The Living

Zero stroked the reflective body of the Crystal W. The latest model. An even more sophisticated design. Even more three-dimensional picture. Even thinner screen. Even more user-friendly interface. Even more sound and colour settings. The Crystal Wise One. Exclusive equipment especially for him

If you are younger than eight years old, you can’t watch Rosa and Mark’s pauses. If you are over eight, enter your name and incode to watch Rosa and Mark’s pauses… See you after the break. This is the Wise One and you’re watching Who Still Does Not Agree.’

PLANETMAN (strictly): You are damaging the health of the Living with your stubbornness! You are a part of the Living and you are poisoning His body with your old age. The Living wants all of His parts to be renewed at the right time. Otherwise the Living will start to get old too.

all there was was deathly sadness, the ancient, childish fear of being left locked somewhere in the dark

The Servant of Order went up closer and wrinkled his face at the acrid smell emanating from the Wise One. Disgusting. He really does stink like an animal – of fear and sweat

He is not afraid, he is no longer weak, he is the lord of first layer. Right now he is stronger than any of these bloated, clumsy, socio people that can’t string their thoughts together. Now he is stronger than the Servant of Order standing next to him. Stronger than that clown, screwing up his face like he’s got toothache

Someone’s five seconds of darkness might accidentally turn out to be an eternity…

When I first saw it, it looked perfect to me… Then, much later I realised that it’s a sort of virus. Not a gift, but a curse

In this sense the Wise One had, one might say, got lucky. He had heard about the System from the person who knew more about it than anyone. From the very first person to see it. From Cracker.

‘The System is alive,’ his friend had explained to him. ‘It has consciousness and free will.’

It is a program that was never written by anyone – at the least, by any living – and which it is impossible to control

Limited attention syndrome is one of the Living’s chronic external illnesses…