THE TRUTH MACHINE
THE TRUTH MACHINE
A Journey into the Near Future
by James L. Halperin
© Copyright 1996, James L. Halperin
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The technological and political predictions dated after 1995, although based on extensive research, are fictional.
Truth be told, to observe the future without altering it is a scientific impossibility. But if your views remain fluid, even a false vision is far more valuable than no vision at all.
Intel 22g CP-TLMos
Dallas, Texas—July 15, 2050
Silently, you sit in a courtroom as the evidence unfolds against you. You can only watch and listen—in frustration, fear, and disbelief. You cannot prove your innocence, because there is no Truth Machine. Instead you pray for a miracle, a divine intervention to save your life. But the miracle never comes. Later, as they strap you to a table to receive the lethal injection that will steal your every possession and dream, you wonder if even the people you love, and who love you, secretly believe you are guilty.
That is not fiction. As recently as 26 years ago, before the Truth Machine remade our world, it happened all the time.
As of March 1, 2024, Randall Petersen Armstrong, only 34 years old, had already built the world’s most profitable corporation, becoming the wealthiest person in human history. On that day, for reasons I will try to help you understand, he chose to commit one of the greatest frauds of this millennium. Yet fraud would not be his worst offense. It was only the first in his now-infamous series of crimes that, astonishingly, would remain undiscovered for 25 years.
Since you plan to read these words, you’ll want to know who wrote them. I am an Intel 22g CP (22 billion instructions per microsecond contextual processor) from the series of 2046, specially designed for reportage. I’ve been programmed to write in journalistic style, so don’t expect scintillating metaphors or artistic imagery. If any show up on these pages, please assume they were added during editing, or that I am reporting someone else’s thoughts. What you’ll get from me are facts. When the photons strike just right, I’m even capable of some marginal irony or humor. But if you’d prefer to read a composition reminiscent of Hemingway, I suggest you stick with human authors, or at leastthe output of a 44g PIM (parallel internal memory) computer with full literary mapping applications.
Frankly however, you might wish to endure my writings. Stationed in Dallas, Texas, I have been favored with exceptional access to Randall Petersen Armstrong and David West, the two most influential people of the 21st century. Their stories are complex, and I have accumulated many facts of which you’re certainly unaware.
My owner, Mr. Thomas L. Mosely, became a reporter for the Dallas News Syndicate (at the time it was a “newspaper” called the Dallas Morning News) in June 2010, long before I was manufactured. Over these past 40 years, Armstrong and West have granted him over 700 hours of one-on-one interviews, and I enjoy real-time access to all but the most private of their archives.
Mosely also wrote the only family-authorized biography of Harold Edward Kilmer, who has come to symbolize the Swift and Sure Anti-Crime laws of 2005. Presumably, had Kilmer been given a scip[1], he would still be alive today. Thus his tragedy eloquently demonstrates the value of the Armstrong Cerebral Image Processor (ACIP), otherwise known as the Truth Machine.
With all this background, and the Armstrong trial so recently concluded, it would seem a waste for me not to write this narrative.
The appeal decision won’t be rendered for at least two weeks, not in time to include before we disseminate this document. Updates will be available later, but may be unneeded. Since his trial has been the most widely followed news story of the third millennium, virtually every person in the world will learn of Armstrong’s fate at the same time.
Thanks to his ACIP, Mosely and I have come to know Armstrong in a way that would not have been possible 26 years ago. Our goal is for you readers of The Truth Machine to understand him as well as we do. We both believe it would be best if the World Tribunal were merciful. Not to underplay the seriousness of his crimes; Armstrong has done you far more good than harm. In fact his invention may have single-handedly diverted the human race’s relentless march toward self-destruction. It seems illogical to kill him or even reduce his capacity to further contribute to scientific progress. Unfortunately the strict sentencing guidelines appear to offer little hope of leniency.
But enough speculation; we will all know the Tribunal’s decision soon enough.
