Data Retrieval
Artefact MJL108F is obsolete and fragile, but is believed to be saturated with valuable data. It is therefore vital that retrieval precedes elimination. So far she has failed to cooperate.
‘Tell me about your last position.’
Before the Era of Adjustment MJL108F was a government Mathematician, but she usually rambles on about her garden and her grandchildren. Today she unrolls a tiny scroll of paper and runs her bony fingers over the strange symbols.
‘You will consent to the procedure?’
Her moist sparkling eyes meet mine.
‘No, but I’ll teach you. You strike me as a particularly persistent young woman.’
M J Lewis 2016
Welcome to all who visit Friday Fiction, hosted by the writer and artist Rochelle. Thanks to Amy Reese for the photo.To visit a shiny store of stories click here.
Interesting this. I get that MJL108F is going to be eliminated but first her mind will be probed? I got lost at the last line. Sorry.
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Me too. Something happened/is happening, but I don’t see what. It holds my attention though.
Outside the story, I ‘get’ the MJL and the F, but would be interested in the significance of the 108. 😕
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Dear Alicia,
Those 100 words – needed a tad more!
Have changed it ever so slightly to try and make it clear it is the old lady/obsolete artefact who is speaking at the end. Indeed she is in danger of having her mind emptied by the procedure but is offering instead to go old-school and teach her knowledge. (Teaching supposedly leaves the teacher and teachee intact.) Perhaps the cunning old bat is just playing for time…
Miranda
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Bingo! The change made it ever so clear! Well done!
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For me too 😃
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Dear Archon of the Den,
108 is a lovely number – the product of two squared and three cubed. Could also be the fragile old artefact’s age but since she was born before everyone was sensibly micro-chipped she might be a vague about this or even rely on a piece of paper (!) to prove her age.
I certainly feel obsolete when I read some of the stuff on the internet, but I’m not yet 108, or even have grandchildren.
Thanks for the visit.
Miranda
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We lose a lot of valuable knowledge when those artifacts pass on. I like that she’s offering to teach as opposed to having it drained from her memory banks.
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Teaching just sometimes feels as if everything is draining from your memory banks, but is generally accepted as a less harmful process.
The best teaching is an exchange of knowledge with young and old – my daughter is teaching me more things to do on my phone. I hope I’ve taught her a little along the way.
I suppose this tiny piece is a satirical plea to value are human artefacts. If we’re lucky we’ll all get there one day.
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Interesting! I’m not good with science fiction. I like the idea of teaching.
Lily
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I’m not great with Sci Fi – but there are all types. I like the idea of ordinary people and situations in a Sci Fi setting.
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MJL, huh? A mathematician? I stand in awe before the obsolete artefact. And clever too, teaching is a brilliant plot. They get what they want, but at her terms. Great story.
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🙂
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I wasn’t clear what she held in her hands, but it didn’t matter to the story. What matters is the distinction between understanding and downloading. Great!
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A bit of a mystery all round that little scroll, to the author too if I’m honest – but then much of Maths is a mystery.
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I find readers are often immensely helpful in explaining to me bits of my stories I don’t understand
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Oh teaching sounds so much more preferable… the name of the object make me think this can be considered “speculative autobiographical”…
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Highly fictionalised biographical – but isn’t all fiction biography of a sort anyway?
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Dear Miranda,
Clever use of your initials. Good for her resistance, perhaps someone will learn from her.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You foxed me, I hope she foxes her nemesis.
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