* * *
Wong was surprised to see Sara entering his office. He had spent the previous day running the show and it hurt to revert to being number two. He had hoped she would return after the summit. Now she was back and she would most likely tell world leaders her theory about aliens.
Wong gave Sara a wooden smile. “Glad to see you, Sara. How are you?”
“Still trying to recover from the nervous breakdown, I guess,” she said icily.
Wong threw his hands up. “Come on, Sara. I was just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me by telling the world that I’m a nutcase?”
“I never used such kind of language. One of the reporters did and I reprimanded her.” He looked at the two men behind Sara. “Who are these gentlemen?”
“They’re my bodyguards.”
“Do they have permission to enter our offices?”
“Yes,” Sara said. “They’ve been cleared by the Secretary-General. This is George, who also doubles as my fiancé, and this is Agent Kane from the FBI Counterterrorism Department.”
Nzue entered the office holding a tablet. His dark face broke into a smile when he saw Sara. “I’m glad you’re back. How’s my good friend Snoopy?”
“Snoopy is alright.”
“You’re back in time for the summit,” the huge African said. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it.”
“Thanks for worrying about me, Nzue. I can see you’ve brought Professor Wong a document on your tablet. What is it?”
“It’s the speech that he was going to read at the summit if you failed to turn up.”
“Let me see it?”
“Sure.”
Sara took the tablet from Nzue and browsed the document. “I can see that you excluded all of my—shall I say—crazy ideas about extraterrestrial factors.”
“Professor Wong isn’t a fan of your revolutionary ideas, Sara,” Nzue remarked.
Sara returned the tablet to Nzue. “Send me a copy of that document. I’m sure if we combine Wong’s speech and my revolutionary ideas, we’ll come up with a great speech for the summit.”
She led George and Kane out of Wong’s office. The door to her office opened when its scanners finished scanning her irises. Kane blocked her way before she could take a step into the office.
“Gentlemen first,” he said, walking into the office.
He checked the office for a minute before he told Sara to enter. She led George into the office. Everything was just as she had left it.
“I will stay outside,” Kane said.
“Me too,” George said. “Do your job, Sah. Just pretend we’re not here.”
“Easier said than done,” Sara said, walking to her chair. “Mr. Kane, when I go to the toilet will you be my forerunner again?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” the FBI agent said.
When the two men left the office, Sara switched on her computer and read the document that Wong wanted to read to the world leaders at the summit in the event of her absence. It would have made a good speech but it contained little that had not been said in previous summits. The only new thing was the proposal for governments to obligate airline companies and space companies to build oxygenators to replace the atmospheric oxygen used by their aircraft and space shuttles. She opened the draft of her speech. It sounded new after days without reading it. She made some changes here and there in the language but she didn’t put in any new ideas. When she was tired of reading and rereading the document, she started looking at real-time satellite images of the Earth, looking for anything suspicious.
Her phone rang and she purred when she saw that the caller was Zachary Jeffery. Zachary was the Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which was better known locally as EPA. Sara worked as his deputy in EPA’s Region 2 office before he was appointed Deputy National Administrator. When he left for EPA Headquarters, she succeeded him as administrator of Region 2, which comprised New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight tribal nations.
“Zachary! It has been a long time since I last heard from you.”
“Are you alright, Sara? I saw your press conference.”
“Apart from the fact that someone tried to kill me, I’m alright.”
There was a moment’s silence as Zachary thought what to say next. “Did the President offer you bodyguards as he promised?”
“Yes.”
“Did you accept the offer?”
“Yes, I did.”
Zachary sighed with relief. “I’m glad you’re safe. So you’re convinced NASA, ESA and those companies you mentioned are involved in the attempt on your life?”
“Yes.”
“And you think some beings from another planet are stealing our oxygen?”
“Yes,” Sara said, imagining him raising his eyebrows and pursing his lips as he always did when he was skeptical about something.
“It sounds pretty complicated.”
“What do you think about my theory? Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Galileo was called crazy when he said the Earth was a globe. I don’t subscribe to your theory, but I don’t think you’re crazy.”
“Thanks for your tact, Zack.”
“I’ve got to run. Let me know if you come up with new evidence to support your theory.”
“Thanks for calling, Zack,” she said, realizing she was angry with him for not subscribing to her theory. She worked with Zachary Jeffery for four and a half years and they shared many beliefs and values. Zack was her professional soul mate. She valued his opinion more than that of anyone else in the scientific community.
George entered. He walked to her and gave her the briefest of kisses before he took out a ring and dropped to one knee. “I won’t ask you to marry me because you already said yes.” He slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you, Sah.”
“I love you too, George.” She caressed the ring with her right thumb and middle finger. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you, Sah,” he said before he pulled her head toward him and kissed her.
“When did you buy the ring?”