REFERENCE POINTS
You can skip this section if you’d like, but unless you’re a fellow machine, it might be better if you didn’t. Even when a history is accurately portrayed—as I assure you this will be—human readers often come away with misconceptions. Very few of you boast the perfect mnemonic abilities of computers (though I realize you have other valuable attributes). To diminish the confusion that springs from a combination of authorial omission and readers’ distortion, I will provide additional perspectives.
For example, I’ll try to keep you informed of the ages of the people I discuss, but it’s easy to forget that a 50-year-old woman in say, 2010, was quite different from a 50-year-old woman today. Or if I describe a man in 2015 as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, you might think he was somewhat short in stature although actually as an adult male 35 years ago, he would have stood at average height. Also, because inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the dollar, $1,000 in the year 2000 was the equivalent of $41,500 in today’s dollars. Hence I have prepared three charts on age, height, and inflation, which appear in the Appendix at the end of this book. You might wish to refer to these charts during your reading.
This history spans about 60 years and involves many people. The Table of Contents and Individuals Introduced, which follows this section, might also be a useful reference.
Each chapter heading bears a date corresponding to the most important event described therein. What's more, every chapter appears in chronological order. I see no need to be tricky merely for the sake of drama. Drama is nice of course, but I’m more interested in clarity.
Finally, next to the date at the beginning of each chapter I will list a few of the most important news events reported in the media that day. The added historical vantage point should help you better interpret this extraordinary story.
Intel 22g CP-TLMos
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND INDIVIDUALS INTRODUCED
Chapter 1Chain of FuryDr. Alphonso Carter
Daniel Anthony Reece, Jr.
Kendall DeLoach
Chapter 2 Two Five-Sigma EventsJudith Sonntag
Randall Petersen Armstrong
Leonard Charles Armstrong
Ed & Liza Armstrong
Cassidy O’Meara
Harry & Tabitha
Chapter 3Two Worlds CollideMark Burns
Marjorie Ann Tilly
Chapter 4Blackstone’s Paradox Senator Travis Endicott Hall
Dr. Marshall Imberg
Chapter 5Escape to DallasDavid West (born Witkowsky)
Bruce, Joanne and Philip Witkowsky
Hon. Stanley Norris
Chapter 6Judgment DayJennifer Finley
Kevin Moffat
Chapter 7Harvard YardProfessor Howard Gaddis
Skipper
Chapter 8Gut CourseCharles Scoggins
Chapter 9The GoddessDiana Hsu
Larry Dannon
Chapter 10The Inspiration
Chapter 11The DebatesAudrey Whitcomb
Chapter 12Swift and SureSenator Garrison Roswell
Leo Boschnak
Chapter 13The Holy GrailMaxmilian Honeycutt
Chapter 14The TeamBill Tannenbaum
Leslie Williams
Carl Whatley
Gene Hildegrand
Haywood Thacker
Chapter 15Wall StreetAlan Bonhert
Chapter 16The Trojan Horse
Chapter 17First Release
Chapter 18Lottery
Chapter 19Medical NetworkDr. Sharon Rosenfield
Chapter 20Confidential SourceBryan “Dutch” Treat
Alison Kramer-White
Thomas L. Mosely
Chapter 21Attorney GeneralJustin West
Chapter 22Armageddon Averted
Chapter 23Cryonics
Chapter 24Senator WestHon. Joe Bob Barton
Aaron Ben-Gurion
Chapter 25The Temptation
Chapter 26Four More StatesPresident Gordon Safer
Chapter 27Innocent AccusedHarold Edward Kilmer
Colin Douglas Smith
Vice President Gail Connors
Chapter 28FrustrationWarren Kenneth Fowler
Chapter 29Second BallotGovernor Matthew Emery
Chapter 30The First Official Scip
Chapter 31Obsession
Chapter 32On the Brink
Chapter 33The Second Official Scip
Chapter 34Quarter-Millennial
Chapter 35The Mandate
Chapter 36The Amnesty Laws
Chapter 37Smaller, Faster, Cheaper
Chapter 38Diplomacy
Chapter 39Retirement President Caroline Whitcomb
The. Rev. Dr. Asia Jonas
Chapter 40A Bright New WorldDr. Leroy Hood
Dr. Maya Helene Gale
Chapter 41Future Probe
Chapter 42The Miracle
Chapter 43Leonard Leonard Gale Armstrong
