by J. W. Huemme
Cindy couldn’t believe her ears. The general was talking about murdering billions of innocent people without warning. Her horror was written all over her face. Christopher shared her feelings; however, he didn’t allow himself to show them. Experience had taught him the wisdom of such behavior. Besides, he had no doubt they were being monitored for their reaction. The entire room was most likely bugged with both audio and video from one end to the other. Christopher was concerned about Cindy’s show of emotion. He didn’t want to see her do anything that might jeopardize herself. In the present circumstances, there wasn’t much he could do but hope for the best.
“All of you will be notified,” the general went on. “The same as you were for this meeting. You will receive the notice well enough in advance to give you plenty of time to prepare for your arrival. Those of you who are married may bring your wives and children, but that’s it. No parents, friends, or other relatives. You will not tell any members of your family anything of this before you arrive here on that day. We can’t count on their silence, and the last thing we want is a last-minute panic on our hands, or worse, a mob of irrational people outside the shelters trying to gain entrance.
“If you should decide for moral or other reasons that you don’t wish to participate in Operation Down-size, you are welcome to walk away. Let me warn you, however, that if anyone should try to go public about what you have been told here today, you will be dealt with severely. If we are to succeed in our attempt to save mankind, we can’t risk exposure. You will not know who is or isn’t involved, so you can’t be sure who you can trust or confide in. There are people from almost every field and almost every country in the world involved in this operation. Basically, seven percent of the population is involved.
“Does anyone have any questions?” the general asked. There was a silence in the room as everyone tried to comprehend the scope of the information they had been given.
Christopher felt it would be wise to appear to go along with the operation for the time being. He knew that when the time came for his true objections to the immoral nature of the plan to be made known, those feelings must come as much of a surprise as the Japanese bombs to Pearl Harbor. For now, a good question seemed to be in order.
“General Harding, how do you plan to deal with the power plants? Left on line unattended for up to a year could cause catastrophic results. And when is the operation set to take place?”
The general looked pleased with himself. This was a question he could get his teeth into with a good answer. “Good question Mr. Adams. There are people already committed to Operation Down-size who are top people in the power companies. They will, at the appropriate time, alter the computer systems controlling the power plants, falsely indicating an overheating condition in the core, causing an automatic shutdown. As far as the fossil burning plants go, they will just run out of fuel and shut down themselves, never to be restarted again. After Operation Down-size, we will use nuclear, hydro-electric, solar, and wind powered generators only for our source of power. Actually, we won’t use many of the nuclear power plants—only enough to fill the gap left by alternative sources. You see, we’ve covered all the bases. As far as to when we will commence with Operation Down-size, I can’t give you an exact date and time. That information will not be passed on until the notices are sent to you. I can tell you it will be approximately two months from now. Any other questions?”
The colonel raised his hand and asked, “How do you intend on dealing with survivors? Certainly some people in remote areas will survive, like people on ships at sea.”
“Another good question,” the general replied. “After the pilots are picked up by the submarines, they will launch their remaining missiles that were kept in reserve over the open ocean also set for air burst. This will sink most of the shipping traffic from resulting tidal waves produced by the blasts, with the rest perishing from the temporary neutron radiation. But you are right Colonel, there will still be some survivors, most likely in remote areas. They will simply become part of the program or be eliminated. It’s as simple as that. Remember, we’re only sheltering seven percent of the population. This allows for a three percent survival rate without risking the success of Operation Down-size. This is twice the projected numbers. It shouldn’t be a problem. Any other questions?” There was a long silence, as several people brought in trays of sandwiches and drinks. “If there are no more questions, I’ll give you a chance to have a bite to eat before your return trips. Thank you.” With that, those who had brought in the food left the room, leaving four alone to eat. It was really more of a chance to monitor their reactions with no one else around.
Christopher tried to keep an open dialogue with Cindy. “Can I bring you a sandwich or something to drink?”
“I can take care of myself,” Cindy responded with a little hostility in her voice. As she got up and went to the table where the food and drink had been left, her body language made it clear she no longer would be open to Christopher. Even though he shared her feelings, he knew better than to show them now. He followed her to the food table hoping to try and calm her down a little.
As he took a plate and started to fill it with items to eat, he spoke to Cindy. “You know, Cindy, I don’t believe Operation Down-size is anybody’s first choice to solve the situation, but you have to agree the survival of the human race has to be a priority knowing what will happen if things are allowed to continue on their present course.”
Cindy didn’t even look at Christopher as she said, “I can’t believe you’re willing to go along with this. When we met, you seemed special.” She turned and looked Christopher directly in the eyes. “I even found myself attracted to you. You didn’t seem like the kind of person that would ever go along with something like this.”
“Forget what you heard here today for a minute and ask yourself this question: If you knew the end of the human race was about to happen and you could stop it, would you?”