“Just now. I’m coming from the shopping center.”
“Let me leave you to your work,” he said, rising.
He left her looking at the ring with a silly smile on her face. The ring was made up of six diamonds that tapered in size and were handset in enduring platinum.
Nzue came to Sara’s office twenty minutes later and found her still admiring the ring.
“My mouth’s watering in anticipation of a wedding cake,” he said, looking at the ring.
“I’m engaged to be married,” she said without taking her eyes away from the diamonds.
“George is a lucky man. Congratulations on your engagement, Sara.”
“Thanks, Nzue.”
“Sara, the summit is around the corner,” he said, “We should work on polishing your speech.”
“You’re right,” she said, minimizing the satellite images on her computer. “I’ve to polish my speech.”
“Are you going to use your old draft?”
“You mean the one with my theories about extraterrestrial factors?”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t yet decided to use it,” she lied. “Wong could be right. Maybe I was being too imaginative.” Although her intuition told her to trust Nzue, she decided not to tell him her plans. Nzue was more supportive of her theory than Wong but it could be just a facade.
“Okay, Sara. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Have you made arrangements for my journey to Paris?”
“Yes, Sara. All travel arrangements for the summit have been made.”
“Thanks. How is your family in Gabon?”
Nzue looked up and sighed. “They tell me that they are alright. What can they say? They don’t want to worry me. The country is near the point of starvation.”
“We’ve got to beat El Monstruo b
efore it eats us all. It’ll be difficult but I know we’ll defeat this monster.”
“I’m glad you’re back, Sara. This place seemed so hollow without you. This place needs your optimism.”
“Thanks.”
Nzue walked out of the office.
Sara looked at the ring for a minute before she began sifting through real-time satellite images. After a quarter of an hour, she decided to look at the news on the internet. The story that was making headlines was Sam Cruz’s pledge to provide ten billion dollars for the construction of standalone ultraviolet vacuum laser plants worldwide. Everyone, from the United Nations Secretary-General, heads of governments, and scientists to the common man, praised Cruz for his generosity. Hundreds of thousands of people posted comments praising Cruz and his International Green Movement for their efforts in the fight against El Monstruo.
“He’s barking the wrong tree,” Sara reflected somberly. If he wants to save the world, he should donate money for a space force.
Although she saw little benefit in the construction of standalone UVL plants, she posted a statement praising Sam Cruz and the International Green Movement. As the head of the UN arm that oversaw the world’s environmental issues she was expected to encourage and compliment people who made efforts to save the environment. She also praised Sam Cruz on her private social media accounts.
Her engagement ring renewed her vigor in her fight against El Monstruo. She was getting married to the man of her dreams and if she wanted to raise a family with him, she had to fight El Monstruo and make the world a good place to bring children.
She paged Nzue and he promptly came to her office.
“Raise the International Green Movement and make an appointment for me with Sam Cruz.”
“You want to have a meeting with Mr. Cruz?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want us to do a joint project with the IGM?”
“No. GEMA and the IGM are fighting the same fight. I want to discuss issues of mutual interest between us and the IGM.”
“Alright, Sara. Let me make the appointment.”
“Thanks.”
Nzue took three steps toward the door before he turned and walked back to Sara’s desk.
“Sara, have you heard the sad news about Dallol, the Sahara, the Arabian Desert and the Syrian Desert.”
Sara shook her head. “No. What’s happening in those regions?”
“Yesterday, hundreds of people, mostly small kids and the elderly succumbed to high temperatures.”
Sara sighed with despair. “We’ve got to do something to alleviate the situation. The people of the world are looking to us for solutions.”
“We’re doing our best, Sara. You’re doing your best. Don’t put yourself under too much pressure.”
Sara covered her mouth with her hands, imagining the inhabitants of these hot areas being slowly baked to death.
“Sara, it’s not your fault.”
“I’m fine, Nzue. I won’t turn into a nervous wreck if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I know you’re strong, Sara. I just don’t want you to blame yourself, that’s all.”
“Thanks, Nzue. Go make the appointment for me.”
“Done,” Nzue said, walking out.
Sara’s eyes returned to the internet. One of the first stories she found about the heat-related deaths was entitled: The Poor Perish in the World’s Hottest Regions. Part of the story read as follows:
The ability to afford an air conditioning system for one’s home has become the difference between life and death in the world’s hottest regions. In several regions across the world, infants and old people who live in homes without air conditioning died from exposure to high temperatures. Most of the deaths occurred in the Sahara, Arabian and Syrian deserts. The surface temperature in some parts of the Sahara was over sixty-four degrees Celsius.
I’ve got to talk to Sam Cruz. Maybe I’ll be able to convince him to donate air conditioners to these poor people instead of funding the construction of standalone UVL plants, Sara thought when she finished reading the story.
