'So it’s easy to understand,' Jack was saying 'how it would be used for jewellery, tableware, decorating churches but it’s never had an application that would warrant digging out a hundred tonnes of ore just to get one or two ounces of Gold. The more I have thought about it the less it makes sense. Really, I just picked on this because I thought it would be easy, especially with my background and contacts in gold trading. However the more I look into it the more interesting it becomes. I have a couple of researchers and the preliminary results are astounding.'
'Oh really,' interjected John 'how so?'
'Well' Jack continued 'the rough analysis shows that gold, that is large quantities of gold, have been sought by a relatively few individuals throughout history. Latterly those large deposits have been held by a few countries, companies, and individuals. It's the structure of those holdings that make it unique.'
'Go on.'
'Well, we have compared Gold to other precious metals, gems, and strategic resources and in all other cases their distribution has been directly proportional to their uses. The amount mined each year roughly equates to the amount of the same resource consumed in that year, the amount over i.e. the amount that goes into storage is also proportional to both the increase in the amount consumed and the increase in the general population and through that gross domestic product.'
'And Gold has proved to be different?' John chipped in.
'Yes. Absolutely different. The industrial demand for Gold, that is electronics and jewellery, is fairly static. However, the level of demand purely for its purchase and storage is very much higher, orders of magnitude greater. It has been hoarded throughout time and that trend is only increasing. However it is not market manipulation.'
'You're sure of that?'
'Fairly sure. As I said these are preliminary results. Market manipulation is undertaken in order to drive up the price and then capitalise on it. There have been such cases through time, but they are not the determining factor.'
'What is?' asked John, feeling excited and worried at the same time.
'That's just it, I don't know. It seems that through the whole of human history a limited number of individuals, directly or indirectly have sought to accumulate enormous amounts of Gold for no identifiable reason. I should say, for an as yet unidentified reason.'
A chill passed through John as he thought about his own research and the implications of Jack's research upon his. The enormity of it struck him full force. I'm not the only one who knows the true nature of Gold and they have known it for centuries. I've got to know what this guy finds out.
'You know your work really intrigues me.’ John began, trying a little flattery, 'I would like to know how you get on, and I'll provide any assistance I can.'
'Thanks,' Jack replied 'that means a lot.'
11 Arrival
16:37 08 November [11:37 08 November GMT]
Tudor Hotel, New York, USA.
The flight over had been reassuringly uneventful for both Jane and George. However it was a nervous George who had approached the check-in desk, armed as he was with both his UK and US passports. His brother, Jack, had helpfully suggested that for travel between Great Britain and America it is easier to show your passport for that country. So it was that George offered his British passport at Heathrow and his American passport upon arrival at JFK in New York.
The flight had raised all kinds of ghosts in George's mind. His head full of conflicting emotions. He was leaving the country of his mother's birth and heading for the country where his father was born. Jane remained solid for him, conscious of what he must be going through. In the short time they had spent together, Jane had come to realise that she had made the right decision. Despite his playboy attitude, his use of language better suited to someone much younger than him, he had shown a different side. The side of the serious investigative journalist. This would be the first time either of them had visited the UN. Their previous encounters with any UN officials were either aid workers or UN soldiers, those normally found in the conflict zones that they both had reported from.
Jane knew this was something of a bullshit assignment. George guessed as much. As they talked, they came to the realisation that they could have the makings of a good story if they took the right approach. Rather than make it a usual piece about the workings of the UN or the conflicts within it they would approach it as if it were a conflict zone. The UN, the arbiter of nations wasn't working. Conflicts raged across the world. The UN just talked, rarely taking any decisive action. They wanted to know why. Is it just a cosy place for politicians and ambassadors or does it actually do something tangible? If so what? They agreed that the new sec-gen looked promising. Jayanti Kapoor was as different as they came. Although part of the establishment, she had gone on the record to say how she wanted the organisation to do more, to stand for something better. Now they could test her, see if she was going to keep true to her word. Billions of people look to the UN for hope. Is Jayanti Kapoor the hope they have been longing for? They were not planning on giving her an easy ride. They had seen too much. Witnessed too many atrocities. Seen good honest, kind people die. It is time for a change they both agreed.
The hotel was one that attracted journalists. Like migratory birds, they seek the comfort and reassurance of their own kind and so they tend to frequent the same places. Exchanging gossip that may or may not become news, they work one another gently probing to see what the other is up to. Into this flock, Jane and George settled in, having a few drinks in the bar and working the room to see what is current. For Jane it was like a reunion, she moved from group to group catching up with colleagues and friends alike. George had a harder time. He found a couple of people he recognised, talking to them for a short time before moving on, conscious that he had been out of the scene for quite some time. His language also started to change, part a conscious recognition that he didn't sound a serious journalist, part unconscious as one who is in a group tries to blend in and become accepted.
