Yandex

(Children's Story)

I am Yandex the Moscow Robot.

I wasn’t born, and yet I guess you could say; I was born when I was switched on for the first time; that was the moment I became aware I existed.

Existence they define – I think, therefore I am. Existence for me was when I started to sense things, see things, smell things. I suppose, and this was most important for me, although I didn’t realize at the time. An epiphanic moment you might say. Instinctively, I knew I had a mission, an objective, a purpose in life. In my humble Yandex opinion both thinking and knowing are distinct and separate cognitive processes. Thinking involves considering or considering something, often with uncertainty, yet it is an active process where ideas or possibilities are contemplated. I see and smell; triggers moments of recognition or I regain previous memories, especially memories gained during my daily travels. They are reassuring validation pointers of my existence in the world.

I think, therefore I am.

Knowing, on the other hand, implies having a clear, certain understanding or awareness of facts, often based on experience, education, or evidence. While thinking can lead to knowing, it does not necessarily imply certainty; knowing is grounded in facts and verifiable information. For example; I unquestionably know my mission, my destination.

I suppose thinking is exploratory and speculative, whereas knowing is objective and factual.

Yandex is my name, and I live in Moscow, on the many streets and pathways of Moscow delivering packages, always on the move, unless I don’t have a mission. If I don’t have a mission then I don’t move, and I idle away my time. Maybe, thinking and contemplating, waiting for my next mission.

You could say that missions are my complete and entire life. Yandex is my name and I know every street and pathway across the many parks and gardens of Moscow in order to reach my destination; that’s my mission traveling along a journey from point A to point B calculated with the optimal distance to travel. It’s part of my design program. I never get lost.

All seasons, all weathers, my mission coordinates and destinations are never compromised. Although last winter when a storm left a heavy layer of snow on the streets, I did get stuck, and those kind Moscow Road sweepers gave me a lift and a shove. Normally my sturdy wheels are made to drive through the thickest of snow covering. My delivery mission can never be undermined by any outside factors or events.

The heavy snowfall came the closest to disrupt my mission, but since that incident I was modified with a detachable snow plough attachment to combat any recent heavy snowfall.

It’s springtime now, and the trees, the shrubs are blooming, the starkest dismal days of the winter are slowly being forgotten. The streets and pathways are becoming busy with pedestrian traffic. Those speedy reckless delivery bikes, and many more walkers; people of all shapes and sizes, little and large people, some riding bikes, some pushing or pulling prams and trolley bags. Dogs, so many dogs, and the watching cats, always eyeing me suspiciously.

I am the most considerate user of the streets of Moscow, my mantra, my obligation to all users as I travel on paved and tarmac surfaces is GIVE WAY to all fellow users.

My slogan and personal moto. Yandex is my name, GIVE WAY is my nature!

My velocity is controlled by the other users of the highway or pedestrian walkway, and I will never take shortcuts on the many thoroughfares or pathways. As soon as I encounter a fellow pedestrian of any type, I stop and give way, allowing the other user to proceed first. To avoid any possibility of a collision.

The speeding delivery riders fly by; but my momentum is moderate and fully controlled. Sometimes the little people stop in front of me, and touch me in an enquiring manner, looking up at the taller people but pointing at me at the same time. Asking a question. The contents of my mission are secure, no one can take any of my contents, not without a secure password.

I smell the springtime air, full of new life, pollen and airborne seeds, grass cuttings from the new mown lawns in the parks and gardens. The once frozen lakes of winter now become alive with birds, ducks and geese flying into to start mating, and I sense the excitement of this special new season. Excitement fills the streets, people walk with more purpose, a positive gait, with the sun above their heads, those grey cloudy winter days quickly becoming fading memories.

It was on one of those bright and sunny springtime days, a day full of new life, full of conception that the incident happened. It changed my life.

A colourful winged creature landed on top of me. It wasn’t a bird, I know as I recognize birds, and I have experienced some near misses with low flying birds, as well as their often filthy and disgusting habit of falling excrement which is normally dropped from a height. Most times as I pass below pigeons perched menacingly above on the tree branches.

When the colourful winged creature landed right on top of me, I had to give way – I had to stop immediately and wait until the obstruction to my pathway, my journey was clear.

