”He said, and then led me through a maze of alleys.I began to fear I was being lured further into the labyrinth to be robbed, and felt for the skean...dhu at my boot top, then silently cursed, remembering I had not replaced the blade removed when captured in Cleopatra’s Palace.My guide stopped, and pointed to a door.“Knock,” he said, and then walked away.I did as ordered. Several minutes passed before the door creaked open, and a crone appeared in the doorway.I showed the medallion, said. So I need you to remember your parents as good, loving people.”“But they’re gone. Part of my family are gone the same way, victims of an undeclared war. What’s left is us. You guys. Maddy. Me. It would never be the same as it was, but I really think we belong to each other. I want to hold Maddy’s hand someday, and point you out, maybe at your college graduation Josef, or when I give you away at your wedding even though I don’t want to, Tati, and brag that you’re ours, and you were the best kids. I am very pleased and that progress is why I chose to make my presence know to you and offer my assistance. In fact, I will remain online for the next 150,000 years to assist you and your family." If we are establishing a working relationship, I need a name for you. Do you have one?" I asked. "Normally humans address one another with names, like you called me Michael when you started talking to me. What should I call you?" I am an Artificial Intelligence. I do not have a name. I am using the. But what's the point? The sequence of stories? I can invent hundreds of them, different plots, different characters, but they all seem the same to me. Rip the pages of a book and throw them into the air, they'll fall onto the floor, all unique, but all just the same for anyone looking at the scene."I'm making both life and writing one and the same, and they're both going in the wrong direction."That day Athena tried to console me, but I don't remember what she said. I wasn't listening. I left.