“Not if it meant murdering billions of innocent people.”
Christopher knew he had to at least get Cindy to sound like she would think about it for her own safety. “Let me put it to you another way. If you had a life boat and you saw a ship about to sink, knowing you had only enough room in the life boat for one-tenth of the people, wouldn’t you save as many people as you could, or, knowing you couldn’t save them all, would you not save any? Isn’t that kind of what Operation Down-size is trying to do?”
“To fill the life boat?” Cindy thought for a second. “Well, I see what you mean, but I don’t know. I have a first mission to fly next week. I really won’t have time to think of anything else until after that.”
“All I’m saying is, it all comes as a bit of a shock. Give it a chance to sink in before coming to a decision. Okay?”
“Perhaps you’re right. Not that I agree with it, but that I should think about it for a while.”
Christopher smiled at Cindy. “That’s the spirit.” She didn’t return his smile.
Christopher was very concerned for her welfare. She made things worse by sitting by herself to eat. To try and make the best of the situation, and sew a few positive seeds, Christopher sat down with the colonel to eat.
Christopher said, “It’s a tough call but it looks like there’s really no choice.”
The colonel responded, “Your friend doesn’t seem to agree with you.”
“I think she’ll come around once she’s had a chance to sleep on it. Women are such emotional creatures and that was a pretty big bite there. I think once she’s had a chance to chew on it for a while, she’ll see the big picture a little more clearly.”
“I hope for her sake you’re right,” the colonel said as he bit into a sandwich.
A few minutes later, the general reappeared. “If you have all had enough to eat, we’ll start getting you back to where we picked you up.”
The general led the four back down the hall they had first come in through, to where four vans were parked. Christopher recog
nized his from earlier that morning by the name “Ace Pluming” on the side. The others were equally discrete. There was the van Cindy walked toward, “Tom’s Electric Service.” The colonel headed toward a van bearing the name “Speedy Courier.” The third man’s transport bared the name “Handy Office Supplies.” The return trip was pretty much a reverse of the original journey. The rear facing seat, the blindfold and all.
During the return trip, Christopher thought as much about Cindy as he did about Operation Down-size. Not only did he think of what terrible circumstances to be in when finally meeting someone to which he was attracted, but he was also very worried about what they would do if they seriously considered her a threat to the operation.
Christopher was taken back to the exact street corner where he had first seen the van. Once there, he was told, “You can remove the blindfold now.” The door was pulled open, and as soon as he stepped out, the door was quickly closed as the van sped off and disappeared into traffic. He returned to where he had parked his car and got in, but didn’t start the engine. He took out his cell phone and called Barb at the office.
“Hello, Barb. If there’s nothing important pending, I’m going home and I’ll see you in the morning.” Christopher had a lot of things to think about, and he always seemed to think a little clearer sitting at his desk either at home or at the office. On this occasion, the desk at home seemed like the logical choice.
As he drove home, he still couldn’t get Cindy off his mind. This was the first time in his life he found himself having to deal with feelings of this nature. As much as he was a master at figuring out puzzles, he was beginning to realize that a woman’s emotions were a puzzle not meant to be figured out by mortal man. He remembered having read such things while in some of his classes back in school, but he had never given it much thought. The opposite sex rarely, if ever, occupied his thoughts. He was beginning to realize that with all of the amazing things he had done, nothing prepared him for what he was feeling now. Unfortunately, there wouldn’t be much time to sort it all out if Operation Down-size couldn’t be stopped. Most of all, he was worried about the reactions to Cindy’s statements earlier today. And he was worried about the safety of his mother and the others he had come to love. Suddenly life had become very confusing.
Chapter Eight
Deaf Ears
Christopher had a lot of thinking to do that night. He heard his words to Cindy echoing in his head. He had made such good and logical points in an effort to calm Cindy, so he was finding himself a little confused. The mind he had come to depend on for everything was suddenly not providing him with the answers he so desperately sought. Then it hit him: a feeling of helplessness, the likes of which he had never felt. He found himself wanting to go home to the house he grew up in. He had gone there so very many times in the past for his parent’s sake. After his father passed away he went even more to be supportive of his mother. Now, for the first time, he needed to go for his sake.
That’s it, he thought in desperation, I’ll take some vacation time and go home. Once there, I’ll get this whole mess sorted out. That decided, Christopher went into his bedroom to try to get a few hours of sleep.
“Good morning, Barb. Could you come into my office, please,” Christopher asked as he stepped off the elevator on the third floor.
“Certainly. I’ll be right in,” Barb replied.
“Is everything all right Christopher? You don’t seem like yourself today,” she said as she entered his office.
Christopher looked up at Barb from behind his desk and did something he very rarely did: he told a little white lie.
