Page 167 - TruthAboutLyingFinalAmazon19
P. 167

Nicholas Boothman
"How many fail?" Henry asked.
The holographic display shifted, showing thousands of
data points where the vast majority glowed a terminal red.
Of the seven thousand four hundred and twelve preserves
monitored, the Curator revealed that only four hundred and
twenty-two had successfully graduated. Jinji’s hands went
perfectly still as she stared at the rotating data.
"Six percent," Jinji said. "We have a six percent chance.”
"You have the chance you create," the Curator corrected.
"The statistics describe the past. You determine the future.”
"What happens to the ones that fail?" Henry asked,
though he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
The holographic display shifted, showing different
colored pathways. "It depends on the nature of the failure.
Some species destroy themselves through war. Some
through environmental collapse. Some through
technological singularities they cannot control. Each failure
mode requires a different intervention."
"Intervention," Vincent repeated. "You mean you don't
just let them die."
"We preserve what we can," the Curator said. "There are
three standard protocols."
The display changed, showing three branching paths in
sharp relief.
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