www.paul-riedel.de
© Paul Riedel, Munich 2018
Printed in Germany
Cover: © Paul Riedel, Munich 2018
First German Edition 2016
First English Edition 2018
Books on Demand GmbH
ISBN: 9783744853972
Born on May 27, 1960, in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo as Paulo Sergio Riedel.
He uses the name of his great-grandfather as the artist name. He finished a successful career in the IT and data banks industry 2010 and is fully devoted to his art and literature since then.
Between 2007 and 2011 he learned psychotherapy but decided not to work with it. Most of his know-how in this aided him in his interest about the human nature.
His native Portuguese brands his novels by its rich vocabulary, just as his interest for the ancient history also contributes in his style.
The world is changing, and melancholy can cloud our senses.
Abstinence of emotion is an increasing problem in our society, which is also triggered by our unstoppable technology development. Our first impulse is to feel hungry for any sign of emotion and on the other side, distrust grows and block ours sense.
How should we shape our life in the future?
If we believe to encounter any sweetheart in dating portals, think that reaching to find the long-sought dearest, it will destroy the business basis of the operator. The rising supply of dissatisfied love seekers increases his business perspectives. This result in a trivialization of the seekers, who get tired of a senseless search.
Economic principles of supply and demand are invading our privacy and altering our character.
In this short story, see how good faith and naivety can destroy a person.
Can you intellectually resist the assimilation through greater powers or missed to be a victim of an invisible technological mind?
Silence predominates in the room, and the sun light was far from showing itself on this summer day. White walls held a lighter ceiling and below they were carried by a carpet with a depressingly grey.
Office tables were almost indiscriminately distributed in the room, agreeing to the recommendation of some modern interior designers. The four men in the room glanced uncertainly at the grey floor. No cell phone rang. A humming could barely be heard in the next room.
On the monitor on the back wall, the image froze after the pause button had been pressed. A scene seemed to be taken from witty American soap operas. An Asian woman, a reporter, and flashes of light from countless sources stroke them. The stench of burned coffee drifted through the room and under the coat of silence that prevailed there, the heavy aroma was even unpleasant than usual.
“I can’t explain that.” howled a quite massive red-haired man named Angus. He was just over forty years old but looked like sixty. His last hair had already said goodbye to his head three years ago. Only at the temples were some faithful specimens of his former mane left. His face was wrinkled and reddish. In this agonizing circumstance, and with his tearful voice, his appearance resembled a figure of any ancient Greek stage play. His sentence finished in a sardonic grimace and he crouched down in his antique leather armchair.
“Too late for crocodilian tears, you prick.” Toshi's voice sounded slightly threatening. Toshi lives in Germany since he was eleven years old. Three years ago, he moved to Munich. His Japanese origins were barely recognizable, except for the sharp-edged eyes and menacing look of an angry samurai.
“I've never talked to any virtual person about my most private life.” Angus looked around in the crowd and searched in his memories for something he might have missed.
“However, this reporter lady even recalls details of your … love practices as well as details from our brinkmanship.” Toshi switched off the espresso machine and walked out of the room with the glass pot in the direction of the kitchen, where a standard coffee maker stood. He was slim and looked quite dainty for a consultant in his position, but his very determined gait revealed his assertiveness. He had been working in politics for almost fifteen years and had very competent connections with all parties and politicians.