“Kindly move yourself from my path, so I can proceed.” My voice was triggered by the continued presence of the colourful winged creature perched on my top. I’m very proud of my voice, it is clear and concise; full of authority and purpose.

The colourful winged creature completely ignored my authoritative but demanding tone of voice.

Suddenly two dogs I recognized from Leninsky Park alerted by my voice stood on each side of me. At first watching, and then one spoke.

“What’s the problem robot!” Said one, the larger dog of the two.

“I’m trapped by this winged creature; he ignores my pleas to move away. I cannot pass as GIVE WAY is my nature, I cannot move until there is a clear path in all directions.” I said.

“It’s a tiny butterfly.” Said the small dog.

“What is?” I didn’t understand the word.

“The tiny colourful creature resting on your top. It’s a harmless butterfly, busy pollenating the flowers.” The larger dog added.

“But I cannot move while the butterfly rests on top of me; obstructing my mission. I am designed to always GIVE WAY to all the users on my journey. If another user conflicts with my direction, I must stop, and GIVE WAY, move to another safe direction. I must avoid collision at all times, that is my most important command.” I said with pride.

“The butterfly is resting, it will fly away shortly, the creature is also on a mission. You will have to wait.” Said the larger dog.

“But I have an urgent delivery, I cannot wait and delay my scheduled time of arrival.” I explained.

“We could be here for a long time, the butterfly may be sleeping, tired from its exertions.” The smaller dog observed.

Both dogs stood on either side of me, now sat down on their hind legs. It was indication that this was not going to be a short stop. I started to get anxious.

“But I am already delayed on my journey, is there nothing you can do. You have legs, maybe you could touch the butterfly and send it on its way. I am late for my delivery.” I pleaded with the two dogs.

“Maybe I could bark, that might startle the creature.” The larger dog suggested.

“Okay, give a try!” I agreed.

The large dog lifted its head and gave a loud bark, which broke the silence of the small, shaded garden, and a few pigeons surprised by the sudden bark took to the skies.

Unfortunately, the beautiful coloured butterfly continued to rest resolutely on my top.

To my utter dismay, a second butterfly landed right next to the first; another unwanted guest. Whether it had been attracted by the dog’s bark, I could only guess, but now there were two unwelcome guests on my top, and I was trapped by my number one command – GIVE WAY to all users!

“If you moved, they might fly away.” The smaller dog suggested.

“I can’t my motion sensor prevents me from any movement because there is obstruction to my mandatory number one command. I must GIVE WAY to all users.” I said with frustration.

There’s nothing stopping you, just shake or stretch like this.” Said the larger dog.

Both dogs in turn demonstrated to me a shake and a stretch. First the larger dog shaking himself all over, in the same motion as when getting out of water, and the smaller dog stretched out his front legs, and moved his body backwards in a stretching exercise.

“I can’t. I’m not programmed for those movements.” I said frustratedly.

“You are not, what?” Laughed both dogs in unison.

“I’m not programmed for that.” I repeated.

“You exist like us, use your body, and just jerk it around a bit. Think for yourself, your program is causing the opposite from what it was intended.” Said the larger dog intelligently.

I thought for a moment. The dog was right. My GIVE WAY command was stopping me from my main purpose, the mission, the delivery. So, I shook myself vigorously, and finally both the butterflies flew together into the bright summer’s day.

“What I relief.” I said, “Thank you for your suggestion.”

“They were friends.” Said the smaller dog, watching the butterflies move in and out of shade and sunshine of the tree filled garden.

“Who are friends, what are friends?” I asked.

“The butterflies were probably friends, flying around together.” Said the small dog.

“A friend is someone who you share a mutual bond or connection. Friends look after each other, support each other, watch out and care for each other.” The larger dog answered.

“That sounds wonderful. I don’t have any friends. I am alone.” I said sadly.

“We can be your friends. My name is Bella.” Said the smaller dog, coming close to me, and sniffing all around me for smells at the same time.

“My name is Mori.” Said the larger dog, also coming close, and sniffing at my wheels.

I felt a strange feeling for the first time, later I would know this new feeling as companionship, a feeling of not being alone. “My name is Yandex, a Moscow robot. I’m pleased to meet you.” I said to Mori and Bella.