In a sun-drenched meadow, a young shepherd sat amidst his flock, his brow furrowed and gaze distant, lost in thought.
His friend, an alien scientist, approached with an inquiry, “The day is glorious, and your sheep are at peace. Why then, do you bear such a burden of worry?”
“The villagers have entrusted me with their flock,” the shepherd answered. “But when wolves lurk, and aid is far, our sheep fall prey to the predators.”
“Worry not, my friend,” the alien assured, presenting an orbuculum. “For you, a fine human of responsibility and care, I have brought this Orb of Foresight from beyond the stars. It shall illuminate in anticipation of any wolf attack, granting you time to summon the villagers and protect your sheep.”
Holding the orb with reverence, the shepherd voiced a humble query, “I am deeply grateful. May I inquire how it foresees threats with accuracy?”
In response, the alien led him into a realm of surreal beauty. Beneath them, a path of light unfurled, branching off near and far until disappearing into the horizon.
“Behold, the Road of Counterfactuals,” the alien intoned. “Powered by the same quantum neural networks as the orb, it serves as the nexus to countless parallel universes. Each path represents a choice, and each choice an outcome. Absent the orb, your flock faces ruin in the next attack; with it, they shall thrive.”
Eyes widened, the shepherd gazed towards the road’s end, witnessing two versions of himself in the outcomes – one shrouded in sorrow, the other aglow with joy. He whispered in awe, “How astounding!”
“There’s more to see,” the alien spoke with a knowing smile, guiding him through a spectrum of diverse realities, where the Orb of Foresight, revered as “artificial general intelligence”, enlightened doctors in diagnosis and treatments, empowered judges in discernment and justice, and counseled leaders in strategy and governance…
Enthralled, the shepherd wandered through these visions until dusk whispered the time to return home.
###
Days later, the two met again.
“I am profoundly indebted,” the shepherd began earnestly. “Three times this week, the orb forewarned of the attack. Those wolves vanished like shadows at the mere sound of the villagers’ footsteps.”
Yet, the alien’s expression bore a tinge of concern. “I fear I have erred in gifting you such a flawless instrument. Though it predicts with accuracy, the villagers have never witnessed the wolves. Now, suspicions of a hoax cloud their minds.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Stunned, the shepherd pleaded, “But I’ve spoken only truths. There must be a way to prove my integrity. Could you not show them the Road of Counterfactuals? Let them see what I have seen. Surely, they will then believe.”
“My human friend,” the alien signed, “not all are destined to see the parallel realities.”
“Is there no other way?”
The alien pondered for a moment before saying, “Think about the ‘Crocodile Dilemma’ – a crocodile captured a child and posed a challenge to the mother: predict whether it would consume her child. A correct guess would see the child returned; an incorrect one, devoured. If you were in her shoes, what would your guess be?”
Mulling over the scenario, the shepherd replied: “I’d assume the crocodile intends to eat the child. Thus, if correct, the crocodile is obliged to return the child. If wrong, it couldn’t harm the child. But how does this relate to my situation?”
The alien elaborated. “The crocodile, eager to devour the child yet hoping the mother was wrong, found itself ensnared by the mother’s logic. Similarly, the villagers seek congruence between your warnings and reality, but their interventions to avert wolf attacks inadvertently created a contradiction. The mother in the tale was fortunate; her prediction, whether true or false, ensured her child’s safety. Your situation, however, presents a profound dilemma. Even though you’ve successfully safeguarded the flock, each averted danger only fueled skepticism about your honesty, since the anticipated threat never came to fruition. In your next battle, the orb shall guide you to another triumph, yet the villagers’ mistrust will also peak. Marked as a deceiver, you’ll be ostracized to a grim end, at the mercy of the very wolves you’ve striven to fend off.”
Overwhelmed with despair, the shepherd stood silently.
“In your aid,” the alien revealed, “I visited the wolves’ territory, trying to persuade their alpha from hunting.”
“And their response?”
“Unfortunately, they declined. The younglings must feed.”
“So,” The shepherd managed a rueful smile, “I am to sacrifice for their pups? What a noble end for your sole human friend, eh?”
“Not necessarily,” the alien said, “the wolves’ alpha, more attuned to the human heart than I, proposed an alternative – delay your call at the orb’s next signal. It may risk some sheep in the immediate scenario, but once the villagers witness the wolves, they’ll recognize your honesty. Your life and the long-term safety of the flock will thus be preserved.”
After a moment of contemplation, the shepherd, serene yet resolute, declined. “I value your counsel, but my duty is to safeguard the flock without compromise. The burden of being misjudged is heavy, yet I must uphold what is right. When the time comes, I shall again sound the alarm without hesitation.”
The alien gazed deeply into the shepherd’s eyes, before a resigned nod, “If that is your choice.”
As the shepherd and his flock faded into the distance, the alien murmured, “Forgive me, my friend. Human virtues bind you to a path of unwavering integrity, yet alien ethos compels me to save the innocent from wrongful demise. Perhaps, influencing the villagers’ response to your future calls is necessary. A slight delay would bring some losses, but surely your life merits greater consideration.”