Chapter 44Truth Machine Two
Chapter 45MichaelTexas Atty. Gen. Carlton Shaw
Michael Edward Armstrong
Chapter 46The TrialJudge Curtis Lezar
Chapter 47Day in Court
Chapter 48Verdict
Epilogue
Appendix
CHAPTER 1
CHAIN OF FURY
Massachusetts State Prison
September 6, 1991—The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union has just ended following an unsuccessful coup against Mikhail Gorbachev’s reformist government. Gorbachev remains in power, but Boris Yeltsin, whose heroic actions during the coup may have saved Gorbachev’s government, is now a force with which to be reckoned. Communism, for all practical purposes, is dead.—The United States, in the midst of economic recession after the Gulf War against Iraq, is entering a dangerous time of increasing isolationism. Many voters resent seeing America’s resources exploited to solve the problems of other nations and insist their leaders focus attention on problems at home, particularly the economy and violent crime.
“According to your file you were raped by your father and you murdered your mother. Tell me about that.”
Those were the first words Daniel Anthony Reece, Jr. heard from Dr. Alphonso Carter. Reece was shocked. Carter didn’t ask if he had been happy in school, or what his childhood had been like before the “incident,” or any of the other standard questions.
Just my luck, Reece thought. Affirmative action. This monkey should be flipping hamburgers, but instead he’s my goddam shrink.
In fact, Dr. Carter was famous in criminal psychology circles, and well known even outside his field. Just 31 years old, he had co-authored the best-selling book, Chain of FuryThe Cycle of Savagery in America, and so could afford to pass up the financial enticements of private practice. At Massachusetts State Prison, Carter immersed himself in the study of violence—and those who commit it. Thus he had developed a depth of understanding of the criminal mind exceptional for a man of his time.
Carter’s voice boomed and his diction was perfect, like that of a trained actor. As a boy he had stuttered horribly, the butt of cruel and inevitable teasing by the other kids in the neighborhood, until a drama teacher from the Booker T. Washington Middle School discovered his concealed talent. By the time he graduated from high school, Carter had played the lead in “Othello.” Even now his speech often seemed more like performance than conversation. Never did he use contractions or resort to street lingo.
“Mr. Reece?”
Reece sat back in his chair and sucked on a kitchen match. The two were less than four feet apart, separated by nothing—not a desk, not a coffee table. Carter’s legs were crossed, his hands folded, his massive head shaved above a face so black that when he smiled his gums seemed blue.
Reece glared. Defiance showed in his eyes—and something else.
Contempt, Carter thought to himself.[2]Mr. Reece is a racist.
He plied his sense of timing and patience. Perfectly still and silent, he gazed at Reece with such intensity that the inmate felt as though Carter was peering straight into his brain.
Reece had always enjoyed therapy sessions. In a way, he was addicted to them. Talking about himself with the various psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers made him feel important, as though his life meant something, and as if there might be some hope for him. The more he disclosed, the better he felt.
He now realized that this new shrink wasn’t going to utter another word; it was up to Reece to say something next, or there would be no further discussion.
Finally he blurted, “I was only nine, but I knew there was gonna be trouble. Dad got mean when he was drunk and I knew he’d been drinkin’ a long time ’cause he got home so late. I heard them arguin’—my mother and him I mean. Then I heard her go. She just left me with him. I never forgave her.”
Did I just tell him I blamed my mother for what happened?
Suddenly Reece wasn’t enjoying himself at all. He had never said that before. Not to anyone. What’s this black bastard doing that’s so different?
