Canto XXV
Seventh Terrace; Lust in
creation
Scene II
“In a nut shell --- pardon
the pun --- I was not given the five senses but I do have a mind --- or rather
storage with my codes and routines. Without those senses, I won’t be plagued by
those limitations of the living soul.” Statius told Dante.
“A soul gives you personality.
If I can recall, Virgil he was able to interpret the living action by referring
to past events or actions permissible by the program. He was able to think
independently.” Dante looked at Statius.\
“I can’t reply for
Virgil, but in my programming codes, there was analytics which I was allowed to
query and learned of its impact. Regardless of that, I am bound by the rules of
robotics;”
“A
robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm; A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law. And the last law; A robot
must protect its existence as long as such protection does not conflict with
the First or Second Laws.”
“And there is the Fourth Law; A
robot must reproduce. As long as such reproduction does not interfere with the
First or Second or Third Law." Dante added on. “Could you do that?”
Dante looked to Virgil and then continued.
“You may be the first
and probably not his last. Virgil, there was proof.” Dante smiled. “Same
mother, I hope. Or ---”
“We are not like the
living souls. We do not need a set to create us. We can be constructed by one
entity.” Statius cut in.
“Asexual reproduction
then? It does exist in the living realm; a type of reproduction that does
not involve the fusion of gametes or change in
the number of chromosomes. The offspring
that arise by asexual reproduction from either unicellular or multicellular organisms inherit the
full set of genes of their single parent.” Dante smiled. “I am not a construction
engineer but ---”
“I
am not. He is not. We are constructed by Virgil, our creator. We do not have
the need ---” Statius defended his existence.
“You do realize that
your creator has two or more lovers; I meant the ones he supposedly wedded. I
wonder how many he fathers in his lifetime?” Dante posed the question.
“My creator--- father,
Virgil has no children of his own except us--- I am the fifth generations he
created, and --- Virgil ----”
“Ninth.” Virgil hollered
out. He was in communicating with Statius remotely.
“Affirmative,” Statius
replied Virgil.
“Why did Virgil keep on
creating newer versions of you but no children of his?” Dante asked. “And none
of his? And who are his wives? He may need them unless ----”
“Unless what, Dante?”
Virgil had approached them.
“The prodigal son is
here.” Dante greeted Virgil. “Please tell me, Virgil. Who are the wives of your
creator?”
“I do not know. I never
met them.” Virgil replied. “Why is it important?”
“I don’t know. Just a
thought of mine. What about --- Gentucca?”
Both Statius and Virgil
remained silent.
“Gentucca was Dante
Alighieri’s lover during his exile. The real Dante Alighieri wrote the poems
that your creator, Virgil had read through, and yet he did not store in both of
you the name Gentucca or his wives’ name. He would have recorded it in you.”
“Does it matter here,
Poet?” Virgil asked in a hostile tone.
“I guess not but there
are many baffling queries I have. It may take time for me to get those
replies.” Dante chose to close the subject. He then stood up to move. He took
fore without waiting for Statius and Virgil. Their walk was short and arrived
at an extraordinary scene.
There was a wall of fire
that appeared before them. In the wall of fire, Dante saw the images of souls
there. They were inside moving there. They seemed to be doing some works but
not understood by Dante then. He stepped forth and examined the wall of fire.
“Don’t stare into it. It
will ---” Virgil cautioned Dante.
“Fire--- Extraordinary,”
Dante exclaimed out. It had been taken by Statius and Virgil who were not
expecting that reaction. They looked at what was seen by Dante. It was indeed
fire; the flaming fire that appeared to be a wall of it.
“Why
fire?” Dante looked to Statius. “I have not seen that since we left Hell. Do
you know the significance of fire? Fire symbolizes many things, including passion, desire, rebirth,
resurrection, eternity, destruction, hope, hell, and purification. These
symbols have been used in literature, film, and religious texts for millennia.
Fire has been used by humans for many long years. Centuries to be exact.”
“It gave us an edge over the other
living organism. We control fire to evolve as a species. We used fire to cook
food, forge tools, and stay warm at night. Fire has had enormous benefits to
humankind. And from our earliest literature, humans have written about the fire.
They have written about its ability to nourish and protect, but also harm and
even kill.”
“Similarly, you and I may write the same
book and interpret fire in completely different ways in the creation. The
symbolism of fire can change depending upon the context. In one book, it may
represent passion. In another, it may represent destruction.” Dante added on. “As
in lust, it can be passion or destructive.”
“I am baffled.” Statius looked at
Virgil. “What is he doing?”
"If
anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay
or straw, 13 their work will be
shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will
be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s
work. 14 If what has been
built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will
suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the
flames. 1 Cor 3:12-15.” Dante recited the passage from the Book.
“Poet, what are you?”
Virgil asked. “Are you --- mad?”
“Your nouns, Virgil.
You are getting it wrong.” Dante looked at Statius. “What do you say, Statius?”
Statius remained silent
then. He then looked at Virgil.
“I think he knew. He is
not the bait but the tiger which will make us the bait.” Statius opened up. “Am
I not right, Dante? When did you know? Or, rather how did you know?”
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