She opened GEMA’s website and posted a message encouraging people with air-conditioned homes to take in neighbors who couldn’t afford air conditioners. She said that she was not sure whether these record-breaking temperatures were mere heat waves or had come to stay for good. If these temperatures had come to stay then the world would face a huge refugee crisis. All countries should be prepared to take in refugees from the world’s hottest regions. She ended her message by telling the world that now was not the time to be obsessed with controlling immigration. Now was the time to think about saving fellow human beings. Now was the time to consider all human beings as citizens of one united Earth.
The phone on Sara’s desk rang. She snatched it and gasped a “hello.”
“Sam Cruz is on the line,” Nzue said. “I’m putting him through.”
“Okay.” There was a click. “Mr. Cruz. It’s a pleasure to talk to you, sir?”
“The pleasure is mine.”
“I want to thank you for everything you’re doing to save the environment. I think the United Nations should have an award to honor people like you.”
“This is not the time to think about awards, ma’am. This is the time to think about saving the world.”
“You’re right, sir. This isn’t the time for personal aggrandizement. Mr. Cruz, I guess you have heard of my theory about an extraterrestrial cause of El Monstruo?”
“Yes. I saw your press conference.”
“Well, I think the world must set up a space force to protect the Earth from possible invasion or piracy. I shall try to convince the world leaders to set up a United Nations space force. Funding will be the limiting factor in the establishment of such a space force. Countries are stretched with atmospheric oxygenation efforts and it won’t be easy to convince governments to set aside funds for a space force. Mr. Cruz, I want you to consider contributing to the funds that will be required for the creation of a space force.”
“Doctor Cummings, we need to worry about providing the people of the world with good air to breathe and water to drink. We can’t afford to waste money on such a speculative operation. We have to provide the poor inhabitants of the world’s hottest regions with condensers and air conditioners. And we have to build more oxygenation plants worldwide.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, Mr. Cruz, but I think that we must set up a space force. We can even begin by launching surveillance satellites in orbit.”
“Why not use the satellites that are already orbiting the Earth?”
“Mr. Cruz, the companies and space agencies that own these satellites are hiding something.”
“You know I’m committed to saving our environment. When I saw your press conference, I discussed your theory and allegations with my colleagues in the International Green Movement. All of them don’t believe that space agencies and companies owned by people who live here on Earth will unanimously agree to cover up for some aliens who are destroying the Earth. That, Doctor Cummings, will be tantamount to committing suicide.”
“Mr. Cruz, I know what I saw. What would be my motive for falsely accusing these space agencies and companies?”
“What would be NASA and ESA’s motive for doing what you’re accusing them of?”
“I can’t explain that but a space force will. Maybe the extraterrestrial beings have the power to control people’s minds and they could be controlling the minds of the people running the space agencies and satellite imagery companies. Maybe the extraterrestrial beings have hacked into the systems of the space agencies and imagery companies.”
“I know that theories are full of maybes but I find your maybes hard to take. I’ll discuss this with the International Green Movement’s scientists and experts. I will get back to you when I hear what they think.”
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Cruz.”
* * *
Sopoaga blanched when his fleet entered th
e Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth’s powers might not have yet created a space force, but they could strike Sopoaga’s ships with air-to-air missiles, satellite-launched space-to-air missiles or ground-to-air missiles. This was the largest and most visible fleet he had ever taken into the Earth’s atmosphere. Sopoaga’s fear was also compounded by the fact that today they were using a new milking point. This time they entered the atmosphere above the South Atlantic Ocean on a location roughly equidistant from the Paraguayan coast and the Namibian Coast. This location was a safe distance away from the Falkland Islands where the British installed a strong air defense system and a 3-D radar system to guard against possible Argentine attack. If the Earth’s powers hadn’t yet found out about the milking operation as the admiralty claimed, why did they order him to change the milking point?
The fleet split into two squadrons. Sopoaga conducted the first squadron and Captain First Grade Hyvönen conducted the second squadron. The squadrons flew in circles of three-kilometer radius in the Earth’s atmosphere.
It took thirty-four minutes for all the ships to fill their tanks with oxygen. Sopoaga sighed with relief when Harvesting Fleet 4 left the Earth’s atmosphere without incident. He was on course to complete his first mission with such a big fleet.
Chapter Seven
The United Nations General Assembly Hall was packed. All one hundred and ninety-three heads of the member states of the United Nations were present together with their foreign ministers and environment ministers. Sara felt her knees wobbling as she faced the men and women who ruled the world. They were all looking at her, waiting to hear what she had to say. The whole world was watching her live on TV. She knew that everyone was curious after seeing the press conference that she held in the Russian embassy. The UN Secretary-General had been the first to speak. Now it was her turn to deliver a keynote address before the world leaders came to the podium in order of the names of their countries.
The E Utopia Project Page 15