“You never forgave your mother, but it was your father who brutally raped you. Tell me your thoughts about him.”
Again the words came in a rush, unconsidered and unedited: “I didn’t really understand what was going on. I was in shock. He was like a runaway train and I was the track. Nothin’ could stop him. He smelled so bad. And it hurt. It hurt like hell.”
Carter leaned toward Reece from the edge of his chair.
“Are you absolutely certain your mother knew what was happening?”
“Certain? Shit yeah. My mother was a goddam coward, but she wasn’t dumb. She knew exactly what would happen if she left me alone with him. She knew. Next day, she wouldn’t even take me to the doctor. Scared shitless he’d call in the Child Protection—maybe lose them their precious welfare checks. Fuckin’ right she knew.”
“Did you ever tell anyone else?”
“Yeah, I sure did. I told my best friend, Joey DelGreco. Know what he said?”
“Tell me.”
“Joey says, ‘Well I think that means you’re a queer now.’ That’s what he said. But he never told anyone else. Even after we stopped bein’ friends which was right around then.” Reece laughed. “Maybe he was afraid everybody’d think he was a fruit, too.”
“So what Joey DelGreco said caused you anxiety. You felt….”
“Haven’t you read my file, dumbass? I come home one day about eight years later and my mother’s talkin’ on the phone. I ask her what’s for dinner or somethin’ like that. Anyway, she says ‘Hold your horses, you little faggot, I’m busy.’ and I snap. I just snap. Musta stabbed her 100 times. Carved her up like a goddam side a beef. Afterwards, my arm’s so tired I can’t even move it. So yeah. Yeah, motherfucker. I guess what Joey DelGreco said caused me some anxiety.”
Of course Carter hadread the file quite carefully. And as he played back earlier tape recordings of Reece and the state psychiatrist, he realized that Reece had been lying in previous therapy sessions. Before today he had always told the story differently, claiming he blacked out after arguing with his mother. “And then I just remember the police came.”
The police came because Reece had called them about 45 minutes after he carved up his mother. It was an action consistent with temporary insanity. Too consistent, Carter believed. Reece’s attorney had used the threat of an insanity defense to plea-bargain his case to second degree manslaughter.
Reece would be out of prison in less than four years.
Carter now suspected that matricide had not been Reece’s only violent crime. Unknown to Carter, Reece, as a teenager, had been responsible for a string of animal mutilations and two sexual assaults on younger children.
Also, just 16 days ago Reece had stabbed Kendall DeLoach, a fellow inmate who had tried to sell him “protection.” Reece’s response was to slide a wooden blade he had stashed earlier clean into the inmate’s throat. Miraculously DeLoach survived. In keeping with the twisted code of prisoners, the injured inmate told the authorities he had been attacked from behind and therefore couldn’t identify his attacker.
In 1991 video cameras were about the size of a man’s cap and cost a few hundred dollars each; large and expensive, but not prohibitively so. Yet because of privacy rights, these cameras could not be used in prison cell areas in the United States. So officially the assault by Reece didn’t occur. Many of the inmates and a few of the veteran guards knew the real story, but nobody acted on it. They just left Reece alone.
If they hadn’t, our world might look very different.
CHAPTER 2
TWO FIVE-SIGMA EVENTS
Massachusetts State Prison
January 6, 1995—The Republican party assumes majority control of Congress after an unprecedented rejection by voters of the liberal policies instituted by legislators over the previous six decades since the New Deal. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose political action committee, Gopac, helped elect many Republican legislators, is now considered the second most powerful politician in America.—Russia’s President Yeltsin, who replaced Gorbachev as the nation’s leader, finds himself in political peril over his government’s inept and tragic war in Chechnya.—The United States public rivets itself on the upcoming double-murder trial of former football star O.J. Simpson. The trial will offer many Americans a long-term, close look at their expensive and flawed judicial system.—Through delicate diplomacy conducted at the eleventh hour by former President Jimmy Carter, war is narrowly averted in Korea, for the time being.