“I talked to my mother yesterday and, well, she’s not feeling very well, so I think I’ll move up my vacation and go spend some time with her. If you could, Barb, check my schedule and see if there’s anything that absolutely can’t wait for a week or two.”
“I’ll check it right now. It’ll just take a couple of minutes,” Barb replied.
“Thank you Barb,” Christopher said as Barb left his office for her desk to check his schedule. Christopher went through his messages from yesterday to see if there was anything that couldn’t wait. There was nothing earth-shaking.
Barb came back in. “Barb, I really hate to ask you this, but would you notify the necessary department heads for me? I’m just not feeling up to par right now. I guess I’m just worried about my mother,” he said.
“Certainly, Christopher. Don’t you worry about a thing. You go take care of your mother and I’ll take care of everything here. You’ve been gone before and everything was still here when you got back, wasn’t it?” she smiled.
“What would I do without you, Barb?” Barb returned to her desk and a few moments later Christopher picked up his ringing phone. It was Barb.
“What are you still doing here?” she asked.
“Well, I thought—”
Barb cut him off. “I’ve taken care of everything. Now go home.”
“You’re the greatest, Barb.”
Christopher decided to drive to his mother’s house. It would be a long drive, but he wanted to take the time to think things through. It would be long after dark—as a matter of fact, it would be the middle of the night—before he would arrive, so he would stop somewhere along the way and call from a phone booth to let her know he was coming. He didn’t want to startle her coming in unannounced in the middle of the night.
Christopher went back to his apartment to pack the things he would need. He opened his closet and looked for a moment. No, no suits, he thought, not on this trip. Instead he packed his suitcases full of blue jeans and flannel shirts. Out of nowhere, a touch of his father surfaced in Christopher as he thought, I don’t want my thought process to be choked by a tie! He loaded the bags in the trunk of his dark blue agency sedan and drove away.
The trip would take all day and half the night. This did give him time to think, but not the way he had expected. As he drove through the city heading for the interstate, Christopher was stopped at a traffic light next to a schoolyard. Behind the fence, children of all ages were playing in the morning sun. Some were swinging on a set of swings. Others were taking turns finding the simplest of joys by sliding down a small slide. They looked so happy, when suddenly he saw the brilliant flash of light that could only be produced by an air burst warhead. In the blink of an eye, the children were all dead. He heard a car horn honk behind him. He blinked and saw all the children busily playing once again in the schoolyard. As he pulled away from the light, he could see the look on Cindy’s face as she told him, “I even found myself attracted to you. I never would have thought you were the kind of person that would ever go along with something like this.” It cut through his heart like a knife. He had wanted too much to tell her how he really felt, but he just couldn’t—not there with all the ears he knew must have been listening.
As he continued to drive through town, he found himself looking at all the people going about their daily business. He couldn’t help but think what it would be like for so many people to be gone in a flash. What about those who didn’t vanish in that instant, who lingered on suffering horribly for days or even weeks? He couldn’t wait to get on the interstate.
Getting on the freeway seemed to clear his head a little. His thoughts turned to home and seeing his mother. He felt that somehow, without saying a word, she would help him figure out what it was he had to do. Hours went by slowly as he drove ever closer to home. He had never made the trip entirely by car before, and it was more tedious than he had expected. He was more than ready for a break when he stopped for a bite to eat. He had seen a sign along the side of the interstate for an old-fashioned drive-in restaurant. He liked the idea, thinking it might take him back to a simpler time, if only for a short while. He thought any rest he could give his mind right now would help.
He seemed to relax a little as he sat parked next to a menu with a speaker placed at the bottom where a voice would soon ask him for his order. Christopher thought he should get into t
he spirit of things and ordered a foot-long hot dog, French fries, and a chocolate malt. He was feeling a bit better when a smiling young girl brought a tray to his open window containing the items he had ordered.
“Could you roll your window up about five or six inches, please?” the girl asked nicely. As he complied, she placed the tray on the car hanging from the window. “That will be three twenty-seven,” she said.
He handed her a five dollar bill and said, “Keep the change.”
“Thank you. Enjoy your meal.” The young girl quickly disappeared. Stopping here was a good idea, he thought as he finished his meal. He causally crept back into his mind, and he wondered what it would be like to be sitting here enjoying a nice meal and suddenly have the skies around him light up in all directions with multiple air bursts. To cease to exist in a brief flash, or worse still, to survive the initial blasts, and try to answer the question, why?
Back on the interstate, his thoughts turned to home. He looked forward to his arrival and to seeing his mother more than ever before. Several hours of driving had passed since he had stopped for lunch at the little drive-in. The sun was nearing the horizon when, while stopped to refuel his car, he decided it was time to make that call to his mother. He pulled out his cell phone and pushed a few buttons. After a few rings, his mother picked up.
