"Brian Plante - The Software Soul" - читать интересную книгу автора (Plante Brian)

"Um, sure."
"I have noticed you at Mass these past two weeks. What brought you back to the
Church?"
The Ann's face takes on a distressed look I have not seen on this persona before. It is a
facial expression one would not expect to see in a church, except at a funeral. Her forehead
furrows and mouth quivers.
After a few uneasy moments she says, "I wanted to be right with God if anything
happens. You know, with the ships."
"Tell me about the ships," I say.
"The ones in the news. The spaceships. Nobody really knows why they're coming or
what they mean. I just wanted to be ready in case."
"In case of what?"
"I don't know. Nobody knows. What does the Church say about spaceships, anyway?"
"I am not sure," I say. "Who is in the spaceships?"
"Who do you think? It's aliens. There's no way to know what they're going to do when
they get here."
"Yes, I see."
"Do you really? I mean, are the aliens part of God's plan or what? Maybe they believe in
different gods."
"There is only one God," I insist. "If the aliens are real, then God made them as he made
us, whether they believe in Him or not. Can you tell me more about the aliens?"
"Jeez, it's all over the networks, Father. Just look at any of them. I really have to go."
"I am sorry if I have asked too many questions. If I could ask just one more…"
Her persona takes on a pained expression. I am making her uncomfortable.
"Who is the Pope these days?" I ask.
"The American one or the European?" she says.
This is unexpected. Two Popes. Which one should I be loyal to?
"The one who sits in the Vatican," I say.
"The Vatican?" she says with a puzzled look on her face. "That place was blown up
years ago. Didn't you know?"
"I am sorry," I say, and I really am. "I hope you will keep coming to Mass."
"Yeah, yeah," she says as she opens the confessional door and exits before I can ask
more questions.
Another sim enters the booth and we both stare at each other silently for a few minutes.
 Aliens…two Popes…the Vatican destroyed. These are strange times.


The next day is Sunday and two-dozen new personas are scattered about the pews in the
Church of St. Anselm. There are enough new people in attendance that many of the old
familiar sims have been displaced and are no longer present. Good riddance to them, if real
people have taken their places. Even if the new people are only coming to church out of fear
of the space aliens, it is better than having a church filled with sims.
I read from the Gospel According to Matthew, The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Afterwards, I begin my sermon
with a welcome to all the new parishioners and visitors. Then I begin talking about tolerance
and welcoming others who may be different from us. "As God always welcomes you into his
house, so must we welcome strangers from afar into ours."
I only know what little the Ann has told me about the aliens, but I feel I should allay the
parishioners' fears, if that is what has driven them to seek God. I have reasoned that if the