned to a specific language. As they approached the various booths and displays, a recording was triggered in the headset, explaining what they were looking at.
The first booth was a generic industrial display. “Advanced robotics will eliminate the need for man to perform many tedious tasks,” the recording told them. “Within a decade, our robotics will replace the boredom of long-distance driving, the backbreaking labor of working in a warehouse, delivering packages or hauling away trash. Even the construction of roads will be automated by giant machines, freeing humanity from the burden.”
“And freeing them from their paychecks,” Joe said.
“Not a fan of automation?” Kurt asked.
“Not if it renders me obsolete.”
“Now you’re thinking my way,” Akiko said.
They wandered to another section of the facility where a crowd had gathered. “Here we have the service version of our latest human assistance model, the HAM 9X.”
As the light came up, they saw a female form in a French maid’s outfit. The face was soft and realistic, although quite expressionless. The eyes were bright. The lips plum-colored and supple.
“My name is Ny Nex,” the robot said, the lips moving as she spoke. A wink followed, which pleased all the men in the crowd. “I’m here to handle your every need.”
Kurt was surprised
by the human quality of the voice. It sounded neither prerecorded nor computer-generated. He moved closer and studied the machine. In a simulated kitchen, it rinsed and dried dishes and unloaded several bags of groceries, putting everything into its proper place. It then began to make a pot of freshly ground coffee, all without spilling a single grind.
“I think we’ve found the solution to your girlfriend drought,” Kurt said to Joe.
