Quantum State, page 22
Our kiss is something I'll never forget, and it is not like any of the kisses before, that were awkward or filled with reservations. Nothing holds us back now, nothing keeps us apart and as one of only five people at the ceremony who know the full truth, we feel as if this secret we share between us has bonded us even more.
His lips are wet, moist. The supple, tender skin touches mine and it's like a waterfall rushing in and out again. My knees feel weak, and our arms embrace each other with a strong hold. I think my right foot even curls upward and towards my back.
Esfir holds me like this for several minutes, as we bask in each other and don't want to let go, until the audience cheers and stands from their seats before venturing off to tables of treats to the left and right of us. I linger with Esfir on the stage, at the center of it all, holding on to his collar—just watching. I watch my papa and stepmum maneuver among the crowd with Julian between them, and watch Kazimir as he nestles his arm over his new wife-to-be and they cuddle in a corner of chairs with a plate of Baklava and cinnamon cookies, and look completely content. I watch Inna as she tries to calm the excitement in Anna and Vera over my marriage…and I'm so glad I get to share my life with all my friends—even if they were never close. Maybe one day, Anna will have children of her own and our kids will play together. Maybe one day, I'll pass down stories to my own children. Of what, I'm not sure just yet. The truth? The lie? I imagine how different life will be for my children (if Esfir ever agrees to have them with me, and if we can actually have biological children as 3rd generation clones), in a world where protests are allowed as long as they are not violent. In a world where they might know the truth even if not from me—but from MAQS, in a world that might be ready to progress further, and become a part of the experiments of which Mama is now a part of on the outside. Maybe—just maybe—they might get to know their grandma as a hero after all, not as rebel who committed suicide. By the time I have children, if I truly can with these perfected cloned genes, Mama will have passed—as all clones do around forty. I want Mama's memory to be true, to be of the woman I got to know in the later part of her life.
Suddenly, quicker beats play, something called Swing music. Everyone starts to dance. Hands are thrown into the air, and any fear I ever thought I had dissipates—even the fear of never seeing Mama again, because MAQS promised I can spend time with Mama every Saturday to help in the experiment, so long as I keep Mama and the experiment a secret from Cherni.
MAQS will select a few citizens every month with potential for the experiment, whom she determines through her algorithms will serve her and Cherni. Those select few will be the only ones ever to know the full truth. I guess I take comfort in knowing that my kind is a growing breed, that eventually one day all of Cherni's citizens might be let in on the secret, that the boundaries of Cherni will expand with biological children and protected tunnels filled with gardens like the one Mama lives in now, and there will be no more rebels fighting to escape.
After my wedding, the Calypso Tower prisoners remain in prison, unable to be trusted. After everything they've seen underground with MAQS, it will be hard to convince them to be quiet without knowing the truth—a truth they are not ready for just yet. So, MAQS determines it will be best to keep them in prison where they'll be clean, well-fed, and cared for until they are ready—until all of Cherni is ready. They will get enough time outside, though closely guarded, and most importantly away from the rest of Cherni society, and unable to incite more citizens to rebel.
MAQS determines I will lead the Future Finders, another kind of group, based not in a desire to rebel, but to work with MAQS so that all of our futures can be secured—even that of my future children. Many who protested that night when I was jailed join me. I am the face of the future now, at least inside of Cherni. MAQS wants it that way. Still, some feel I have betrayed them and decide to form a group of their own. I won't know if or when that other group might rise like Freedom once did and fight for escape, but MAQS said not to worry, that she has predicted all possible outcomes and has strategies already in place.
As odd as it sounds, I think now, I can finally trust her.
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THE END
Discussion Questions
How would you describe the relationship between Masha and Esfir?
Is the relationship with Kazimir the same or different? How?
Do you think you would trust a quantum computer making all the important decisions for you? Why or why not?
Why do you think Masha felt compelled to challenge MAQS?
Do you think that one day we might have quantum computers deciding things for us?
What were some of the themes you found in the story and are they relevant today?
Author Biography
M. Black is a pen name of Ami Blackwelder.
M. Black is her dystopia and thriller line of books. Rebecca May is the pen name for her historical and contemporary line of books. Ami Blackwelder writes paranormal and sci-fi novels.
Her stories range from Tween & YA to Adult. Growing up in Florida, she graduated UCF and in 1997 received her BA in English and additional teaching credentials. Then she packed her bags and travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand in her early thirties.
Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University), her short fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the USA.
Later, she achieved the semi-finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand's Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand's People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in Korea's AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.
Thank you to all my supporters, family, friends, and fans for making this novel not just a dream, but a reality.
A special thank you to my alpha-readers, beta-readers and editors!
Without all of your readership, fan support and advice, I would not be able to do what I do. I love writing. It has always been my passion and I am so fortunate to be able to write the stories I love for my readers.
You may also download this novel on Kindle, Nook, and iPad or go to your local bookstore and order a copy. Or go to my main website (http://AmiBlackwelder.blogspot.com) and order an autographed novel for only $7.99 using the email link touch-of-grace@hotmail.com.
M.Black can be found here http://MiaBlackThrillers.blogspot.com and has a planned upcoming line of books in the dystopia and thriller genres that you can check out at her website.
Follow her blog to know when the sequel to Exotiqa, SPHERE, will be released as well as her novella 1.5 in the Exotiqa world, entitled Thirty.
If you enjoyed this, please try EXOTIQA by M. Black. A novel about the balance between robot and man.
Also try a YA Cli-Fic Dystopian entitled Simulation by M.Black, and Shifters, an alien invasion novel by A. Blackwelder
All her work is available at her websites:
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Please consider joining Ami Blackwelder's newsletter found at her website. M.Black and Rebecca May books are also announced on the newsletter sent out by Ami Blackwelder.
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Table of Contents
State of Affairs
State of Fear
State of Captivity
State of Disillusionment
State of Equilibrium
State of Revelation
State of Panic
State of Realization
State of Relations
State of Escape
State of Discord
State of Rebellion
State of Chaos
State of Uncertainty
State of Hope
State of Desolation
State of MAQS
State Of Truth
State of Masha
State of Happiness
Discussion Questions
Author Biography
M. Black, Quantum State