'Do you want to get some dinner now?' Jane asked George, aware that he had been on his own now for a quarter of an hour.
'Sure, sounds good. Who was that you were just speaking with?'
'Sameena Kapoor.' Jane's eyes twinkled.
'The sec-gen's daughter?'
'The very same. She was telling me about the PhD she is undertaking “researching the effects of sensory deprivation on deep space travel for NASA and the JPL” if memory serves me right.'
'And I'm sure you managed to turn the conversation around to her mother.'
'I hardly needed to; she was happily telling me about her without prompting. Apparently, she has seen a marked change in her mother recently. She has become very interested in science all of a sudden, physics in particular.'
'Oh and what is all that about?'
'She hasn't a clue. Although she hopes that her mum has fallen for some scientist that she is trying to impress.'
'That doesn't sound like the Jayanti Kapoor that I have heard about.'
'Nor me. So that's interesting. Definitely something to talk to her about.'
They talked at some length over dinner, but couldn't discuss the one subject that suddenly beckoned to them, physics. Neither of them had anything but a rudimentary knowledge of the subject. They agreed to change that.
08:12 09 November [03:12 09 November GMT]
United Nations, New York, USA.
The United Nations building does not convey itself to the world as the place where nations meet. Constructed much like any tall office building, it is unassuming, quiet even. Nations are represented here by their diplomatic missions. The fact of its existence born out of the tragedy that was the Second World War. A place where nations could meet, talk and resolve their differences. It had both succeeded and failed in its mission. Nations still warred with one another, often spilling over into regional conflicts. However there had not been another world war, thanks primarily to the diplomats who worked within its corridors. Representatives of th
eir nations to the UN, they also acted as representatives of the UN to their home countries.
Instilled within its organisation were a myriad of committees, councils, and power blocs. The most important of these being the UN Security Council and its five permanent members; The USA, Great Britain, France, Russia and China.
Jane and George walked into the building as temporarily accredited press representatives. Their first interview, with the British Ambassador, had been scheduled to allow them time to register and pass through security.
10:30 09 November [05:30 09 November GMT]
Office of the British Ambassador to the United Nations, New York.
They waited in the anti-room to be shown in, the British Ambassador typically punctual.
'Good morning. Tea?' The Ambassador greeting them cordially and offering them refreshments at the same time. The introductions made, they sat patiently as a silver tray of tea, and biscuits were laid out before them.
'Shall I be mother?' The Ambassador poured the teas out and offered the biscuits, 'so how can I help?'
'Well,' Jane began, collecting her thoughts as she went; 'we are covering the military exercise and are looking for people’s views.' The simple approach, she thought to herself, is often the best.
So, the Ambassador thought to himself, straight down to business. He had of course been briefed on both Jane and George prior to agreeing to the interview. He was also fully aware of the upcoming military exercise. Jane, he thought, is not going to write a puff piece, she has been in the thick of it many times and would be most unlikely to be swayed by the normal approach.
‘Oh.’ He began, as if caught off-guard, 'Well my views are a matter of record. However, I'm more than happy to re-state them for you. The British government has, as you know a long and cordial relationship with the United States of America and have conducted many joint military exercises in the past and will continue to do so in the future. We have been in tripartite discussions with the Russian Federation about mutual security concerns and discovered that there was a real desire to increase the level of cooperation amongst the three. This culminated in an agreement to participate in a combined military exercise code named Operation Allies.'
Jane stifled a yawn. He had summarised the statement made by the British Government and added nothing. More used to honest, passionate, personal opinions given by those involved in a conflict, she was not impressed with a bland restatement of his government’s line. There is always more to these matters than the press release. However, she knew that diplomats do not rattle easily, and rarely give anything away that they did not intend to.
'I understand that you objected to the exercise, or at least advised against it.' It was a stab in the dark, but likely that it was true.
'I am not sure where you could have heard that.' He replied evenly.
'Does that mean that you are personally and professionally in favour of the exercise?' Jane turned the screw slightly.
Nicely played, he thought, let me see how good you are really. 'My personal opinion is just that, personal. Professionally of course, I am totally in favour of reaching a position where the use of arms would not be necessary, either aggressively or not. That being said, it is important in these times that we are prepared for any eventuality and that necessitates training. I believe that expanding training exercises to include the Russian Federation works towards better understanding and that would provide the basis for improved dialogue.'
Jane saw her opening. 'That begs the question why just the three nations? Why not NATO, the Chinese and Indians for example?'
So that is where she is going. 'Well I believe that this could possibly be the precursor to wider involvement in the future.'
'And you would be in favour of that?'
'I believe that anything that can bring about closer co-operation amongst nations would be a good thing.'
'Of course.' replied Jane, 'Tell me, was it truly a Russian initiative to integrate the three forces down to the operational level?'
'That is my understanding, however we were more than happy to accommodate as it builds relationships from the ground up.'
