‘Because of what had led them here, Albert. Try to imagine what it would be like to live in a world—a time—like that, where you were afraid to consume information because of what it might do to you. It didn’t mean nobody wanted to know what was happening, but everyone was just too afraid to try and find out. They mostly stayed huddled away, which in a sense was ironic because that is exactly what the Company decided to do, too. But, to return to Robert, he had a strange journey to the City. He almost didn’t make it. There was a large lobby that wanted to leave him out. He was considered too much of a liability, and offering him up as the face of what had gone wrong was seen to be an expeditious move. There were even those who wanted the Company to go after him, seeing his denouncement as the creator of the Interface as a possible alternative. His non-cooperative attitude that, honestly, almost bordered on activism, didn’t help either. It wasn’t that his genius wasn’t universally recognized or acknowledged—he had his supporters too—but still, he was in serious danger of becoming the sacrificial lamb. It was only at the very last minute that he was put on the approved list. But even so, despite all that, he still refused to toe the Company’s line on the events surrounding the Interface, saying he would not perpetuate lies.’

‘But wasn’t the alternative death? Why was he so—so—’

‘Bullheaded? Well, because that’s how he was. Although, when seen from his point of view, maybe complete cooperation was asking a bit much. Here he was, the greatest mind in the world, feted by all, used to having his own way in everything. He had spent years of his life to create the greatest scientific breakthrough of all time. Only it had somehow gone horribly, impossibly wrong, and now, instead of making him the man who had changed the world and humanity for the better, his creation was being touted as the bane of the world, however rightly. Imagine how that must have felt—to know that the reward for your greatest achievement is that nobody will be told that it is yours—to protect you.’

‘So why did he agree at all?’