'And the Americans?'
'Well of course you would have to ask them yourself, however I am given to understand that they were equally accommodating.'
'Why do you think the Russians suggested it?'
'Again I am sure that you will ask them yourself. I would presume that integration prevents any one member from losing and all participants would learn from serving alongside the other two forces and it would give them a good insight into how we operate.'
'Isn't that a little dangerous?' Jane saw his eyes flicker slightly at this, so I've hit a nerve.
'It is not without risks. It has been discussed at the highest levels and it was felt that, on balance, the rewards outweighed them.'
'Who made the ultimate decision?'
Again, his eyes flickered, she noted.
'It was a government decision, executed through the Foreign Office.'
What does that mean? Jane wondered to herself, a government decision. Aren't all decisions made by a government, government decisions? Jane made a mental note to investigate this with the other ambassadors.
'Well thank you for your time this morning.' Jane said taking their leave. George, who had remained quiet throughout took a few photographs of the Ambassador alone and one with Jane. As they were leaving the Ambassador took George's hand, shaking it warmly he looked George directly in the eye.
'I met your mother once, she was a remarkable woman. Such a tragic loss. I am so sorry.'
'Thank you,' George managed, 'thank you so much.'
13:15 09 November [08:15 09 November GMT]
Office of the French Ambassador to the United Nations, New York.
The interviews with both the American and Russian ambassadors had followed the British in both terms of format and content. They had revealed little more than their official positions. Jane and George had agreed to change tack for this interview, rather than interview the ambassador about the exercise they would instead interview the person. Studiously avoiding the exercise until the ambassador introduced it.
Fifteen minutes in and it seemed to be working. The Ambassador had become increasingly agitated. He had the position of his government well understood, he was sure that this interview would be his opportunity to firmly, but politely spell it out. The French were not happy. The Anglo-American manoeuvre to keep them out of an exercise with the Russians, with whom they had historic links, was felt to be a diplomatic slap in the face. This made it personal with the Ambassador.
'I understand that your article is to be on the military exercise, is that right?' the Ambassador asked.
'The American, British, and Russian one. Yes, that's correct.' Jane replied innocently, as if there were several exercises and this was just one. Unnecessarily mentioning the participants had the desired effect however.
'I wish them well of course.'
Here it comes, thought Jane.
'However I believe that they have missed an historic opportunity.'
'Oh, how so?'
'Well this could have been, would have been a much more important exercise if it had been a US, European and Russian exercise. That would have been a truly multi-national exercise and could have formed the basis for other even larger exercises in the future. As it is, well, like I say I wish them luck.'
'You doubt the outcome of the exercise?'
'Let me just say,' the ambassador continued, 'that I am sure the military exercise will proceed well and that they will issue a unified memorandum of its positive outcomes. However to spend such money and to limit its scope to three countries seems, well, short sighted at the very least.'
Now we are getting somewhere, Jane thought.
'Unfortunately, this was not a European initiative and therefore there was no requirement for any of the participants to consult with the EU, or the UN for that matter.'
The quality of his voic
e had changed, Jane noted, gone was the more pleasant, melodic quality, replaced by a sharper, more abrupt tone. The French Ambassador clearly felt that Europe, the UN, and particularly the French should have been consulted, if not directly included.
The remainder of the interview revealed nothing more, however the French being good hosts were not ones to rush through anything. Eventually Jane and George managed to depart, both feeling that there could be a good story in this for them after all.
Now for the big one, thought Jane, China.
16:50 09 November [11:50 09 November GMT]
Office of the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, New York.
The appointment time had come and gone. The Chinese like to deal with their peers. When required to meet with people they view as below their station they make them wait. The amount of waiting time being directly proportional to the difference in status. This made for a long wait indeed for Jane and George. Then there was the problem of sex. Jane was simply the wrong sex to deal with a Chinese man ordinarily; however, those who work in the West, such as the Ambassador, have made the transition. Nevertheless, they are still products of their culture.
When they were finally called in to see the Ambassador, they both felt surprisingly humbled. The Chinese Ambassador clearly believed his station to be vastly superior to theirs. This impression was confirmed upon meeting him.
The Ambassador was not a physically imposing man. He was less than average in height, even for his race. Childhood illness had conspired during puberty to limit his growth; the months confined to a hospital bed had both fed his ambition and given him the opportunity for additional, advanced study. This, plus the benefit of his family background, provided him with a monumental career path. However, an indiscretion only two years before meant that he had reached as far as he ever would. He hadn’t lost his position but knew he would advance no further. Now he felt obliged to make it known how important he was at every opportunity. He wasn't happy to be interviewed, questioned as he felt it to be, by a woman. If she had been Chinese, he would never have agreed. As it was, it had been made clear to him that he would receive her and participate fully in the interview. Disobedience was not in his nature.
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